Schoolboy Ed Ellson had to sit an exam in isolation after he turned up wearing a skirt in protest at uniform rules.

Teachers at Ringmer Community College, near Lewes, deemed Ed's black knee-length skirt too distracting and made him sit in a separate room to other students for the maths exam.

But the 15-year-old, who is sitting three GCSEs a year early and eventually hopes to go to Cambridge, claims the rules which state boys are not allowed to wear skirts at school are outdated and sexist.

Ed, from Ringmer, mimicking soccer star David Beckham who famously wore a sarong, said: "At my school they say only girls can wear skirts and I believe that's sex discrimination against boys.

"I wore a skirt on Tuesday for about an hour but I was taken to the head's office. I was told to put my trousers back on because in society men don't wear skirts.

"The head said if we went for a job it would not be acceptable so we're not allowed to wear them at school. They made me take the skirt off but I put it back on at break.

"At lunchtime I told a teacher it was against the law for them to make me change into my trousers.

"In the Sex Discrimination Act it says schools should ensure their uniform policy does not discriminate on the grounds of gender. When I had my maths GCSE exam in the afternoon they made me sit in a separate room because I was still wearing the skirt."

Ed has sent a letter to the head and governors and plans to hand in a petition signed by more than 100 students.

He also has the support of his mother Alison, a pre-school teacher, although she is concerned about it affecting his exam results.

She said: "The issue for Ed is the boys don't have the choice but the girls do. I agree with him but I want to find a solution that's good for both sides.

"Ed's pretty hot on discrimination. I'm really proud he's done all the research on this properly.

"It all started when the school sent letters to parents reminding them of the school uniform rules and saying all students must abide by them from June 7.

"That was like a red rag to a bull for Ed. He made his point by wearing a skirt."

The 48-year-old mother-of-two is due to meet teachers next week.

College principal Kathy Stonier said the rules on school uniform - a green sweater and black trousers for boys, black trousers or skirt for girls - were there to prepare students for the workplace.

She said: "I don't have an issue with his viewpoint, just the way he went about it.

"Ringmer has a reputation for listening to students but there are ways of going about things, such as through the student council or the governors.

"The classroom is preparation for the outside world and the workplace. Unless you get a job in certain branches of the media or the arts, you have to wear some sort of uniform."

She said the preventative measure of putting Ed in a different room for his exam was taken to protect other students.

Ms Stonier said: "We had a reasoned talk with Ed but there was an exam on Tuesday and we didn't want the children to be diverted by this issue."