Disgusted parents slam school over ‘obscene’ uniform change that ‘targets girls’
Parents have been left “disgusted” by a school’s decision to replace a straightforward uniform requirement with an expensive “signature” version.
School leaders at Rivigton and Blackrod High school in Rivington, Bolton, have decided to introduce a tartan school skirt for female pupils, which is due to replace the current black, logo emblazoned skirt in September. The uniform change, while not unusual for a school, will prove expensive, double the cost of the current basic version.
Parents have spoken out about the “obscene” £30 cost for the new skirts, complaining they will have to waste money and scrap their perfectly suitable current versions. Outrage has even spread online, as boys attending the school escape without any costly uniform alterations.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Sarah, the mum of one girl who attends Rivington, said the skirt can only be bought from the school, not other uniform shops. She said: “This is such a waste of money for no good reason. We’ll be wasting the skirts we already have and having to spend £30 on one you can only buy from the school and not other uniform shops.
“It also means people won’t be able to rely on second hand uniform or hand me downs as so many do. Having a unique material and pattern is just nonsense and this goes against government guidance which says schools should have fewer branded items. Also, why just target the girls with this? It’s very unfair.”
Sarah said a petition has been launched against the skirt decision, with another parent saying the decision is “appalling”, as the cost would set them back “over a week’s wage” as their daughter starts the school in September. Another outraged respondent to the petition said boys would not have to change anything, and can “wear plain black pants from a supermarket”.
They added: “It’s a joke, kids had no choice in it.” The school insists the “signature” skirt, which is not yet available from supermarkets, is “unique to Rivington and Blackrod High School” and “reflects our sense of community and pride”. A spokesperson for Leverhulme Academy Trust, which runs the school, said in a statement that it is listening to parent and student feedback.
They said: “This update is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a consistent and professional standard of uniform that reflects the pride and identity of our school community. We understand the concerns raised regarding the cost of the skirt and changes to our uniform policy and we are actively listening to feedback from parents and students.
“The new skirt has been designed based on student feedback to ensure it is comfortable, durable, high quality and UK-manufactured. To support families, we are offering the skirt at cost price for the first year, along with a ‘buy now, pay later’ option to help spread the cost. Additionally, we are planning to introduce a uniform recycling scheme to further assist with affordability.
“We are committed to ensuring that the overall uniform remains affordable. Students will still have the option to wear plain black tailored trousers, available from local suppliers and supermarkets, in line with our uniform policy. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue and are happy to address any further questions or concerns.”
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