Boys and teachers asked to wear skirts in Scottish school to 'break down gender stereotypes'

A Scottish primary school has requested both boys and girls where skirts for the day, in a bid to show their solidarity with a boy in Spain who was expelled for wearing a girls uniform.

Castleview Primary's P6 pupils took part in their schools 'Wear a skirt to school' campaign.

The move follows a Spanish initiative 'La ropa no tiene género', translated as 'Clothes have no gender’. The initiative was born out of 15-year-old boy being referred to a psychologist for wearing a skirt in lessons.

Students at Castleview drew up the idea, which saw pupils and teachers alike don skirts to express their support for equality, according to Edinburgh Live.

A teacher at Castleview promotes the campaign
@MissWhiteCV - Twitter

A teacher at the school, Miss White, emphasised that children who did not want to participate were free to: "We absolutely do not want to force anyone to wear something they’re not happy with but we’re hoping lots of you will be keen to help spread our important message. Trousers under skirts are allowed!"

The campaign has split parents with some praising the idea, but others are stoutly against it.

One social media media tweeted: "Ah good the school has finally be outed. Castleview shame on you.

"It's bad enough that this rubbish is being pushed at higher level, but primary? The children in your care need academic education."

However a parent responded: "My children attend this wonderful school. They are not screwed up.

"They are confident young learners who are encouraged to be unapologetically themselves and to accept and love others for who they are. Well done Castleview."

An Edinburgh Council spokesperson said: "As Scotland's capital city we are fully committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are keen to increase respect, tolerance and understanding especially in our schools.

"We want to ensure all our schools are inclusive and Castleview are carrying out a lot of positive work to promote equality across all their year groups.

"As part of this work their P6s came across the 'Clothes Have No Gender' campaign which started in Spain last year after a pupil was expelled from school for wearing a skirt.