"Parents accuse schools of body-shaming as girls are told to wear shorts under skirts"

My 10 year old granddaughter wears a pair of girl's tailored navy shorts from M&S instead of a skirt or trousers when the weather is warmer. She is very comfortable in them and they look very smart indeed as part of her school uniform.

Instead of trying to solve the problem of active young children wearing skirts, put them in more practical clothes. Shorts for everyone. No issue remains

Agreed!

I just hate the term 'modesty' shorts - implying that young girls are being immodest if not wearing them.

Agree with that too!

I was just thinking that until the 1990s not many primary schools had uniforms, children wore what they were comfortable in and in the summer it was often shorts.

Trisher I hate to disagree, but we had primary school uniforms at least 30 years before that. Gymslips, navy knickers, shirts and ties -I found my primary school tie when helping my mum sort some stuff out.

but you are not disagreeing.
you speak of one school, the one you went to.
trisher says most schools...
yours may have been one of the few.
i don't think navy knickers were often part of uniform except maybe in private schools in the 60s. i never heard of them in state school.
they seem more redolent of the 30s to me.
but what do i know.

I had a uniform but no undergarments were part of it.

I didn't wear a uniform at my state primary school (1959-1966) and my younger sisters didn't either. I also wore "big knickers" - remember them well and clearly remember the first time I bought skimpier pants when I was in my teens - my mother was horrified.

At my granddaughter’s junior school (all girls) they can wear culottes. They’re not compulsory, though. They can wear a pinafore dress if they prefer.

Having seen what passes for underwear these days I think shorts are a pretty good idea.

In late 1950s, early 60s, at state primary school, I wore a general school uniform, not unlike the one my DGD wears now - gymslip/pinafore dress (with coloured sash denoting house), white shirt, gingham dress in summer. I could tie my tie before secondary school so at some stage I wore a tie?
I don't remember this being particularly odd in our area.
I agree that my area may not be representative of UK or England etc. Personally I do find it surprising that intelligent folk think that because it's their experience, that's the case across the country.

I remember navy blue knickers as worn by most girls at my catholic state infant and junior school. I don't remember them being huge the way some have referred to their "school bloomers" just little girl knickers that covered everything and weren't skimpy. I can't remember whether they were a mandatory part of the school uniform, but I do remember a very early class of "Musical Movements" where we just danced around in our underwear so maybe for such purposes they were. At a later stage further into the juniors, I'm pretty sure for sporting events we were expected to wear shorts, t shirts and plimsoles. I seem to remember we had bags hanging on pegs with those items in.

At my girls only convent senior school we had a very strict school uniform, culottes, down to the knees were worn for all our sporting events and woe betide anyone who tried to deviate from any of the regulation attire.

And I wore the ubiquitous navy blue knickers which stretched up to my armpits. (Boys and girls did indoor PE in vest and pants)

My school uniform, from the age of 7, was black and white, so our knickers were black, not navy. Just to be different!

I do like skorts = think they are excellent, wish they had been around years ago. Why are some childen (females mainly) wearing skirts for school at all? Surely, trousers or shorts (when it is warm) should be school attire for all.

One of my 11-year old gsons loves wearing a skort on occasions, he just likes being able to spin round and round and have this billow out around him.

Such a pity that clothing is generderised!!!

My 9 yr old GD came after school yesterday wearing tailored black shorts. She spent the winter in black school trousers and said they had complained about being told they were expected to wear dresses in the summer term. She looked lovely and was comfortable. When we took her home she changed into the smallest pair of shorts I’ve ever seen!

Shorts or trousers for everyone, simple , problem solved ! I had to play hockey in senior school - wearing big navy blue knickers and I hated it . The boys wore shorts !! They were big knickers but underwear never the less! As for today's children , shorts or trousers in school and particularly for exercise is a no brainer!!

My DGD1, at high school had the choice to wear trousers or a skirt. She preferred trousers. On the other hand, given the same choice, DGD2 wore a skirt even for cycling to school when I'd have thought trousers more convenient. I know I had to spend seven years of my young life cycling to and from school in a skirt - not a good look on a windy day.

M0nica - I just don't think this is true:
more men are becoming itnersted in paedophilia

WhenI said not many that's exactly what I meant. Some schools, particularly faith schools, private schools and a few state primaries had uniforms. But having taught in many all over the country I think I can safely say they were the exception. There wasn',t until the 80s, the ubiquitous sweat shirt which became the start of primary uniforms. Most working parents wouldn't have purchased special clothes for school at primary age, some found it a stretch for secondary.

I wore a uniform on the first day I started school in 1965. We had velvet hats in the winter and straw boaters in the summer. The dresses were made of so much material I reckon you could have made at least 3 from 1. I hated the boaters.

I went to three primary/junior schools (and one for 2 months when my granny was ill) in the 1950's and none of them had a uniform. I don't recall it having any adverse effects in relation to behaviour and achievement. And I don't recall there being any interest whatsoever from the children with regard to what others were wearing. Perhaps it would be different now in such a brand-obsessed marketing environment.

Trisha, i agree with you, that is my memory, impression, and observation from family photos etc, too.
inner london schools rarely had uniforms until last 25ish years. it was a non issue generally. wish it was so now.

Tallulah, presumably that was a private school. never heard of a state school requiring boaters.

Franbern, has your GS seen this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h1wayIgn8o

also why should clothing be genderised.
we don't have to accept that.
here are some stylish trail-blazers :
www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jun/22/teenage-boys-wear-skirts-to-school-protest-no-shorts-uniform-policy

NotSpaghetti

M0nica - I just don't think this is true:
^more men are becoming itnersted in paedophilia^

Neither do I.