• Pupils told: No make-up, no short shorts, no high heels
  • Skirts must be worn one inch above the knee
  • Bra straps and cleavage must be hidden at school dances
  • School says girls need guidance to strike right balance

By Paul Harris

PUBLISHED: 18:26 EST, 18 June 2012 | UPDATED: 11:23 EST, 19 June 2012

Perish the thought that any self-respecting gal from Cheltenham Ladies' College should wish to show more than an inch of bare thigh.

And she surely wouldn't want to be caught wearing a skirt or top that revealed ... let's not shilly shally about here ... her undergarments.

But the latest guidelines from our most refined and distinguished foundation for launching teenagers into adulthood might have turned the fashion clock back a little too far.

New guidelines: Cheltenham Ladies College has reiterated its school rules about what will be tolerated during mufti days at the school.

New guidelines: Cheltenham Ladies College has reiterated its school rules about what will be tolerated during mufti days at the school.

The college has just reinforced its 'mufti' rules to remind parents and pupils of standards required by the 10,000-a-term seat of learning when it comes to casual dress.

To wit: no make-up, hair tied back; no short shorts, no high heels. Skirts must be one inch above the knee.

Absolutely no cleavage on show. Bra straps and underwear visible at school dances? Definitely not, say the guidelines – 'even when the girl moves around'.

The latest reiteration of the college's mufti charter was delivered to 11  to 18-year-olds at morning prayers before an email was sent to 'Dear Parents' by Elizabeth Stone, Vice Principal (Pastoral).

Under the heading 'Standards of Dress', it explained that there were several occasions when girls were allowed to wear mufti, such as balls, proms and socials.

No tolerance: The 10,000 a term school says pupils cannot wear make-up, have their hair tied back and not wear short shorts or high heels. Skirts must be one inch above the knee

No tolerance: The 10,000 a term school says pupils cannot wear make-up, have their hair tied back and not wear short shorts or high heels. Skirts must be one inch above the knee

Perhaps anticipating that 21st century fashion might seep into standards the college has fought to uphold, it warns: 'Long experience tells us that many girls will not strike the correct balance without guidance.'

It adds: 'The girls greatly enjoy the chance to wear mufti, and it need not be complicated. A girl who wears jeans, T-shirt and sports/Converse-type shoes cannot easily go wrong.

'It would be highly distressing if a girl had to be excluded from an event, but I must make it clear that girls may only attend a College event if properly attired.'

Last night the round-robin email appeared to have created a division among parents, with some insisting the college was merely trying to maintain the kind of dress code they expect in an age when standards are perceived to be dropping.

But one told me: 'I think they're completely out of touch with what young people are wearing these days. If you dressed a  16-year-old or 18-year-old girl in the way the college is suggesting, and sent her out to a social event, she'd be ridiculed.

'I think they like to produce a certain type of girl – and anything slightly stylish is frowned upon.'

Another -–a former pupil at the top-flight independent boarding and day school – said: 'I don't think we ever received a letter like that in my day.

'It's quite unbelievable for teenage girls in 2012.'

Mixed reaction: The announcement has created a division among parents, with some insisting the college was merely trying to maintain the kind of dress code they expect in an age when standards are perceived to be dropping

Mixed reaction: The announcement has created a division among parents, with some insisting the college was merely trying to maintain the kind of dress code they expect in an age when standards are perceived to be dropping

The latest email comes in the wake of another letter to parents last term, underlining standards of uniform.

It was sent 'so that confusion and arguments are avoided', and included a table that sets out the guidelines.

'We cannot hope to anticipate every variation,' it says. But in a list that begins with the heading 'Legs', it lays down required standards of dress.

The school in Gloucestershire charges between 9,807 and 11,048 a term for boarders and proudly boasts actresses, politicians and lawyers among old girls from more than 150 years of being 'at the forefront of girls' education' with 'a worldwide reputation for academic excellence'.

Kristin Scott Thomas, Dame Mary Archer and suffragette Annette Bear-Crawford were pupils. (So was former 'It-Girl' Tamara Beckwith, although the email doesn't mention she became pregnant at 16 while still at school there).

The college (motto: Coelesti Luce Crescat – May she grow in heavenly light) says it sent the letter in response to parents' inquiries about what their daughters should wear for 'Project Week', when they are allowed to wear mufti to take part in a range of activities including windsurfing.

Some parents also asked for guidance on dress code for social events, the college told the Daily Mail.

A statement added: 'We have found that working in collaboration with our parents has helped to balance current fashion trends with what is appropriate, bearing in mind our girls' ages range from 11 to 18.'

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

The latest is apparently that house staff have to sit with the girls, 18 and 19 year olds remember!, when they have their meals and are relaxing. It's just barking mad !! - sabi, brighton, 19/6/2012 16:06.And your point is?If you knew anything about pastoral care or parenting you would know that this is valid and essential.What did you expect when you handed your daughter over, that she would be ignored and unsupervised?What a shame that you are so ungrateful for the opportunity your daughter has been given.Lets hope CLC have done their job well and that your daughter is more appreciative of her time there than you are.

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The school is a battery farm which doesn't allow for any individuality so this rule ties in nicely. However, I think that a girl wearing a small amount of make-up and taking pride in her appearance is far better than a large proportion of girls who's hair is so greasy you could deep fry food in it. I would like Miss Stone to see if she can find shorts that end less than an inch above the knee as I'm not sure these exist in this century. Kate Middleton's dresses often end more than an inch above the knee and the whole country admires her appearance.

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The main issue that we have is not that the dress code is totally unfair as a concept, but that it is rather too severe. Most would still consider a skirt to be modest if worn about 4 inches above the knee. Who could be consumed by lust from 4 inches of thigh? Perhaps it would have been more reasonable for the school to have specified a different code for different ages with regards to formal events. An 18 year old can be attractive and feminine whereas it could be considered wrong for an 11 year old to be so. It is not thought by all of us that revealing our underwear is a good thing and we generally don't do it, it's just a few. The main issue for us is that it applies to socials and mufti days. Socials are rarely formal and shorter skirts may be worn, but not immodestly. Mufti days are largely fancy-dress, however on other occasions girls just want to be relaxed, they don't walk around in mini skirts and 6 inch heels.

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Well done! Understanding about appropriate standards of dress should be part of the education of all young people.

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i left cheltenham ladies a year ago and can safely say it was the luckiest escape ive ever had. also the vast majority of the teachers clothing there dont comply with these rules! - sophia, cheltenham, 19/6/2012 11:05 And clearly that expensive education was wasted on you, seeing as your grammar and punctuation (or lack thereof) are appalling. I went to a private girls' school and was proud to have a uniform that lent us an air of class and dignity, as opposed to the displays put on by the vast majority of the girls at the local state schools- they were a mess!- Ella, Oxford, 19/6/2012 11:52 actually it says more about the education i received there as i was never taught decent grammar. i am currently at a school where i am very proud of our uniform and of the school itself. agree abou t the local state schools though...

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HILARIOUS. I left 3 years ago and I would have been the laughing stock of Cheltenham if I followed these regulations. Good luck to the current students, you'll never meet an eligible bachelor now!

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After reading the email from the current Vice Principal Pastoral (Miss Stone) Me and all my friends think this is a ridiculous rule to be made by a VPP who just arrived. - Anonymous clc pupil, Cheltenham, 19/6/2012 14:01 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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So basically... you're telling these young girls that you control their appearance, which has absolutely nothing to do with their education, yes?

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So apparently Mrs Stone thinks we can all afford for tailor made outfits that are one inch above the knee... because if you go shopping you won't find any in the high street shops unless you want to look like a 30 year old and shop at Hobbs. Yes the school is expensive, but some forget that many families are not rolling in money after they have spent £9,000 a term! Though I completely agree with the idea of dressing more appropriately but one must be sensible and not make us look messy in jeans, a t-shirt and converse...

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This article is misleading. We have always had these rules, and they are repeated to us every year before project week. The rules are actually very sensible, we can't wear heals as this would prevent us from being able to participate in some activities, and since when has it been acceptable to have your underwear on show. The rules are specific to ensure everyone understands the rules and there are no arguments over the definitions of certain rules. I am sure many schools have similar dresscodes for mufti days, so I don't understand why this is news, most my friends are quite happy with the rules. CLC has our best interests in mind. For example, the picture above is outdated, for the past 6 years we have had a more comfortable and practicle uniform without ties, and 6th formers wear trousers.

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