PARENTS have slammed a school for its "wrong" and "unreasonable" uniform policy that pupils were isolated for breaking.
Students at Stretford High School in Manchester were put into isolation in a row over the length of their skirts, sparking a backlash from parents.
The school requires skirts to be black or grey and 'knee length.
Any pupil who fell foul of this rule were told to either replace the garment themselves or wear a new one provided by the school, while failing to do so meant a stint in isolation.
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Headteacher Nicola Doward has insisted that it is a crackdown on enforcing necessary standards.
However, one mum, whose daughter was isolated after refusing to change, blasted the rules.
She said: "This is a draconian policy and nothing about what my daughter wears is inappropriate.
"These are young impressionable girls and her body is changing. She has an eating disorder already and she doesn't need teachers telling them how they can dress."
The 45-year-old mum said that her daughter was given work to do while in isolation, but missed a science lesson which she has an assessment for this week.
She added: "I wouldn't let her go to school in something that looks unacceptable.
"She's very shy and sensitive about her body and this made her feel c***."
Another mum agreed that the policy was unreasonable, saying that her daughter's skirt is 'mid-thigh length' because she has long legs, but a bigger sized would not fit her waste.
The fuming parent said: "She got changed at home and her skirt was fine. Just because she refused to change into something she wasn't comfortable in, she got put in isolation. It's just an excuse for a crackdown as far as I can tell.
"One of the reasons staff spoke about was it being unhygienic, but I think it's very wrong for them to suggest to young girls that they're being unhygienic.
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"Some of the comments my daughter said were made are very misogynistic."
Mrs Doward, though, insisted that the policy was long-running and that parents had been informed before Christmas that checks would be made in the new year, with 'sanctions' for those found in breach of the rules.
She told Manchester Evening News that there had been just 27 cases of improper uniform out of 952 pupils.
The teacher was keen to emphasise that these were not just linked to skirts, but included issues with jewellery, ties and boys wearing trainers instead of approved shoes.
She added: "This is not a new policy, it's always been the case that skirts should be knee length. But we noticed there were some uniform infractions so we decided to have a fresh push.
"I sent home a message alerting parents that we'd be having a uniform push - not just relating to skirts - and reiterated what the school rules are.
"I also linked to some research to show that often having a good uniform does have links to improved pupil outcomes."
Mrs Doward insisted that students were not isolated for the length of their skirts and would only be punished that way for refusing to comply with school rules.
She finished: "Most of our parents and pupils understand that in order for school to run well, we have to have rules."
