Review the Brynteg School skirt ban

Ysgol Brynteg (Brynteg Comprehensive School) located in Bridgend, South Wales are planning to implement a skirt ban for all students in September 2026. We, the students of this school, are requesting a review of the decision to ban skirts from the uniform policy that is being enforced in September 2026. This change affects the entire student body, yet students were not given a fair or representative opportunity to share their views. The reasons provided for the ban have been inconsistent, and the consultation process did not include open or meaningful discussion of the skirt ban itself. We believe that a policy of this scale should be reconsidered through a transparent, inclusive process that reflects the views of all students.

The school’s own published values emphasise equality, inclusivity, open discussion, and respect for the diverse identities within the school community. On the Brynteg school website, the Equal Opportunities statement (page 22 of the School Prospectus 2025-2026) commits to rejecting discrimination and addressing issues “through open discussions,” while the school vision page highlights that “every single pupil is valued and supported” and that “inclusivity drives all the decisions we make.” However, the process leading to the skirt ban does not reflect these principles. Students were not given an open forum to discuss the change, the consultation was limited and non-representative further demonstrating the need for a transparent and inclusive review.

One of our main concerns is that the decision was made without meaningful or transparent consultation with the student body. The pupil “focus group” meeting held involved fewer than 2% of students, was not openly advertised, and focused solely on trouser styles rather than the removal of skirts. The school has also referenced a questionnaire from 2024, but the results have not been shared and the survey predates the policy by two years, making it an unreliable basis for such a significant change.

We are also concerned by the inconsistency in the reasons provided for the skirt ban. In written communication to parents and pupils, the policy was described as promoting equality and inclusivity. However, in meetings with students (which were prompted by students), the explanations given centred on safeguarding concerns, accusations against staff, and issues with skirt length. These are significantly different justifications, and the lack of clarity makes it difficult to understand the true basis for the decision. If safeguarding is the primary concern, then targeted measures—such as clearer enforcement of existing rules or the introduction of skorts—would address these issues without removing choice. If equality is the aim, removing an option that disproportionately affects girls and gender-diverse students does not achieve this. The inconsistency in reasoning again highlights the need for a transparent review of the policy.

When students raised concerns about the skirt ban, a reasonable compromise was proposed during a meeting with school governors: allowing skorts as an alternative. Skorts would address the issues the school highlighted regarding skirt length and safeguarding, while still maintaining comfort, choice, and inclusivity for pupils. Despite this, the suggestion was rejected on the basis that the policy was “too far gone to change.” This response indicates that the decision had already been finalised before students were given any opportunity to contribute, which contradicts the school’s stated commitment to open discussion, inclusivity, and valuing pupils voice. Rejecting a practical solution for procedural reasons rather than educational or safeguarding reasons further demonstrates yet again the need for the policy to be reconsidered through a fair and transparent process.

In light of these concerns, we respectfully request that the skirt ban be paused and reviewed through a fair, open, and representative process. This review should include students from all year groups and genders, provide transparency around any previous surveys or data used to justify the change, and consider reasonable alternatives such as skorts or clearer enforcement of existing uniform expectations. We believe that a policy affecting every pupil should reflect the school’s stated commitments to inclusivity, equality, open discussion, and valuing student voice. We ask the school leadership and governing body to work with students to ensure that any final decision is transparent, inclusive, and genuinely reflective of the community it serves.

By signing this petition, you are helping ensure that every student’s voice is heard in decisions that affect their daily lives. This is not just about uniform — it’s about the core values that we embrace in Brynteg School which are: RESPECT, INDEPENDENCE, COMMUNITY, KINDNESS. As well as being included in conversations and decisions that shape our school community. If you believe that students deserve a genuine say in policies that impact them and their future, please add your name. Together, we can show that respectful, constructive student voice matters and should be taken seriously.