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School uniform for girls

(5 Posts)
vickymeldrew Mon 28-Sept-26 21:39:37

School uniform for girls has been troubling me for a while.
I have two grandsons at single sex schools which are now co-ed in the sixth form. At any event held at the school, music recitals, plays, open evenings, etc etc, the boys have been very neat and tidy. Blazer, shirt, tie, long trousers - you get the picture .
On the other hand, a majority of the girls are smart from the waist up, but their skirts are practically non-existent. Just pelmets scarcely covering their underwear. When on stage, the girls always seem to be self consciously tugging their ‘skirts’ over their knickers. Recently, a Prefect was showing parents round the school. Following her up stairs was pretty embarrassing as we could all see her underwear.
This is bad enough inside the school, but the girls sitting around cross-legged by the bus stop is another concern.

MawsRosie Mon 28-Sept-26 21:55:19

I have 2 thoughts
1) Its not girls' uniform as such but either that school is too tolerant of how the girls choose to adapt their uniform (hands up anybody who has never turned over their waistband to make their skirt shorter?) Or perhaps it's the individuals
But more important
2) thanks to St Trinians etc, girls' school uniform, like sexy French Maids, forms the basis for many an adult male fantasy.
Is the answer to insist on trousers? Or opaque tights? And why should girls wear ties when adults women don't?
I would like to see a radical rethink of uniform to design something practical, decent, attractive, distinctive and NOT EXPENSIVE.

Oreo Mon 28-Sept-26 22:18:35

I agree MawsRosie
It’s all down to the Head of the school to lay down ground rules and tiny skirts that can show underwear should not be allowed.

Oreo Mon 28-Sept-26 22:21:07

Since girls and women all wear trousers most of the time it seems sensible that all schoolchildren wear them.
This means wearing a fleece type top over them for colder weather which is comfortable.

Doodledog Mon 28-Sept-26 22:25:41

I think that trousers should be mandatory, and also that shirts and ties should be dropped. Even though most men probably don't wear them any more, now that many tie-wearers work from home, they represent a particular male style of dress.

They are not universal at all. Many men don't wear ties to work these days, and there is no need at all for girls to wear them, as virtually no women wear them. They send the message that girls can be educated as honorary men, which (IMO) is not a healthy message.