A PARENT of a pupil at St Louis Catholic Primary School has welcomed the news that the uniform policy has been updated, allowing girls to wear trousers.
The new policy allows parents to make uniform choices for their child from one single list, rather than two (male and female).
Last year, mother of five-year-old Francesca, Charlotte Rushmere, branded the school’s policy as ‘sexist and outdated’ and called for the uniform policy to be made gender neutral, giving equality to all pupils at the school.
Charlotte told Frome Times, “The single list of uniform offers equality in freedom of movement, protection from the weather, and comfort to all pupils.
“I am thrilled that Francesca can now fully experience and witness gender equality at school, and she is thrilled that she can wear trousers to be able to ride her new Christmas present into school, a bike, both comfortably and safely.”
Headteacher of St Louis Catholic Primary School, Richard Triggs explained, “The governors of St Louis decided to bring forward the review of our school uniform, planned for the summer term, to the second part of the autumn term.
“The uniform had previously been in two lists, the question we asked the children and parents was simple: ‘Should children and families be able to choose their school uniform from one combined list of items?’
“We conducted a survey using the internet and held discussions with all the children, making sure that everyone had a chance to voice their opinion. There was a fantastic response, a huge number of parents voted and the children were able to debate the issue fully.
“As a result, the uniform lists have been combined to be one. There is no change to the uniform so parents do not have to buy anything new, the end result is the best one possible – all the children have a full choice and they continue to be proud to be seen in their St Louis School uniform, always looking smart.”
Picture: Charlotte Rushmere taking her daughter Francesca to school in her ‘gender neutral’ uniform.