Girls have been returning to Guiseley School in trousers as the first phase of a skirt ban comes into force.

The school says parents have shown overwhelming support for the uniform changes – and although trousers will not become compulsory until January there has already been a noticeable increase in the number of girls wearing them.

From this term trousers have become the preferred uniform option – and from January skirts will be banned altogether.

The new measures have been introduced in reaction to pupils flouting rules and wearing skirts at “indecent” lengths.

As the new term began this week deputy head teacher Alison Mander said: “The parents I have spoken to have been overwhelmingly supportive. It is only our first full day back and we feel there is a noticeable increase in the number of trousers being worn by girls already.”

Earlier this year the school warned that youngsters were placing themselves in ‘undignified situations’ by wearing their skirts too short.

Miss Mander told parents girls were leaving home with their skirts at the correct length but then rolled them up to make them shorter. In a letter to parents, head teacher Paul Morrissey said continuing problems had led to the issuing of specific guidelines about length last September – but the majority of girls had continued to disregard school rules.

He said: “There are too many arguments with girls and their parents and teachers about correct skirt length. This causes confrontation at home and at school.

“External drivers are very powerful. Examples include media images of women being increasingly sexualised and retailers selling inappropriate clothes for young girls.

“The expectation is now that skirts and dresses have to be short to be fashionable and desirable.

“School uniforms are designed to take away the pressure to conform to certain fashions and trends. By allowing girls to wear skirts as they do currently, the purpose of the skirt as a means to allow everyone to fit in and not succumb to peer pressure is lost.”

He told parents skirts were creating a climate too focussed on outward appearance and too little focussed on teaching and learning.

Editor's note: Due to a production error, this story did not appear in the print version of this week's Wharfedale Observer.