Overview

• Newhouse Academy will require all pupils to wear plain black school trousers from September, replacing girls’ skirts with a trousers-only dress code.
• The school held an extended listening period with parents, staff and the student council before finalising the uniform change.
• Leaders say the policy has significant support locally and follows successful trousers-only or gender-neutral shifts at nearby secondary schools.
• Some parents argue the ban restricts girls’ ability to express femininity and forces a masculine appearance.
• Although there is no legal requirement to consult on uniform rules, Newhouse Academy opted for formal outreach to manage community response.