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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sophie Halle-Richards & George Lythgoe & Graeme Murray

Schoolgirls in tears after being 'scolded by staff' for trousers being 'too tight'

Female pupils were 'left in tears' after being lined up and scolded because they had trousers which were 'too tight', it has been claimed.

Parents of girls as young as eleven claim their daughters were called to an emergency assembly and forced to wait while male and female teachers evaluated their clothing.

The incident reportedly happened at Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester.

A parent's 11-year-old daughter was "petrified" to return to school and others claimed their children faced disciplinary threats if they didn't comply, which school leaders deny.

Manchester Evening News reports the school's website states trousers should be plain black and tailored, suit style, bootcut, pleated or straight design.

Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom Greater Manchester where the incident happened (Anthony Moss | Manchester Evening News)

It also advises they should not be tight fit, lycra, jersey, stretch trousers, chinos, leggings.

But parents say they bought the trousers from an official uniform supplier, including one dad-of-two, who has two daughters aged 11, and 13 at the school.

He said: "We went to an official uniform supplier in Ramsbottom and bought two pairs of trousers for our daughters.

"They went to school on Monday and we were told that the trousers are inappropriate because they are too tight.

"Lads were wearing skin tight trousers but weren't pulled. We were told the reason the girls were was because the boys were watching them as they walked up the stairs.

"They told my daughters they were going to get a detention if they didn't come back with different trousers.

"My youngest daughter was already terrified of starting high school and now she's petrified to go back."

A spokesperson for Woodhey School said claims the uniform was distracting for male students was "unfounded" and "by no means mentioned by the school".

Parents say the incident over uniforms has caused a lot of upset (Anthony Moss | Manchester Evening News)

One father said: "I went down on Tuesday along with lots of other parents who were shouting and saying 'don't touch my daughter.'

"It was pretty horrific really. You go to school to learn not to be targeted like this,"

Another concerned parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It’s caused a lot of upset. This is mostly Year 7s trying to follow the rules.

"They are all excited to be there and then they were told they were in the wrong uniform.

"The trousers are slim fitting and they don’t have other options. It has been upsetting for a lot of them because it was their first day a secondary school.

"Parents were told they had until Wednesday to get the correct trousers.

"There were 80 students sent into isolation that we know about. A lot of parents feel they are just being picked on. Some have bought four pairs of trousers which may now have to be binned.

"This is too much. It is very important that the students maintain self esteem.

"It is unnecessary. This is just a really awful way to start the new year."

Dozens of fuming parents took to social media to vent their anger over the move, which has been branded "disgusting."

Some parents said they were 'disgusted' at how their daughters were treated (Anthony Moss | Manchester Evening News)

Another parent writing about her daughter said: "She was hauled into the emergency trouser assembly. Apparently year 7 pupils were crying as they were so anxious.

"Am disgusted by the school and feel I let my daughters down by sending them to this absolute joke of an organisation. Sad state of affairs."

Another said: "Masses of girls being threatened with isolation and asked to lift their shirts up to check they have the correct trousers on.

"Being told that if their trousers are too tight they are putting off the male student.

"That’s the reason they stopped the skirts. Forty pupils filled the hall after being pulled by teachers at the reception in one day."

Another parent said: "I have a daughter in tears explaining how she was treated this morning. Four teachers asking to see the top of her trousers.

"I would class that as heavy handed if not bullying. So disappointed with the school."

A spokesperson for Woodhey School said: "The school has been unwaveringly clear about the expectations for uniform and have communicated this to students and their families prior to the summer holidays, and during the holidays.

"Where uniform issues have yet to be resolved, the relevant students were spoken to yesterday to reinforce the importance of following the school’s dress code.

"At no point were students threatened with exclusion and the claim that students were told that certain clothing items were distracting to other students is unfounded and was by no means mentioned by the school.

"Where students were informed that their uniform is inappropriate, such as for being too tight, this is in relation to the school’s new stronger enforcement of their uniform rule.

"These rules directly correlate to fostering high standards of behaviour and expectations, with the school’s dress code further preparing students for the world of work."

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