Grammar school girls accuse teachers of 'sexualising' them for banning short sleeves in hot weather

Students at a top girls' grammar schoolhave accused teachers of "sexualising" them for banning short sleeves in hot weather.

The girls have launched a petition to end "oppressive and demeaning" uniform rules which ban students from wearing strappy or sleeveless tops or revealing their shoulders.

Sixth form pupils at Simon Langton Girl's Grammar School are rallying to get teachers to overturn rules restricting the type of tops they can wear, arguing they were not trying to "flaunt anything".

More than 130 people have backed the online campaign, which was launched as temperatures soared into the high twenties this week as the country basks in a heatwave.

The students want the school, founded in 1881 and with 1,025 girls aged 11 to 18, to reconsider their policy arguing they should be able to feel "comfortable" in a school environment.

The petition reads: "Many of the students in the SLGGS sixth form have disagreed with the dress code rule that states girls should not wear strappy or sleeveless tops that reveal shoulders.

"This rule encourages the disturbing sexualisation of young girls' bodies, most of which are underage.

"The argument that shoulders shouldn't be seen in a workplace is irrelevant, as our generation is the future workforce.

"It is our job to change the oppressive and demeaning standards that women are forced to abide by, or nothing will change in the future."

One student, year 12 pupil Ania Franzcuk, told Mail Online: "I don't think that any clothing changes will affect pupils work. Whatever they wear they are going to work it is not going to make any difference. 

"The clothing that we wear at the girls school and the individuality it shows is really good for our school. 

"But if you are not comfortable you are not going to be able to work well."

Pupils at the selective grammar in Canterbury, Kent, are permitted to wear their own clothes in Years 12 and 13 but must abide by a strict dress code.

Writing on a public school forum, a pupil who launched the campaign cited feminist critic Laura Mulvey and said women were only forced to cover up due to the oppressive male gaze.

She wrote: "I understand that the rules in place are somewhat important, but I am not arguing that bikini tops or very short shorts should be allowed.

"The only reason that 'boobs and bum cheeks' are deemed inappropriate for school is because of oppression women have received from the male gaze over the years."

She added: "I speak for myself and many others when I say we aren't trying to 'flaunt' anything.

"Nudity shouldn't be sexualised, I'm not sure what I've got and I'm not trying to flaunt it to anybody, I just want to feel comfortable in a school environment."

Head teacher Dr Matthew Baxter, who is head of the Simon Langton Boy's school as well as the sister school, said: "The subject was discussed with the deputy heads and it has been decided that both Langton schools will ensure that the same dress code applies to all students within their sixth form."