WELLINGTON Point State High School will give female students the option of wearing skorts from January after staff, students and parents felt it was time for a change.
It comes as Education Minister Grace Grace announced a revamped dress code that requires state schools offer more uniform choices, including shorts and pants.
At about 40 per cent of Queensland’s state schools, female students only have the option of wearing skirts and dresses.
Wellington Point State High School principal Robyn Burton-Ree said their dress code had been reviewed by a uniform committee.
“Earlier this year it was decided and approved by the parents and citizens association that skorts for all female students would be implemented and available to them at the commencement of 2019,” Dr Burton-Ree said.
“In the meantime, both girls and boys wear shorts for their sports uniform and girls can wear the formal shorts if they wish.”
Dr Burton-Ree said trousers had been part of their uniform for years but there was a push for skorts.
“Female students have indicated that not only would they be more comfortable in skorts but they feel that they can participate in physical or sporting activities at lunch times with confidence,” she said.
Ms Grace said change was needed to reflect community expectations.
“We know around 60 per cent of state schools are already offering these uniform options for girls, but we found that some schools had not updated their student dress codes in many years,” she said.
“All Queensland girls should be able to engage in active play and classroom activities or ride their bikes to and from school without being restricted by what they’re wearing.”
Reaction to the policy change
Asked for opinions on the new policy, mums said many state schools already offered options.
“I have one child at Mount Cotton State School and one at Cleveland High and girls have the option of shorts and pants at both schools,” Rachel Quinlan said.
“It has been like that for many years.”
Mother Carrie Elizabeth said girls at Hillard State School had the option of skorts, shorts and tracksuit pants.
She was surprised that some schools did not have these choices.
“They should definitely be given the option and from a mum’s (of both boys and girls) perspective, it is easier to have a unisex uniform to get more wear and hand down,” she said.
Redland City Bulletin contacted private secondary schools for comment as to whether they were considering a uniform change but none had responded at the time of publication.
Independent Schools Queensland executive director David Robertson said independent schools determined uniform policies with their parent communities.
“New parents are informed about a school’s uniform requirements on enrolment along with other school expectations,” he said.
“Any discussions about updating uniform policies are a matter for individual schools in consultation with their parent communities.”