South Wales school to ban skirts in uniform equality drive

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - A school in South Wales is set to ban skirts for female students beginning with the next academic year as part of an effort to make school uniforms more equitable.

Brynteg School in Bridgend, which has around 1,600 students, will require all students to wear trousers under the new policy, which comes into effect in September, according to British media reports.

The school said the decision is part of a shift rooted in "practicality, equity and the realities of family life" and argued it would be more cost-effective, as trousers are seen as more durable and weatherproof.

However, the decision has not been universally welcomed by parents.

The change in South Wales follows a similar move in the North East of England, where a school trust banned skirts at six secondary schools on Teesside from the start of the current academic year.

The Northern Education Trust informed parents in June of the policy change, which sparked anger among some families.

Madeleine Pownall, associate professor in psychology at Leeds University, criticized the banning of skirts, saying it sent the message that girls were responsible for protecting themselves from objectification and sexualization.

She told the Times: “We know from social psychological research how damaging it is when girls internalise the idea that their bodies exist to be looked at. I’d much rather the conversation focus on creating professional, practical uniform standards that don’t place that burden on girls, and on teaching consent and respect, making it clear that managing behaviour and professionalism is everyone’s responsibility.”

Baroness Longfield, the former children’s commissioner for England, has previously criticized uniform policies that compel girls to wear skirts, saying these were often a cause of distress for female pupils.