School accused of ‘degrading’ girls after lining them up for two hours to measure skirts

Parents say the uniform policy at Ryde Academy does not work for every body shape

Parents have criticised a secondary school for “degrading” girls after dozens of pupils were made to line up and have their skirts measured.
Teachers at the Ryde Academy on the Isle of Wight are said to have spent two hours measuring 70 female pupils’ skirts to enforce their new uniform policy.
Some girls were then sent home after their skirts were deemed to be too short.
The school – which caused a similar uproar in 2014 when 250 students were put in isolation for short skirts – insisted it had been “very clear” about uniform expectations and that parents were warned over the summer.
The backlash comes as pupils were welcomed back for the new term this week.
One disgruntled parent claimed pupils were ‘syphoned off’ as about 70 teenagers wearing skirts were put in the hall for two hours.
Another parent said the school requires female students to wear knee-length pleated skirts, but revealed it’s difficult to find ones that fit round the waist and are long enough.
“If you are taller, you can’t find a skirt”, she said.
“We bought the right skirts but it is a policy you can’t comply with because you can’t get one that long.
“So basically they were being judged on their body shape and size and it’s kind of pointing out to them you don’t fit into the clothes you can buy in the shops and that’s not what teenage girls need.”
Despite agreeing with the new policy, she said it had been handled the wrong way.
“[It] sends the wrong message and is degrading,” she added.
Parents claimed other students were pulled aside for having PE tops that were “too tight” and for having crew neck jumpers instead of V necks.
Other changes include students being given pouches to put their mobile phones in for the day.
Each pouch stays with the pupil but has a lock on, meaning they cannot access the phone until the end of the day.
Ryde Academy said schools right across the country have introduced the same approach towards mobile phones.
A spokesman said: “We‘ve been very clear about expectations on uniform and have shared these with families multiple times over the summer term, including through newsletters, video explainers and parent drop-in sessions.
“Our policy on jumpers is unchanged and we expect our students to turn up every day in the right uniform.”
They continued: “We want students to be able to focus on learning and having fun with friends without the distraction of smartphones and constant notifications that come with them.
“As such we have provided every student with a secure pouch to carry their phone in, which is unlocked at the end of the school day. Schools right across the country have introduced the same approach for the same reasons.
“It’s been a hugely positive start to the new year and we look forward to seeing our wonderful community go from strength to strength.”