Boy Defies Uniform Rule By Wearing A Skirt

A 12-year-old boy has worn a skirt to lessons in protest at his school's uniform policy which bans shorts.

Chris Whitehead says being made to wear long trousers in summer when girls can wear skirts is "discriminatory".

This week the youngster borrowed his 11-year-old sister Joanna's uniform to wear to Impington Village College, near Cambridge, to garner support for his cause.

Around 30 fellow pupils waved placards saying, "Cool shorts, not hot pants", "Shorts for the long-term" and "What's wrong with my legs?"

"In the summer, girl students are allowed to wear skirts but boys are not allowed to wear shorts," said the aspiring politician, from Histon, near Cambridge.

"I realised short skirts are allowed but shorts are not, which means there is something wrong in the rules and it should be changed.

"I thought I could use this silly loophole to my advantage.

"Wearing shorts is better because it keeps us cooler, especially at the moment because the weather recently has been really hot."

Chris wants headteacher Robert Campbell to scrap the rule created during a consultation on the school's uniform in 2009.

Mum Liz is backing her son's campaign: "I am delighted that Chris is taking action on what he believes in, which the school actually encourages, so he is only doing what he has been taught.

"I am really proud he is brave enough to wear a skirt to school for what he believes in and back him all the way."

Mr Campbell said this is not the first time the issue has arisen during summer months.

"Ultimately the boys can wear a skirt to school because it doesn't say they can't in the uniform policy and we would be discriminating against them if we did not allow it.

"Chris is a very bright and articulate student and we have got a very strong student council. He is one of only two year eight pupils on it."

Chris says he intends to continue wearing the outfit.