A PARENT of a pupil at St Louis Catholic Primary School is campaigning for the uniform policy to be updated to allow girls to wear trousers.
Mother of five-year old Francesca, Charlotte Rushmere, has branded the policy as ‘sexist and outdated’ and believes that the uniform policy should be gender neutral, giving equality to all pupils at the school.
Charlotte told the Frome Times, “As women we face a lifetime of sexism. At the age of five, my daughter should only be experiencing freedom. But the current uniform policy is sexist and outdated, and promotes a message of inequality. In addition, it is also not considering the equality of potential transgender pupils. A uniform should associate pupils with the school, not their gender.
“Girls should be allowed the same level of protection, freedom, level of modesty and lack of inhibition that comes from wearing trousers. Everyday sexism can pass us by until we stop and think about it. St Louis is the only school in Frome and the wider county that defines children by their gender, preventing girls from wearing trousers or shorts. A change is commonsense – from a female perspective, it is a practical change, especially now that it is cold. I’m not asking them to change the uniform, just asking them to remove all references to gender in the policy – children should be smart and ready to learn. They should be creating a culture of acceptance.”
Charlotte’s daughter Francesca began attending St Louis School in September 2017 and the following month, Charlotte contacted the school’s headteacher and governors about the uniform. “The St Louis headteacher has continued to delay and the governors have provided no response in relation to my repeated requests for a gender neutral uniform,” said Charlotte.
“I have had lots of private messages of support from other parents. I have also welcomed the parents who have challenged me on religious grounds. However, the school has said absolutely nothing about it.”
In response, headteacher of St Louis Catholic Primary School, Richard Triggs said, “The governors of St Louis School have always aimed to involve all parents and children in matters or issues such as changes to the school uniform.
“During the summer term a questionnaire was sent to all parents asking how they felt about the uniform and whether they felt any changes were needed. As a result some items were added to the uniform for children to wear, for example warmer items of PE kit, but the overwhelming majority of parents did not wish major change.
“These amendments were made to the uniform pending the full review of uniform planned for later this academic year which again would allow all parent’s and children’s views to count.
“The governors have a meeting already planned for next week and uniform is going to be discussed, the outcome of which may well be to bring forward asking for everyone’s views so that this can be decided quickly.”
