Chris WhiteheadSWNS


Chris Whitehead made headlines last summer when he wore a skirt to school in protest at boys not being allowed to wear shorts in the summer months.

He has now won a trial run of shorts for boys at his school, Impington Village College in Cambridge.

Chris, 13, wanted boys to be able to wear shorts in the warm summer months, just like girls are allowed to wear skirts, instead of sweltering in trousers. He was so determined to get the uniform changed, he turned up to class in his sister's skirt to make his point.

A year later and he has finally got his school to allow boys to wear shorts - but only for a trial run, following a three-month consultation with pupils, parents and staff.

"It's great that after a year changes have started to happen, and we can wear shorts, but other students and I think it's a shame that only a little has changed after such a long uniform review," aspiring politician Chris told the Cambridge News.

"It seems that the adults influenced the decision more than the students themselves."

Sandra Morton, vice-principal, said: "We have agreed that from the half-term we will give students the opportunity to wear plain black shorts until the end of term.

"We have emphasised the difference between holiday and school time in that school is a place of work and are keen to hear the feedback on whether wearing shorts has had a positive or negative impact on learning."

Go Chris!

What teenagers say

  • It's so unfair
    <p> Used by girls aged 13 - 18 to describe almost anything &nbsp;- &nbsp;from having to get up in the morning to being asked by a teacher to unroll their school skirt to mid-thigh. Usually muttered under the breath when the offending adult is out of earshot.</p>
    It's so unfair
  • When's tea?
    <p> Usually a very important question asked <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/07/11/surviving-teenagers-or-why-boys-eat-so-much/" target="_blank">repeatedly</a> throughout the afternoon from around 2pm onwards.</p>
    When's tea?
  • I ran out of credit
    <p> What teenagers say when you haven't been able to get hold of them all evening, even though they promised to stay in touch. Loosely interchangeable with 'I couldn't get a signal.'</p>
    I ran out of credit
  • I'm doing it
    <p> Standard response to any practical request, like &quot;Could you get everything off the <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/09/05/surviving-teenagers-or-what-the-neighbours-saw/" target="_blank">floor</a> in your room so I can hoover it?&quot;. Always completely inaccurate description of what's actually going on (because he or she is, in fact, texting/watching TV/catching up on Facebook).</p>
    I'm doing it
  • Can I have £10?
    <p> Why? Who knows. You have become a hole in the wall: as the parent of a teenager, that's your job.</p>
    Can I have £10?
  • Can you pick me up?
    <p> All teenagers know that their parents secretly want second jobs as taxi drivers. They do their very best to help them practise.</p>
    Can you pick me up?
  • Don't worry
    <p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt; ">General response to any nervous parent asking for more information about an all-night party/bad exam result/lost house keys/late coursework. Guaranteed to make any panicky adult <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/10/31/surviving-teenagers-worrying-if-they-ll-ever-get-jobs/" target="_blank">worry</a> even more.</span></p>
    Don't worry