A text message sent from a headteacher at a Darlington secondary school telling parents/guardians to ensure their daughters wear tights has caused confusion and controversy.

Longfield Academy’s official uniform policy on the school’s website states: “If tights are worn, they must be plain and not patterned,” meaning tights are not a strict requirement.

This contrasts the text message that suggests tights are mandatory: “If your child wears a skirt, please ensure they wear black tights. This is for modesty and decency purposes. Thank you.”

The difference between the official uniform policy and the text message has resulted in confusion for some readers on social media.

Read more: Darlington headteacher's text about girls uniform branded 'sexist and inappropriate'

Tina McCluskie said: “Is the head teacher a dinosaur?”

Laura Povall said: “Rules are rules.”

Alison Etherington said: “Wow…I have to say…black tights in the weather we have just had…”

Jimmy Wilson said: “I totally agree, modesty is a virtue a lot of these girls roll the waistband up so high they might as well use a tie as their skirt.”

Read more: Darlington boy runs 10km and raises £500 for charity after losing friend to cancer

Trish Render Laverick: “Our children as they grow are learning how to be a normal adult…short skirts...hair dyed. It is called being a teenager and expressing yourself.”

Ally Heslop said: “Hummersknott have to wear tights it’s ridiculous as way too hot in summer and can cause issues for girls (thrush etc) so not actually good. If worried about teachers seeing legs surely they shouldn’t be in a teaching role if not trusted????”

Should schoolgirls have to wear black tights in summer? Let us know your opinion.

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