Criteria - warm for winter, cool for summer.
So skirts and thick tights for all in winter and skirts and ankle socks for all in summer?
Good Morning Sunday 25th October 2026
Sign up to Gransnet Daily
Our free daily newsletter full of hot threads, competitions and discounts
Subscribe
Nothing new, a Merseyside school is pulling schoolgirls over and measuring skirt lengths, too short.
This was being done when I was at school, in the 60’s.
The main difference it was our senior mistress who did the measuring, not male staff, which seems to be happening now. Don’t agree with that (the males measuring), but looking at some of our local girls on their way to school, they’re skirts hardly showing below their blazers.
‘‘Twas ever thus” I suppose.
(My parents, by the way, would totally have backed the school).
Criteria - warm for winter, cool for summer.
So skirts and thick tights for all in winter and skirts and ankle socks for all in summer?
Grooovy Galaxy!
That's good to know Caleo
.
Ooh I am doing poetry now.
Galaxy, we are on the same groove.
Clothes dont belong to one particular sex. That's society imposing restrictions on people because of their sex.
Kate1949
We used to roll ours over at the waist when we left home, roll them back down at school then back over when we left school. I'm not sure skirts are shorter now. Mine we're pretty short.
I do so remember doing this too.
I thought of another criterion:
3. Unrestricting for going to the toilet, menstruation, and hand washing; and for freedom of movement e.g. no fashion corsets.
Kilts are unisex garments but are more expensive and more draughty than bifurcated leg coverings.
There are two criteria for school uniform:
1. Warm for winter, cool for summer.
2. Modesty regarding both sexuality and conspicuous consumption.
I don't know, MollyGo. I don't know any women or girls who are uncomfortable in trousers, nor any who view trousers as male attire. That's not to say they don't exist, they simply aren't in the circles I mix in. I know plenty in those circles who feel uncomfortable in skirts and I know some who are angry that they have been required to wear skirts (and high-heels) in their workplace.
LadyHonoriaDedlock
Boys are already denied the right to wear skirts, or in many schools to grow their hair long. I don't think trousers are viewed as especially male garments in this day and age, especially by younger people.
Boys and skirts is for them to battle.
The mixed sex high schools and primary schools near us avoid stating which items of clothing are for which sex. e.g. uniform is navy skirt or trousers (not skinny or jeans), white shirt etc.
Do you see compelling girls who aren’t comfortable in trousers and would never wear them out of school as fair or right? Trousers would be seen as male apparel by those girls.
In your view, would it be more fair to compel all girls to wear trousers down to compel all boys to wear skirts?
Boys are already denied the right to wear skirts, or in many schools to grow their hair long. I don't think trousers are viewed as especially male garments in this day and age, especially by younger people.
LadyHonoriaDedlock
Simple answer of course – trousers for all.
Well yes, but that would involve taking away rights of females to wear customary dress and compulsion to wear male garments.
Simple answer -skirts for all?
Simple answer of course – trousers for all.
I haven’t seen particularly short uniform skirts here, it must be different. They are quite strict on uniforms, though. I pick up kids from a secondary college most days and they all basically dress the same. The senior ones have a different coloured jumper and the final year students have a windcheater with their name embroidered on it. Not an issue it seems.
Yes biglouis I loved the novelty of having a school uniform when I moved to senior school. It was the full regalia with velour hat and panama in summer. All brand new and gorgeous.
I had never had to wear one at my infant and junior school, thinking back now, it was only the boys and girls from the nearby orphanage that had to wear them. I was very happy at that school but not so much at the senior school.
Practical and comfortable for boys and girls should be the only consideration.
Concentrate on the education of children, not their appearance.
This is a bit off piste, but when I mentioned the thread to DD2, she said “Remember that book you used to tell us about?
Shorter skirts by Seymour Nickers!
Is there ever a school rule that bans thick warm leggings under the skirt? These are both modest and inexpensive.
Ali08
Girls freeze in winter because they can't wear trousers, while boys boil in summer because they can't wear shorts, it's all so ridiculous!!
Where do you live that stops girls wearing trousers for school? All the primaries and secondaries near me allow it, even the grammar and fee-paying schools.
I don’t know about the shorts, but the girls who choose to wear trousers, wear them all year around same as the boys do. They don’t swap to skirts in the summer.
Mostly the boys swap to jeans or joggers at the weekend, summer or winter, though the odd pair of shorts does appear once the weather gets hot. As soon as one pair appears the wearing of shorts spreads like a rash.
Too short. Too long. Seen it all before!
Ive never approved of school uniforms. The argument that it filters out income barriers between rich and poorer families does not hold water. Children from poorer families just wear scruffy or second hand uniforms, as I did. They still get picked on. Better to allow them to wear plain informal clothes without brand logos. Joggers and t-shirts would be far more sensible.
If I had kids at school I would be one of "those" parents leading the fight against school uniforms. Many European countries manage perfectly well without them.
When I went to school (1950s) skirts were quite long. I wore a pleated skirt one day and felt very grown up because it touched the ground when I was sitting on a chair.
Granmarderby10
Oreo it seems that adolescent and adult males are challenged by so very many things and a short school skirt worn over dark thick tights or leggings ought to be the very least of these.
Interestingly though, you don’t here of many lads wanting to wear skirts or dresses (yet) it’ll happen I’m sure.
You obviously weren't reading/watching the news last summer, when some boys wore their sisters or friends skirts to school because the stupid schools said no shorts!!
Girls freeze in winter because they can't wear trousers, while boys boil in summer because they can't wear shorts, it's all so ridiculous!!
*Have not gave, sorry.
GagaJo
As a teacher, I used to get fed up with girls in skirts so short I could see bum cheeks. With protests of 'body shaming' if it was brought up.
All, boys, girls, trans, should wear trousers. IMO. Cut out all the problems.
They definitely should gave the choice to wear trousers, GagaJo, or skirts - some may argue, but a kilt is still a skirt, so if it's good enough for the Scots and all that!!
And if there is an option that works for girls with sensory issues it's a good idea to use it rather than not because it doesnt work for boys. And actually why wouldnt a skirt type of clothing work for boys as well.
Katie59 I have no idea how boys with sensory issues cope - I only have a girl with a sensory processing problem. Which she has, sadly, inherited from myself. You sound just like my mother who failed to acknowledge this problem with myself and belittles my daughter about it. It really is hard work.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.