Why girls legs are perfectly decent in a PE skort, swimming costume or leotard, but utterly scandalous in a far longer school skirt mystifies me totally. They are at that age were they are quite shy and a lot of the girls were upset - especially as they were sharing the lesson with boys.

The skirt part makes them look like they are wearing a short skirt, but with the divided legs, they can kick and jump without worrying about what someone might see. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. Many women like the ease and freedom of the skort, and the fact that it reveals less of the figure than does a pair of shorts.

If we had to do something particularly strenuous then we were allowed to wear a useless, flappy, split-to-the-waist, micro-mini over our PE knickers, which did nothing to detract from the knickeriness of our knickers. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Sometimes people may refer to any wide legged shorts, or short pants that are above the knee as skorts. Traditionally the skort is fairly short, offering the coolness of wearing either garment, but the benefits of more modest coverage provided by shorts. I would usually get the ones that looked like skirts, with a layer of fabric on the outside, but shorts on the inside.

However, Hayward School insists it is school policy for girls to do PE lessons in knickers and the practice will continue. Past a certain point, the waistline will start to dig into my skin, but as long as I stay within a five-pound range, they fit just fine. I feel kind of vulnerable and exposed when I wear actual skirts, but skorts give me that extra feeling of security when I have to bend over.I went to a private school, and our uniform was a polo shirt and either a pair of pants or a skort (not a skirt. I don't wear short skirts, so I'm comfortable not having shorts under my long skirts, because they're pretty modest anyway. A skort is a garment that may slightly resemble a skirt, but has divided legs that give you the ability to be more active. And one mother has vowed to keep her daughter away from PE lessons and cross country until Hayward School changes the rule.

The Head will make a decision during the summer term when girls do not need blazers during exceptionally hot weather. Due to the physical nature of the subject, earrings in particular are a major concern as they can be easily caught on equipment or other students, and can cause injury and bleeding to the student wearing them or their peers. As a matter of basic safety, students are required to remove their earrings and all other jewellery items such as watches, necklaces etc. Those classic black PE shorts are available in abundance, while navy, red, burgundy, green, purple and lots more colours can be found to satisfy the colours of their school. It might take some getting used to having the front look like a skirt, but still feel like a pair of shorts.

The simple answer to school dress codes is that they evolve and change over time because let's face it, times have changed.

They're actually awesome as they give all the flexibility of just wearing short cycling shorts, but more coverage due to the skirt. Oh dear, I went to a private school and the school I went to still makes the girls wear the lovely knickers and skirt combo. Mrs June Booth says she will keep her daughter at home during PE lessons if the school continues to force her to run around in gym knickers.I know that, sadly, at a higher level there are all sorts of sexist sponsorship issues that lead to skimpy outfits for sportswomen, but why don't schoolgirls get to wear shorts and comfy t-shirts? Young people can be at their most sensitive in their early teenage years and are helped by a sensitive and supportive approach from the adults around them. Has it ever occurred to anyone that girls might become a bit more sporty if they weren't in danger of revealing their inner labia to the Upper Sixth 2nd XI every time they reached for a ball? Mrs Booth, of Tildsley Street, Great Lever, said: "Samantha says that she put on her PE skirt, which was bought as part of the school uniform regulations, but was told to take it off and run in just knickers.