Oldham School’s Skirt Ban Sparks Parental Outcry

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Oldham School's Skirt Ban Sparks Parental Outcry

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Several schools within the Co-op Academies Trust in Oldham and Greater Manchester have implemented a new uniform policy for the academic year starting September 2026, which mandates that all students wear plain black tailored trousers, effectively banning skirts. This change has led to considerable backlash from parents, with some reporting that their daughters were prevented from attending lessons on Wednesday, the first day of the new school year, for wearing skirts.

The Co-op Academies Trust stated earlier this year that the trousers-only policy was introduced to support active learning, student well-being, and a practical, comfortable school day. They also noted that trousers are widely recognized as practical in both educational and professional environments and that a growing number of schools nationally have made similar changes to support equality and participation. The Trust also mentioned being mindful of financial pressures on families, aiming to reduce overall uniform expenses by limiting branded items and ongoing costs like tights.

However, parents like Alice Jones, whose 11-year-old daughter Millie was reportedly refused entry to class at Co-op Academy Failsworth, argue that the policy is “ridiculous” and discriminatory. Another parent, Samantha Gallier, complained to the school when the change was announced, stating it “raises concerns regarding equality, inclusion, and student well-being” and that compelling all students to wear trousers risks creating a policy that is “sexist and discriminatory.” Samantha Scholes, another parent, reported her daughters were “in tears” over the new rules, with her eldest being turned away on her first day.

The Trust maintains that only a small number of pupils arrived in skirts and were offered a range of trousers, asserting that no students were “turned away” entirely. Despite this, some parents insist their children were not offered alternatives or would not have worn them due to self-consciousness. The policy has been implemented across multiple Co-op Academies, including Failsworth, Walkden, Swinton, North Manchester, Manchester, and Belle Vue.

This situation occurs amidst broader discussions in the UK regarding school uniform policies, with new legislation in England, effective September 1, 2026, limiting state-funded schools to requiring a maximum of three compulsory branded uniform items (four for secondary schools if one is a tie) to ease costs for families.

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