A mum has hit out at her son's "sexist" school uniform policy after he was "isolated" for refusing to change his shorts to trousers - despite skirts being permitted.
Vicki Thompson said her son Dylon arrived at school on Monday wearing shorts as temperatures reached 30C.
A spokesperson for the school has said the pupil was offered an "appropriate" uniform and was put in isolation for refusing - not for arriving in shorts.
Vicki has blasted the “disgusting” policy, saying she found it “ever so sexist and ridiculous in such temperatures”.
She told Manchester Evening News : “Their words to me were that we have a skirt/trouser policy and boys are not allowed to wear shorts.
“It feels like the girls have a choice, but boys do not.”
The mum, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, says she was told that if Dylon wanted to wear a skirt he could, but she worried he would be bullied if he did.
Werneth School said they are “very inclusive” and invest heavily in pastoral care.
Headteacher Andrew Conroy said: "If Dylon wishes to wear a skirt, that is his personal preference and we would support it - as we have done previously with other students.
“Shorts however are not part of our uniform policy and there is no intention for that to change.”
Werneth School says they have “made very reasonable uniform allowances for the hot weather,” with students being told they do not need to even bring jumpers or blazers in for the last two weeks of term.
A spokesperson said Dylon was one of only two pupils who failed to wear an appropriate uniform to school yesterday, with both students being “calmly” offered alternative uniforms.
They said: "It's an accepted norm that shorts are not part of our uniform and never have been: 798/800 students recognised that yesterday."
They also pointed out that the school invests heavily in providing appropriate uniforms free of judgement of students or their parents.
They said: "We do that because we recognise we need to provide uniforms sometimes for some of our parents, particularly in the current economic climate.
“In fact, every morning, the leadership team at this school wait at the entrance, and loan uniform via a separate room to any student who requires it. That is every single day.
“Nonetheless, if a student misunderstands [the policy], we don't make an issue of it. We have a large room full of uniforms and have spent a significant amount of our budget just this year on the uniform because we support our families. These are difficult times and so we have allocated the same amount next year.
“He [Dylon] was not isolated for lack of uniform: he was isolated because he refused to accept our offer of dressing appropriately. An offer was made calmly and respectfully. Mum then supported him by taking him out rather than providing him with trousers.”
The Mirror contacted the school for a statement.
