Monday 13 June 2022 01:19 PM Pupils encouraged to SUE secondary school after it banned skirts in 'gender ... trends now
Campaigners have condemned a secondary school and encouraged pupils to sue after it banned all pupils from wearing skirts to create a more 'gender neutral' uniform policy.
Parents and politicians slammed the major changes at Tiverton High School in Devon after telling pupils they made 'modifications' to its school uniform and starting times.
Angie Rayner, former representative for Reform UK, said that girls should 'proudly' wear their skirts and ought to take legal action against the school if they try and expel them.
The new rule states all pupils must wear trousers when they return in September, due to a persistent problem of skirts being worn shorter than rules permit.
Currently skirts are allowed but the new rules are being enforced to create a 'more gender-neutral uniform policy,' though skirts will still be able to be worn for PE.
But the school has faced an uproar over the uniform changes.
Tiverton High School (pictured) announced that all pupils will be banned from wearing skirts, as well as telling parents that the school day would begin 30 minutes earlier at 8:30am
Newquay Council's former representative Ms Rayner said that girls should be allowed to wear their skirts, while parents said pupils have not had an opportunity for their views to be heard.
The former councillor wrote on social media: 'What if a transgender from boy to girl wanted to wear a skirt? School would soon back down then!
'Wear your skirts proudly girls then sue the school Tiverton High School and the Devon education authority if you get expelled!'
Ms Rayner stood as the Reform UK candidate for Newquay Porth & Tretherrasin last year.
But she failed to gain enough support in the area during the 2021 election and polled just four per cent of the votes.
Reform UK is the national party which grew out of the former Brexit Party led by Nigel Farage - and she was one of the first candidates from the offshoot to stand in Cornwall.
Former member of Newquay Council Angie Rayner (pictured) slammed the school after announcing a complete ban on pupils wearing skirts and encouraged schoolgirls to continue wearing skirts as part of their uniform
The former councillor took to social media following the news that Tiverton High School would move to ban skirts - as she told girls to SUE the school if they get expelled
Reacting to the uniform changes, another person added: 'How is that gender neutral.
'Surely letting pupils choose what they feel happy wearing whether it be a skirt or trousers would be a more realistic 'gender neutral' approach.'
A second wrote: 'This is ridiculous, all genders should be allowed to choose either.'
Parents with children at Tiverton High School were also told the school day will begin 30 minutes earlier with a 8.30am start.
Other changes announced include making reducing lunch times from 45 minutes to half an hour with two break times of half an hour each being introduced.
Lessons are also being made longer by reducing the number each day from six to five.
One concerned woman on social media said: 'I'm more concerned about the shortened lunch break and the longer lessons.
'First, it's bad for digestion, health and social time. And we wonder why children are stressed.
'Second, most people can't maintain effective concentration for more than 45 minutes at a time, so the last 10 minutes of each lesson will be wasted.'
In a letter, headteacher Sammy Crook said: 'We will follow other secondary schools in implementing a more gender-neutral uniform policy.
Tiverton High School headteacher Sammy Crook, said the school is following others by implementing a more 'gender-neutral uniform policy'
'Parents/carers will be pleased to know that the
