Burrows backs legislation to guarantee Northern Ireland schoolgirls the right to wear trousers

Girls in Northern Ireland could soon be guaranteed the right to wear trousers to school under proposed legislation progressing through the Assembly, with North Antrim MLA and Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows describing the move as a matter of “common sense and personal choice”.

The UUP leader and the party’s education spokesperson welcomed the Bill’s progress after supporting its Second Stage debate in the Assembly on Wednesday, July 1.

The legislation seeks to ensure that all pupils are permitted to wear trousers as part of their school uniform, ending any remaining restrictions which could prevent girls from choosing trousers instead of skirts.

Burrows says debate has become unnecessarily controversial

Jon Burrows MLA

Speaking following the debate, Mr Burrows said the proposed law was straightforward in both its purpose and intent.

“Yesterday, I was pleased to support the Second Stage of a Bill ensuring that girls can wear trousers to school if they choose,” he said.

“This is a matter of common sense and personal choice. Nobody should be telling girls they must wear a skirt when they would rather wear trousers.”

The MLA said it was important that parents and pupils understood exactly what the legislation would do, while also addressing what he described as misconceptions surrounding the proposal.

Bill focused solely on trousers option

Mr Burrows stressed that the legislation has a single objective — ensuring that pupils can wear trousers as part of their school uniform if they wish.

“It is important to be clear about what this legislation does and, just as importantly, what it does not do,” he said.

“The Bill has one stated purpose: to ensure that all pupils are permitted to wear trousers as part of their school uniform. That is the entirety of its intent.”

He rejected suggestions that the legislation could pave the way for wider changes to school uniform policies.

“Any suggestion that it could lead to boys wearing skirts, or introduce gender-neutral school uniforms, is simply incorrect.”

Education Committee intervention highlighted

Mr Burrows revealed that during his work on the Assembly’s Education Committee, he had intervened specifically to ensure the legislation remained tightly focused on allowing pupils access to trousers rather than broader changes to uniform policy.

“Indeed, during my work on the Education Committee, I intervened specifically to propose that the Bill be confined to allowing all pupils to wear trousers, rather than pushing gender-neutral uniforms,” he said.

“That approach made this a common-sense Bill capable of attracting broad political support.

“The focus remained exactly where it should be: giving pupils the option to wear trousers.”

Criticism of DUP position

The UUP leader said he believed the issue should never have become politically contentious and criticised the DUP for not backing similar changes through revised school uniform guidance.

“Parents and pupils believe in common sense, and so do I,” he said.

“This issue should never have become controversial. The DUP had the opportunity to support this sensible change through the new school uniform guidance. Instead, that opportunity was missed, and legislation became necessary.”

Mr Burrows concluded by reiterating his support for giving schoolgirls the option to choose trousers as part of their uniform.

“If any schoolgirl in Northern Ireland wants to wear trousers to school, she should be able to, and the DUP should be supporting that.”

The Bill has now cleared its Second Stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly, marking the next step in the legislative process as MLAs continue scrutiny of the proposed change to school uniform rules.

If ultimately passed, the legislation would provide a legal guarantee that girls across Northern Ireland schools can choose to wear trousers as part of their uniform, regardless of individual school policies.