The new headteacher of a school has been blasted by parents for suggesting that girls not wearing tights to class is "indecent". The policy has led to a consultation with parents.
One mum hit out, branding the wording, where girls were urged to wear tights at school for “modesty and decency purposes” as "sexist". It erupted in County Durham, with Longfield Academy in Darlington the school at the centre of the row.
The official uniform policy on the school’s website says: “If tights are worn, they must be plain and not patterned." Head Angela Sweeten said: “Over the course of the last few weeks there has been a number of informal conversations regarding school uniforms.
"This has led me to write to parents/carers on Friday, June 24, to begin a formal consultation exercise. The process will also involve input from pupils and staff." It added: "Any changes to the policy will be communicated to the school community prior to the summer holiday."
According to BirminghamLive, one critic online fumed: "On what grounds is it judged that it is indecent for girls not to wear tights? Most western societal norms nowadays have no problem with females having uncovered legs?"
In 2015, a primary school in Hartlepool was criticised for telling girls to wear black tights with school skirts in the "interest of modesty". The decision was also criticised by the Fawcett Society, a national charity for women’s rights and equality, who said the decision was "not acceptable in 2015".
