Furious parents have criticized a chain of schools for a new rule banning girls from wearing skirts, a move the trust says promotes equality and inclusivity. The Co-op Academies Trust, which operates 14 secondary schools in the Midlands and north of England, has instructed all 22,000 of its students to wear plain black tailored trousers starting this school year.
The trust insists the change has been overwhelmingly popular among girls, with only a small number at one school in Oldham attempting to wear skirts. The trust also stated that no female students were prevented from attending lessons for wearing skirts.
However, some parents have expressed strong disapproval, reporting that their daughters were left crying and upset after teachers told them to change into trousers before attending classes. Alice Jones, whose 11-year-old daughter Millie was starting secondary school, stated that a staff member allegedly refused to let Millie into lessons until she changed into trousers. Jones, who had allowed her daughter to wear a skirt, said the incident "ruined" her daughter's milestone moment.
"It's an example of wokeism that has gone way too far," Jones said. "She's a girl and identifies as a girl and was born a girl and has always been a girl, she should be able to wear a skirt. ... I think it's sexist and it raises questions about inequality."
Parents of girls attending Co-op Academy Failsworth also reported that their daughters were told they would not be allowed in lessons until they swapped skirts for trousers. Samantha Scholes, whose daughters are in years 10 and 11, told the Manchester Evening News that her daughters had been in tears over the new rules. "I am extremely concerned that my daughter has been denied access to her education because of a uniform issue," Scholes said. "My concern is that a blanket policy is being enforced without properly considering the impact on individual pupils, particularly those who may already struggle with confidence, body image, or mental wellbeing."
Samantha Gallier said her daughter reluctantly agreed to wear trousers but was upset, stating she "looked like a boy." Gallier complained to the school that the new uniform rule was "sexist and discriminatory," adding, "Equality should not mean erasing difference; rather, it should ensure that reasonable choices remain available to students."
When the change was initially announced, a spokesperson for the trust stated that the move "reflects our commitment to supporting active learning, student wellbeing and a practical, comfortable school day." The trust noted a "largely positive response" to scrapping skirts, adding that trousers are widely recognized as practical for both educational and professional settings. The trust also suggested that eliminating the need to buy tights and reducing branded uniform items would help lower overall uniform costs while creating consistency across its academies.
In a statement, the trust clarified that it was "incorrect" to say any pupil had been "barred from lessons" for wearing a skirt. "No child was refused entry to school or prevented from attending lessons because they were wearing a skirt," the trust said. The trousers-only policy was communicated to families in April 2026 as part of a move towards a simpler, more affordable, and consistent uniform offer. Schools were prepared to support students who arrived in the wrong uniform. At Failsworth, a handful of students arrived in skirts, and each was offered a choice of four different trouser styles, in various sizes, free of charge. This allowed pupils to change and continue their school day without immediate purchase of new clothing, and with no disruption to their learning.
The trust acknowledged that some families may disagree with the policy and stated they are willing to listen to concerns. They added that the "overwhelming majority of parents support the policy" after opportunities to provide feedback since the proposal. The trust emphasized the importance of accurate reporting, distinguishing between being asked to comply with a uniform policy and being denied access to education. The trust also noted that Co-op Academy Failsworth achieved its best-ever GCSE results this summer, and the uniform changes have saved parents an average of 38 percent on uniform costs.