Uniform Crisis Continues: Pupils Sent Home From School After Being Told Trousers Were 'Too Tight'

A headmistress has been criticised for sending female pupils home on the first day of the new term because their trousers were too tight.

Dr Rowena Blencowe banned skirts in July to spare the blushes of male teachers who were becoming "distracted" by the girl's raising hemlines.

But on the first day of term a group of pupils - both male and female - were sent home as they arrived at Trentham High School, Stoke-on-Trent, on the first day of term .

Harriet Dale, 15, who was one of the pupils sent home, said teachers said her black trousers were not suitable because they were "too tight".

She said: "I was with a girl wearing exactly the same pair of trousers but, because I have slightly larger legs than her, I was told my trousers are too tight and that I must go home and change."

Harriet Dale

Apparently, staff inspected pupils at the school gates to decide whether their trousers were too tight.

The students were kept out of some lessons and threatened with isolation if they refused to go home to put on baggier trousers.

Dale, who was sent home, has accused the school of making pupils feel self-conscious.

She added: "First the school told us skirts are not acceptable, now we are only allowed to wear trousers after they've been inspected.

"It's really uncomfortable to think you could be walking around the corridors and teachers will be looking you up and down. I'm not the only person who feels that way.

"I know I've got slightly bigger legs than some people, it doesn't need pointing out."

15-year-old Dale also claims a staff member said her clingy uniform was too tight around her "legs and bum."

Harriet's mum Helen, 41, said: "Harriet told me she was cornered at school by a member of staff who said her trousers were distracting, or could be distracting.

"When she asked why the reply was that her trousers were too tight around her legs and bum. I find that totally unacceptable."

Mrs Dale added she is angry at staff for singling out her daughter in "the most important year of her life".

She said: "I'm incredibly angry. I can't believe the school is kicking up a fuss over something so minor.

"Staff lined the students up and inspected the tightness of their trousers. I find that incredibly demeaning and totally unnecessary.

"I'm worried this will make Harriet conscious of her size when she should have much bigger worries as she takes her GCSEs.

"The headteacher is a dinosaur. She hasn't been at the school long and just wants to make an impression."

SEE ALSO:
Secondary School Bans Girls Wearing Skirts After Rising Hemlines 'Embarrass' And 'Distract' Male Teachers
Teenage Girl Sent Home From School After Being Told Her Trousers Were Not Acceptable

The mum said she bought her daughter two pairs of tapered trousers and a pair of boot cut ones that cost £28 each from the work wear range in Next this summer.

However according to the school, the boot cut ones are the only design that is acceptable at the strict high school.

Harriet Dale and another student, Rose Singer, 15, who was also sent home because of her trousers

Another student at Trentham High School, Katie Jones, 15, was also threatened with isolation because her trousers were too short.

She was kept out of some lessons on Tuesday and told she had to attend school the next day in full-length trousers.

Dad Andrew Jones, 47, from Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, said: "I can't believe she has been threatened with isolation.

"This all boils down to the headteacher. There are always going to be slight variations in trousers."

But it wasn't just females who were singled out.

One of the pupils included a boy who was told it made his private parts look "indecent".

The boy's friend's mum - Julie Abbott, 45, - said: "My son was allowed into school but one of his friends was told to go home and change.

"The reason given was that his trousers were too tight across his private parts and therefore it was indecent and not appropriate for school.

"These children are adolescents, going through all sorts of changes and coping with their hormones. It's outrageous to sexualise them in this way when all they have done is come to school wearing school uniform."

Headmistress Dr Rowena Blencowe yesterday disputed claims the school's guidelines are not clear.

She said pupils must wear "black, full-length tailored" trousers and not "jeans, leggings, tightly-fitted trousers, cotton trousers, shorts or tracksuit bottoms".

Dr Blencowe added: "The vast majority of pupils turned up to school wearing perfectly suitable clothing.

"But there was a small minority of elder pupils who decided to push the boundaries.

"They claim our rules do not make it clear but that is not fair. We have sent out several letters to parents, plus advice on our website, and even held an assembly.

"Our guidelines are clear. It is up to parents to make sure their child attends school wearing trousers which suit their shape.

"Trousers which fit one pupil may be too tight on another, we have to draw the line somewhere."

Headteacher Dr Rowena Blencowe has since refused to comment any further on the alleged remarks made to pupils.

Trentham High School is a mixed secondary that caters for 750 pupils aged between 11-16 and was rated as "inadequate" at its last Ofsted meeting in June 2013.

Grossest Things Your Kids Can Pick Up At School

Lice(01 of04)

Every parent of a thick-haired kid's worst nightmare, lice are insects that feed and lay their eggs on the human scalp. (Itchy yet?) How it gets around: Head lice is spread through hair-to-hair contact or by sharing things like hats, headphones, and hair brushes.Symptoms: The first sign of head lice is usually an itchy scalp. Check your child's hair for lice and their eggs (nits), which are usually whitish in colour and found close to the base of the hair shaft. The Rx: Suds up with a shampoo containing an insecticide. More and more resistant insects have been found in recent years however, and parents are turning to special heat treatments to eradicate these "Super Lice".Post-shampoo combing is also key, so be sure to get a steel lice comb (the plastic ones are useless -- don't even bother). Prevention: Watch out for group selfies! Scalp to scalp contact is a sure fire way to aid and abet these itch-causing pests.

Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease(02 of04)

Known for causing painful blisters on the inside of the mouth, the bumpy, red rash can also affect hands, the bottom of feet, and genitals. How it gets around: The gross factor here is that the virus lives in the intestines and is spread through unwashed hands and surfaces contaminated with feces. Symptoms: Small, fluid-filled blisters are usually the first sign of HFMD but can be hard to detect if only in the child's mouth. Other signs include fever and flulike symptoms. The RX: There is no treatment for HMFD outside of managing the symptoms with children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The child is considered contagious and should stay home from school as long as a fever and open blisters persist. Prevention: Encourage your child -- and the whole family -- to wash their hands often. Note to parents: The virus can live in your child's stool for up to two weeks after the blisters have subsided, so be vigilant about washing your own hands after changing diapers or helping older children in the bathroom. HFMD in adults, although more rare, is decidedly more painful!

Pinworms(03 of04)

This one's not for the faint of heart! Pinworms are parasites that hatch in the human intestines after eggs have been ingested by the host. Once hatched, the females then travel out through the child's anus where they deposit new eggs (cringe). How it gets around: Upping the ick factor here is that pinworms are spread when your child scratches their itchy bum, trapping the eggs under their fingernails for easy transfer onto surrounding surfaces. Doubly gross is the fact that the eggs can survive for up to two weeks outside of a host! Children can catch pinworms simply by putting their fingers in their mouths after touching an affected surface. Tellingly, the pests are most prevalent in school-age children between five and 10 years old. Symptoms: Your child may have a stomach ache and/or an itchy bottom. The worms can also be visible on your child's anus at night when the females are most active. The RX: Doctors can prescribe an anti-worm medication and there are over-the-counter treatments as well. Prevention: Children should wash their hands often throughout the day and avoid putting their hands in their mouths.

Impetigo(04 of04)

This bacterial skin infection causes blistering and sores and occurs most commonly on the face, neck and hands of children two to six years of age. It's gross because the blisters can be hard to look at, depending on the severity of the infection. How it gets around: Impetigo is highly contagious and spreads through skin to skincontact or by simply touching something that someone with impetigo has also touched. Symptoms: There are two types of impetigo: 1. Non-bullous, which starts out as tiny blisters that burst, leaving "weeping" patches of skin that eventually crust over;2. And bullous impetigo, characterized by larger, fluid-filled blisters that turn cloudy and stick around longer than those associated with the non-bullous form. The RX: Treatment depends on the type and severity of the rash. An over-the-counter antibiotic cream can work well on some non-bullous cases whereas oral antibiotics may be required for more serious cases or bullous impetigo. Prevention: As with most communicable diseases, hand washing goes a long way in prevention. Because the bacteria that cause impetigo can also enter the body through existing scrapes, cuts, or burns, it is important to keep these injuries covered and clean, particularly in the classroom setting.

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