Primary school's warning over girls in 'inappropriately short skirts'

Sutton Courtenay CE Primary School near Didcot reminded parents of its policy in a recent newsletter, noting that some older pupils had been wearing the wrong length of skirt and the hem should not sit ‘more than a phone width above the knee’.

It is not the only Oxfordshire school to write to families about uniform in the past few weeks – one Kidlington school has said boys must not wear certain PE trousers due to ‘health and safety’ reasons.

Sutton Courtenay’s headteacher Rachel Hornsey said growth spurts mean children can quickly outgrow their uniform, sometimes without parents noticing.

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She said the note in the newsletter aimed to 'build awareness' of the issue and prepare pupils for uniform policies at secondary school.

She added: "We do have high standards of dress here, but our uniform aims to be practical and child-friendly.

"For example, we allow plain black trainers as an alternative to shoes to encourage activity in the playground."

Meanwhile Gosford Hill School has banned boys from wearing 'track trousers' during PE, warning that pockets and zips pose a danger.

The Kidlington secondary school's latest newsletter states: "During the winter months and colder weather we would like to encourage students to wear base layers under their tops.

"Female students also have the option of wearing the Gosford Hill track trousers.

"We are unable to allow boys to wear track trousers due to health and safety reasons. Pockets and zips put students at risk during contact sports. However boys can wear base layer trousers as long as they have Gosford Hill shorts over the top."

The Oxford Mail asked the school to clarify the policy but did not receive a reply.

St Gregory the Great Catholic School in East Oxford has been strict on its uniform in recent years, with school leaders keen to instil a sense of identity and encourage pupils to take pride in their appearance.

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A regular entry about uniform in its weekly bulletin says: "Our uniform means students don't have to worry about peer pressure when it comes to their clothes and reduces any associated bullying.

"Our school uniform keeps students focused on their education, not their clothes.

"It enhances pride in the school and gives students a sense of unity and identity as well as promoting a sense of community spirit."

However, one parent of a pupil at the school, who asked not to be named, said: "The uniform does not make the schoolchildren sensible and respectable.

"Uniform gets outgrown and then you have to buy new sizes at cost price."

The parent said changes had been costly and had not prevented 'all sorts of random modified uniform' being worn by some students.

School rules enforced recently do not just concern uniform - New Hinksey CE Primary School near Oxford has announced a ban on cereal bars, to extend the school's healthy eating culture.

A newsletter sent to parents last week stated: "Please make sure that the morning snack being brought in for playtime is healthy i.e. fresh fruit or veg.

"We are no longer going to allow cereal bars as even ones sold as healthy have a very high sugar content and produce unnecessary wrappers."

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Several Oxfordshire schools do not uphold a uniform, including St Philip and St James CE Primary School in Jericho and The Cherwell School in Summertown.

Cherwell does have a 'dress code policy', however, which states: "Students wearing indecent or inappropriate clothes (e.g. clothes which are too revealing or clothes which have an offensive picture or slogan) may be sent home to change or be asked to change into their PE kit if they have it with them."

The school's policy states that the lack of uniform means 'members of the school community can show their individuality through what they wear'.