Parents of pupils at a Waterhead Academy have responded with anger after a proposed uniform policy change.

The proposals would mean pupils could no longer wear skirts, instead being forced to wear trousers.

A petition launched against the policy, entitled ‘Let girls be girls’, has already gained more than 120 signatures.

A letter sent to parents dated January 12, said: “We are working to raise standards in all aspects of school life and having the highest standards of personal appearance is central to this.

“We believe that uniform creates a positive school identity and provides students with a sense of belonging as well as identifying them as ambassadors for our academy.”

If they go ahead, the changes to the uniform policy would apply from September 2023.

The policy would require all students to wear a pair of black tailored trousers, with plain black socks – with no trainer socks or ankle socks allowed.

The proposals came just one day before the academy revealed the results of a scathing Ofsted report, in which the school was put into special measures after inspectors found failures of leadership leaving students “not fully prepared to take their place in modern Britain”.

ALSO READ: Waterhead Academy: Special measures for Oldham school given worst Ofsted rating.

Racist and homophobic language was also found to be used in the school, with pupils telling inspectors they were ‘fed up’ of the situation.

Waterhead Academy was founded in 2010 as a merger of Breeze Hill School, with a predominantly Asian pupil population, and Counthill School, with a predominantly white pupil population, in an effort to promote racial integration.

Anger at the proposals

Parent Nellie Wright, who started the petition against the changes, has two daughters at the school.

She said she and other parents felt ‘angry’ at the proposals.

Ms Wright said she could not see why the changes were necessary, and that she would consider moving her children out of the school were the changes to go ahead.

She added: “I just think that it should still be an option for a girl to wear a skirt, skirts are made for girls.

“I wore a skirt at school, my daughters have worn them, my mum worn them.

"They haven’t given a valid reason to stop a girl wearing a skirt.

“My younger daughter is adamant she’s not wearing pants.

“When they first went back in January all the girls had to wear tights, there’s been no issue with them wearing tights.

“I just think it’s ridiculous, they should be allowed to wear what they’re wearing if it doesn’t affect their behaviour and doesn’t affect their learning.

“I just think that the school’s attitude to parents – they’re not fixated on the serious stuff. Like if my daughter is five minutes late to a lesson they’ll ring me for that while I’m at work.”

Headteacher responds

James Wilson, acting principal at Waterhead Academy, said: “We are currently consulting on proposed changes to our uniform.

“Within the consultation period, we are interested in the views of all stakeholders. Once all views are submitted, we will consider these before making a decision.

“We have opened the consultation early to ensure there is plenty of time to allow us to consider all responses prior to making any decisions.”

The petition can be found on Change.org.