One mum said the policy was 'like a return to the Dark Ages' and claims dozens were affected at the start of the new school year
Parents are fuming after a school turned girls away on the first day of term - for not wearing tights that would 'protect their modesty'.
Pupils who failed to turn up to the Winsford Academy in Cheshire with tights under their skirts on Tuesday were told their only other option was to wear black trousers.
One mum said the policy was 'like a return to the Dark Ages' and claims dozens were affected at the start of the new school year.
It comes after an amendment in the school's uniform policy, which some parents claim they did not know about despite the school saying they were informed in July.
The Winsford Academy says it published a newsletter at the end of the summer term asking girls to wear knee length skirts and black tights to 'ensure their modesty was protected'.
A section titled 'Uniform for September 2017' reads: "The design of the Academy means that there is a greater than average set of staircases in the school and I would ask you to consider your daughter’s modesty when buying a skirt that is too short.
"If you could further support us by ensuring your daughter’s wear tights it would ensure that their modesty was even further protected."
Nicki Barnett, 45, says her 15-year-old daughter Kira was sent home on Tuesday.
She said: "My daughter was told 'go home and put tights on or come into the library and we will give you a pair'.
"So my daughter and her best friend came home and put on a pair of tights."
She claimed the tights they were offered by the school were thin, so in terms of 'protecting their modesty', they wouldn't have done much.
"I'm all for wearing uniforms, don't get me wrong, but it's the statement made - 'to protect their modesty'," she said.
"It's like going back to the dark ages, with girls not allowed to show any flesh.
"You're telling me that by not wearing tights they're not going to get far in life?
"I don't wear tights and I work for a bank, so I don't see how they can make that kind of statement.
"I know a few of the year sevens were distressed. There was upset and tears. It's daunting enough anyway starting a new school. "
Huge well done to our students today for working so hard. Lots of smiling faces and tales of learning as they left school. Great job
Lots of smiling faces???? Lots of frustrated ones too!!! The ones who had socks on instead of tights!!! #whatsthepoint
I'm quite curious to know how you landed on the correlation that wearing tights has a direct link to raising aspirations, professionalism...
Sarah Mort, whose daughters Zoe, 16, and Mollie, 12, are pupils at Winsford, has also hit out at the rule.
The 32-year-old mum claims the first she heard of it was on Monday evening when she was sent a text message by the school.
She says Zoe was also sent home because she was wearing knee high socks instead of tights, and returned with some of her friends who'd also apparently been turned away.
Sarah argued that tights irritate Zoe, who told her mum between 30 and 40 people had been sent home, something the school denies.
"What are they going to do in the summer when it's warm?" Sarah asked.
"There are lots of girls with problems with their skin who can't wear tights."
About 50 girls were sent home according to local paper the Winsford Guardian , a number which Nicki thinks is roughly correct having spoken to several parents.
But the school has denied that many were affected, claiming only five students were "having difficulty with the change".
Headteacher Amanda Harrison said: "We have amended our school policy this year and ask our students who wish to wear skirts that they wear black tights.
"If not, they have the option of wearing smart black trousers instead.
"We are working with the local community, including MPs and the NHS, to provide opportunities for our students and it is important they look smart.
"There are only five pupils that are having difficulty with the change and over 99% if the students are happy with the changes.
"There were not 50 students sent home, some parents came to collect their children because they wanted them to be able to fit in and be comfortable, so brought them back with the appropriate uniform.
"We've had an overwhelming positive response to the uniform change.
"We amended our school uniform policy this year, which parents were notified about in letters sent out in July."
The uniform section of the newsletter sent out in the summer says: "We are not making any changes to the uniform for this year but respectfully ask parents to support us by ensuring that school skirts bought are of a respectful length.
"We are becoming increasingly concerned about the length of some of our girls’ skirts from a safeguarding issue, especially when worn with socks.
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