School sends girls home in wrong trousers row

Alex Johnstone (left) and Ellie Cavanagh model the wrong trousers

A SECOND Oldham secondary has been caught up in a school uniform row — this time for sending girls home for wearing tight trousers.

Parents have criticised Oasis Academy Oldham, Hollins for making their daughters miss several days of school. It followed a controversial decision by Saddleworth School to enforce strict school shoe rules.

Oasis rules say girls should wear black trousers or a knee-length skirt with the academy logo, and skinny trousers are specifically forbidden

But four parents say their daughters have fallen foul of the rules after struggling to find acceptable trousers that fit. They have criticised the school for telling the girls their trousers are too tight -because it could hit their self-esteem.

Philip Woodall, from Limeside, was told to take his daughter Bethany home on the first day of school because her trousers weren’t acceptable. He asked if the 15 year old could return to school until he could afford to buy trousers on pay day, but alleges she was taken out of lessons and had to sit in an office all day. he went to the school yesterday to get a new pair approved.

“My daughter is bigger-built and I can’t find any pants as loose fitting as the school wants. She has just started year 10, the start of the most important two years of secondary school. It seems ludicrous they are refusing to educate her.”

Year 10 friends Ellie Cavanagh and Alex Johnstone, both 14, were also affected.

Alex’s mum Natalie Johnstone, from Hollins, said: “The school rang to say they were sending her home.

“I can’t believe this requires her to be removed from school.

Single mum Christine Cavanagh, from Hollins, said Ellie was sent home too: “Other girls are wearing the same pants. I class it as discrimination because some girls have bigger legs than others.”

Another parent, who did not want to be named, said both of her daughters had missed school because of the issue, adding: “I do not think it’s fair.”

A spokesman for Oasis Academy Oldham said: “We do not comment publicly on individual incidents of student discipline. We are confident that our uniform policy is both appropriate and beneficial.”