A north England high school that recently banned all skirts sent several girls home on the first day of school for wearing tight pants.

The Daily Mail reports that Trentham High School, in Stoke-on-Trent, England, banned skirts after male teachers complained that they were distracting. According to Dr. Rowena Blencowe, the school's headteacher, male teachers often became embarrassed when they saw girls in skirts "walk up stairs or sit down."

On the first day of class, the school sent 15-year-old Harriet Dale home for wearing slacks that the school deemed to be too tight.

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"People were deliberately picked out," Dale said, according to the Daily Mail. "I was with a girl wearing exactly the same pair of trousers but, because I have slightly larger legs than her, I was told my trousers were too tight and that I had to go home and change.

"It's really uncomfortable to think you could be walking around the corridors and teachers will be looking you up and down. I'm not the only person who feels that way."

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(Harriet Dale in school outfit. Photo Credit: Daily Mail)

Harriet's mother, Helen, sided with her daughter.

"I'm incredibly angry," she said. "I can't believe the school is kicking up a fuss over something so minor. In the last school year it was skirts, now it's trousers.

"Harriet was understandably upset at being picked out within seconds of arriving at school."

Harriet said that the incident has already made her much more self conscious.

"I know I've got slightly bigger legs than some people, it doesn't need pointing out," Harriet said.

Out of the three pairs of slacks she has, Harriet can now only wear one.

"They are part of Next's workwear range, so how are they not suitable for school?" Helen said. "It's beyond belief."

Many schools -- especially in the U.S. -- are enforcing stricter dress codes that often target female students, according to The Guardian. Last year, West Virginia student Mackenzie Granzow went to school with a large sweatshirt and ripped jeans. Since a rip was above her knee, she said administrators threatened to suspend her when she refused to change.

“I understood the rule exists,” Granzow said, according to The Guardian, “but I believe it’s sexist and unnecessary. I told them that if any middle-aged male teacher couldn’t concentrate on teaching because of my clothing, he’s the problem – not me.”

Sources: Daily Mail, Guardian

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Daily Mail

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