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Schoolboys allowed to wear shorts following protest in skirts

The boys from Great Torrington School, in Devon who wore skirts in protest at the school's no shorts policy. [Photo: SWNS]
The boys from Great Torrington School, in Devon who wore skirts in protest at the school's no shorts policy. [Photo: SWNS]

A group of British boys who wore skirts to protest their school’s shorts ban have won their campaign.

Some 48 male pupils at Great Torrington School in Devon donned the garment last summer, after they were forbidden to wear shorts in the hot weather.

Girls at the school showed their camaraderie by wearing trousers instead of their school skirts.

Ahead of the summer term, the school agreed to allow boys to wear shorts as part of its uniform.

The decision followed a petition to make shorts part of the approved school uniform, which received over 600 signatures.

READ MORE: Is this the end of the school skirt?

“As agreed and arranged by the Junior Leadership Team, Senior Leadership team and the School Governors, for the summer term 2019 GTS pupils will have the option to wear shorts as part of the school uniform,” reads a statement from the school.

“Here's hoping for another fantastic British summer!”

There’s one condition, though: The boys “need to wear black or grey socks,” in accordance with the school policy.

Schoolboy campaigner Bradley Smart said: "Thank you to the school for co-operating, listening to what the children had to say and taking their opinions into account."

It followed a similar demonstration in 2017 at Isca Academy, in Exeter, Devon, where boys also wore skirts to protest a shorts ban.

READ MORE: School criticised for proposing gender neutral uniform

Nowadays, it isn’t just schoolchildren being subjected to strict uniform policies, but their parents too. One school in the US has caused a buzz after introducing a dress code for parents.

James Madison High School in Houston has claimed it will turn away parents who show up at the school gates in pyjamas, hair rollers, leggings and other ‘unsuitable’ items of clothing.

With additional reporting from SWNS.