Short skirt strike at Cheshire high school

by Martin Thomas. Published Fri 19 Jun 2009 14:36, Last updated: 2009-06-19

Schoolgirls organised a classroom "strike" via Facebook against plans to force them to wear trousers as part of their uniform

Pupils boycotted lessons at Upton-by-Chester School in Cheshire in portest at plans to ban them from wearing short skirts.

Male teachers had reported that they 'did not know where to look' while climbing stairs behind some of the girls with hitched-up uniform skirts.

Girls and even some boys walked out of the school after headteacher Jame Holland mooted a plan to require girls to wear trousers if skirts were not worn at normal lengths.

Ms Holland added: "Despite repeated warnings, skirt lengths have got even more ridiculous."

The walk-out, organised by pupils on Facebook, followed a meeting between teacher and students. Instead of returning to classes they headed off to playing fields and staged the 'peaceful protest'.

One girl said: "It was about not being able to wear short skirts and make-up. We wanted to put our views across."

The headteacher said the protest was not acceptable behaviour and that hemlines must be within normal bounds by September or trousers will be made compulsory.