Schoolgirls at Herne Bay High will have to wear this skirt or trousers

by Joe Walker

Schoolgirls will be forced to wear this 'Mary Poppins-style' skirt or trousers after continuing to ignore uniform rules at Herne Bay High.

The school has decided to introduce the plain, standardised skirt in September, meaning girls who refuse to buy it will be told to wear trousers.

It is believed the decision was taken after girls continued to flout school rules banning skirts higher than 10cm above the knee.

Principal Dr Claire Owen (pictured left) had threatened an outright ban in October - fearing girls were putting themselves at risk - but it appears to have done little to solve the problem.

She said: "With effect from September a standardised school skirt is being introduced, in line with a number of other secondary schools. This will provide the option for girls to wear either the standard skirt or trousers.

"This was a positive step forward to support parents and to avoid potential problems in the future."

The skirt is only available from the Hanger shop at Rogers Menswear, which offered the school a selection of skirts to choose from.

It is believed a decision on the final option was made by Dr Owen and the school council.

The move has been met with a mixed response from parents.

Clare O'Leary, who has an 11-year-old daughter at the school, said: "There is no way 15-year-old girls are going to wear this new skirt. They'll look like Mary Poppins.

"The problem does need to be addressed though. I saw one 14-year-old with her skirt up round her backside the other day and some builders checking her out. It's just wrong."

The new skirt rules have been introduced at Herne Bay High School

Kate, the mum of a girl starting at the school in September, said: "I think skirts should be banned for all pupils.

"I also happen to think that stopping schoolchildren wearing make up is a good idea too. This is school, not a nightclub, and they're schoolchildren, and for their own sake, they should look like schoolchildren, not trainee 'street workers'."

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