Governors agree on new uniform policy for Connah’s Quay High School and it’s good news for girls.

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Mar 21st, 2017

A Deeside High School caught in a blaze of negative publicity over plans to ban female students from wearing trousers and adopt a skirt only rule, has agreed on proposals to change the school uniform policy following a consultation with parents.

There was an angry backlash to news Connah’s Quay High School were ‘consulting’ with parents on a new school uniform policy which would have seen girls banned from wearing trousers and forced to wear skirts.

Parents slammed the plans for being discriminatory & gender stereotyping, with ‘many’ writing to the Headteacher, Anne Peers expressing concerns over the ‘archaic’ uniform policy.

Mrs Peers said in the original consultation letter “a school uniform should instill a sense of identity, pride and belonging” and she wanted “learners to be comfortable in school”

With some girls reportedly wearing black jeans, leggings and ‘skin tight trousers’ to lessons a proposed skirt only policy would, in the view of the school help drive higher standards.

Politicians and community leaders all voiced concerns over the uniform plans while hundreds of people signed a petition calling for a proposals to be binned.

Carl Sargeant AM for Alyn and Deeside and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children in Welsh Government said at the time; “gender assigned clothing is ridiculous! Uniform is fine but it should not be based on gender!”

U-Turn

Within a week of the consultation launch the school had performed a U-Turn on the initial uniform proposals agreeing to add tailored trousers for girls to any new policy the school chose to implement.

In a letter published on the school website on Monday, Chair of Governors Martin White wrote;

‘The Headteacher and the Governors of Connah’s Quay High School would like to thank all stakeholders for their contributions to the recent consultations on changes to the Uniform Policy.’

Reacting to feedback from parents, school governors have now agreed to a new school uniform policy which will allow girls to choose whether to wear skirts or tailored trousers.

Parents were also angry at initial plans to limit the uniform to one supplier, governors took this feedback onboard and have agreed uniforms can be purchased from Asda, Tesco, Marks and Spencers, Next and Sainsbury’s.

The changes to the uniform policy will take effect from September 2017, the start of the new academic year.

Mr White thanked parents and carers for their “continued support in improving standards of dress code in the school.”