A mixed state secondary school has banned skirts because its girls have been wearing them too short.

The new uniform regulations at Keswick High School, near Ipswich, require girls to wear trousers to school to stop them turning up for lessons in miniskirts.

The decision was made after consultations with parents, pupils and teachers. The new rules will come into effect in September.

Margaret Young, the chairman of the school governors, said: "Two years ago we sent out a letter to parents asking them to make sure skirts were regulation length, which is just above the knee. The impact was short lived and it wasn't long before skirts were very short again."

George Thomas, the school's head teacher, said the ban was necessary because some girls' skirts were impractical as well as immodest.

Mrs Young, whose three grandchildren go to the school, said that the school was simply trying to enforce a uniform code.

She said: "Parents might see their daughter go to school in one skirt but they change to another, shorter one, at school or they roll up the top to make them look shorter. Some are practically pelmets.

"Teachers waste a lot of time talking to pupils about uniform."

Most parents have welcomed the uniform change. "Some have said they were concerned about the safety of their children walking home," said Mrs Young.

The father of a 15-year-old girl at the school said: "It is an extreme measure but I can see their point. Yet surely they could enforce a regulation skirt rather than ban them."

The Equal Opportunities Commission said that this was the first case they had heard of in which a school had banned skirts.

A spokesman said: "There have been many cases of girls wanting to wear trousers at school but not the other way round.

"From a legal point of view the issue is whether the uniform is more restrictive for girls than boys."

(Agencies)