FOUR teenage boys went to school wearing skirts yesterday in protest at a new policy forbidding them from wearing shorts despite the hot weather.

The Longhill High School pupils were taking a stand following the school’s decision to punish boys who chose to wear school-issued PE shorts, rather than trousers, on Tuesday on the hottest day of the year.

Michael Parker, 14, told The Argus: “It’s not fair for boys to be roasting in black trousers on the hottest day of the year while the girls can wear skirts.”

On Tuesday around 20 boys were punished by the school in Falmer Road, Rottingdean, after dressing in a way the school said was not regulation uniform.

Some were sent home, and others kept in isolation, and excluded the following day.

Despite the fact that they were in Longhill-branded gym shorts, new head Kate Williams said at the time: “Students have access to water in order to keep themselves hydrated. We have made reasonable steps to ensure that classrooms are as comfortable as possible.

“I have high standards regarding uniform and today in the warm weather, these high standards have been challenged by approximately two per cent of parents/students.”

Yesterday Michael Parker, Kodi Ailing, George Boyland and Jesse Stringer, all 14-year-olds in Year 9 at the school, chose cooler clothing which was part of the official uniform.

Michael added: “I think the rule should be, that boys should be able to wear shorts in extreme weather, in the summer.”

In a statement issued to The Argus, headteacher Kate Williams said: "Four male students at Longhill High School chose to wear a skirt to school today. Students can choose to wear any part of the agreed school uniform".

Michael’s mother Angela Parker said: “We’re fully in support of them. I think what the headmistress is doing is discrimination and I’m extremely proud of Michael and his fellow protesters. It’s taken a heck of a lot for teenage boys to go to school wearing skirts.”

She said that the policy was a change introduced by Miss Williams since she became headteacher at Easter.

Michael and his friends insisted they would be continuing their breezy protest today - on the last day of term.