A NEW school uniform unveiled at Middlewich High School has been slammed by parents and pupils for looking like an outfit for public school children.

Parents fear their children could be bullied and 'become a laughing stock' if they are forced to wear pleated skirts and gilded blazers.

Families say they are also worried about the cost of replacing the entire uniform and buying a new PE kit.

The school plans to introduce grey check pleated skirts with a crest badge at the waist to stop girls rolling up their current straight dark grey skirts to make them shorter.

Grey blazers with gilded collars are proposed to replace the current navy blue ones for boys and girls.

White shirts will take the place of the current pale blue ones.

One mum said: "I think it could incite bullying and make our kids a laughing stock. It's like a boarding school uniform, something from Hogwarts!"

Another mum said: "Everything I buy I chuck in a dryer. You don't have to worry about ironing. How are we going to keep these pleated skirts looking smart?"

The proposed new look, to be introduced over three years from September 2020, was snatched on a mobile phone and posted on social media as it was showcased to pupils before they broke up for Christmas.

Northwich Guardian:

The proposed new uniform was showcased to pupils before they broke up for Christmas

"Nobody likes it at all," said one mum. "I think it's awful. The boys look like something from Showaddywaddy!"

One mum, who approves of changing the skirts, said:"Girls these days are a bit more curvy and the current skirts don't have a proper shape to them so the girls end up rolling them up at the waist.

"I can see where they're coming from trying to make the uniform look better but I can't understand why they have to change everything."

In a letter, parents were told that the school wants to ensure a 'cost effective, ethical, environmentally friendly, good quality uniform'.

The current supplier SWI/Banner will continue to offer an online ordering service.

Headteacher Heidi Thurland said: "We have listened to concerns of community around the length of the girls’ skirts and the quality of the current uniform. The proposed uniform has been designed with the purpose of raising the standard of expectations and aspirations amongst our pupils.

Northwich Guardian:

Headteacher Heidi Thurland believes the new uniform will raise the standard of expectations and aspirations of pupils

"We have also taken this opportunity to improve quality of our PE kit. The uniform has not been reviewed for a significant number of years, and it is appropriate that it is done now.

"The school will be phasing the new uniform in over a three-year period and will be supporting parents with costs, particularly where families have more than one child at the school.

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"We will also be providing one new tie to all pupils free of charge. Those pupils moving into year 11 in September 2020 are under no obligation to move to the new uniform. Whilst the new uniform will be compulsory for those starting in years 8-10 in September 2020, the new PE kit will be optional until September 2021.

"The year 7 intake for September 2020 will be the only year group for which the new uniform and PE kit will be compulsory. Skirts will be badged, as they are now, however school trousers are still to be sourced by parents, as they are currently.

"The new school skirt is manufactured from 100 per cent recycled materials and the supplier is looking to become 100 per cent environmentally friendly in the near future. This fits with the school values of being a sustainable school.

"Middlewich High School wishes to be associated with excellence and the new uniform will be a part of this journey."