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Change of School Skirt Style In Belfast

25 replies

TARDEN · 28/01/2013 15:23

I just thought I'd share with you something that has gladdened my heart. I'm a parent here in Belfast of 3 daughters. One has just left school, the next two are still at the same school. It's also a mixed school. This year the school introduced a longer style skirt, not before time either. The eldest girl is delighted that she has missed it as the two younger girls hate it. I know from talking to the two girls that a lot of the girls were annoyed about the change, but the school was quite adamant over it. The old skirt was a plain type of skirt which was worn at a ridiculous length, a scrap of material just under the blazer bottom. Combined with the knee socks, a bit much for school I think. Not so bad when tights were worn, but still not ideal. The new skirt has pleats and sits just below the knee. A far better look in my opinion, the image of the school has improved vastly as a result. I would drop off and collect the girls and it was incredible the lengths on nearly all the girls coming out of the school gates. The uniform was never cheap to buy and looked very respectable otherwise, however the extremely short skirt cheapened it. I was always amazed that they were allowed into class like that, but they were and nothing was done to correct it. Though I do know the school were aware of it and that is why the change was introduced. I know from talking to other parents at work here that some other schools in the Belfast area have changed to longer style skirts as the problem here was becoming rife in those schools also. So I'm sure I'm not the only parent here from Belfast who had this problem. But it seems common sense has prevailed at the school. And in other schools in the city. So if any parents out there have the same problem, then fear not. It seems that change can take place.

OP posts:
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lowfatlamps · 28/01/2013 15:25

Is this Methody?

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ChilliChips · 28/01/2013 15:32

I wish my daughter's school (although not in Belfast!) would do something like this for the younger girls. They changed the skirts for Yr 10 and over to a longer length a couple of years ago, presumably for the reasons you describe, but kept the old-style shorter, tighter ones for the younger girls. Dd's skirt hasn't been modified at all, but even so she can't run for a bus in it and recently had to hoik it up to thigh level to take part in some sort of "giant steps" drama activity in class. As it's a mixed school she found this embarrassing. No option for girls to wear trousers.

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lowfatlamps · 28/01/2013 15:33

Oh and good luck. You do know they'll roll it up and take it in and modify it regardless of what the school do?

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ifitsnotanarse · 28/01/2013 15:34

About time. I am constantly shocked and amazed at the scrap of material/pelmet that constitutes a skirt in NI. It is actually indecent.

And don't get me started on pupils not wearing a proper jacket. The number of pupils, especially boys you see walking to school in the rain/cold/snow with no hat or umbrella and only a flimsy blazer and shirt on. Shock The steam must just rise off them when they get into class.

OK, rant over. Smile

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ChilliChips · 28/01/2013 15:34

(Oh, and when she does run for a bus in it she ends up splitting it all down the seam and having to go home like that. And then I have to sew it. Apparently there's hardly a girl in her class whose skirt hasn't had to be repaired.)

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Hooleywhipper · 28/01/2013 16:05

The school my DC's attend are doing this after Easter. My DD is okay about it,12 years old. I'm pleased

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Hooleywhipper · 28/01/2013 16:07

Ps sorry no not in Belfast. Northwest

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pinkhousesarebest · 28/01/2013 16:14

My sister tells me that her children are not permitted to wear a coat over their blazer. Irrespective of inclement weather. Can this be true.

People don't wear coats in NI. When I come home, all trussed up in coats, scarves etc, my family think it is hilarious.

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shebangsthedrum · 28/01/2013 16:20

My dsd has to wear trousers at school they banned skirts about five years ago due to issues listed above. I, however think the uniform looks scruffy.

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sashh · 29/01/2013 09:24

No option for girls to wear trousers.

That's illegal.

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Startail · 29/01/2013 09:29

It just means they will never buy another skirt all the time they are in school and they will still be too short by Y9.

Because they are expensive uniform skirts most parents will happily collude with this plan. No mother is going to she'll out for a new skirt in the sure and certain knowledge DD will 'misplace' it and carry on wearing the shorter one.

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Startail · 29/01/2013 09:30

She'll out.

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Startail · 29/01/2013 09:30

Autocorrect grrrrr, shell out.

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wannabedomesticgoddess · 29/01/2013 09:37

NI is very behind the times in updating their uniforms to include trousers for girls. I only know 1 school that has that option.

Primary schools have largely changed to trousers though.

DD1 is only 4 but I sincerely hope by the time this comes around for her girls will have trousers.

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flow4 · 29/01/2013 10:53
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flow4 · 29/01/2013 10:55

Actually, reading it again, the DofE seems to be saying "It might be illegal, but you'll have to take them to court to find out". Hmm

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Maryz · 29/01/2013 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

drmummmsy · 29/01/2013 11:00

i have noticed this too in NI - especially in what used to be 'secondary' schools. it has much improved the image of schools in my local area

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IDontKnowWhereMyMedalsAre · 03/02/2013 13:36

lol We're not in NI but the middle east. Skirts are to the knee or to the ground, uniform also includes headscarves and long sleeves for those who want them. The funniest thing IMHO is the western girls all wearing skirts to the ground and the girls who cover wearing trousers, with no one wearing the knee length skirt (except year 7's whose mums dont know any different). Sorry to go off track.

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eatyourveg · 04/02/2013 17:54

You may all find this interesting - it was sent from the Head to all parents today. Cant see it making any difference though - girls just roll them up

In general the students at XXXX wear their uniform with pride and look very smart.

There is one thing, however, that seems to be getting worse and that is the length of the girls skirts at school. It states in the student planners that skirts must be 3? from the ground when kneeling this equates to be just above the knee cap when standing. Unfortunately this is clearly not the case with many of the girls. XXXX (school uniform supplier) have said that all but 2 recent orders have been for skirts at 18? in length despite the fact they have skirts at 20? and 22?. This means that the girls in Year 7 through to 11 are wearing the same length of skirt.

It has therefore been decided that all girls skirts from Year 9 will need to be of a minimum of 20? and if it is still above the knee cap to have the 22? skirt

To enable all the girls to comply we will expect this to be done by Half Term.

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PrincessOfChina · 04/02/2013 18:03

I've never been to NI but I noticed on a trip to Liverpool about 4 years ago the skirts were all of the long, pleated style.

V odd as the girls were then also made up to the nines with some truly individual hairstyles.

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eatyourveg · 04/02/2013 19:56

yes we noticed earlier this year that in liverpool the skirts are unusually long and the girls were wearing knee socks rather than tights - straight out of the 50s

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drmummmsy · 05/02/2013 07:30

and the heels have got lower - so much lower that they are those uncomfortable looking ballet flat/pumps things

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OddBoots · 05/02/2013 07:55

I didn't realise that there were still schools which didn't allow trousers for girls. The school here insists on trousers (a particular brand) for 2 terms of the year, girls can only wear skirts (below the knee) in the summer term.

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beachyhead · 05/02/2013 08:00

My daughter rolls hers up so much that she ends up with a huge cloth muffin top around her waist, so nice legs, roly poly waist...

Very strange.

I've ceased worrying. She's leaving in June.

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