Students slam school’s ‘ridiculous’ strict dress code for their formal – claiming they are being forced to ‘hide their bodies’
- A school banned dresses shorter than ankle-length, low necklines and splits
- A student claimed to the rules forced students to hide their bodies
- Principal said code was pushed for by students and she hadn’t gotten feedback
Students are worried they will be turned away from their high school formal after a dress code was put in place.
Kerikeri High School in New Zealand has banned dresses shorter than ankle-length, plunging necklines and splits.
The school also mandated suits need to be one colour, and ties must be worn at the event on July 27.
The New Zealand school banned dresses shorter than ankle-length, plunging necklines and splits (stock image)
A final-year student told the New Zealand Herald the rules forced students to hide their bodies.
‘By saying they want to be more gender and body inclusive, the dress code they’ve stated does the opposite of that,’ they said.
‘Because of this, many people go to the ball and feel uncomfortable in what they are wearing.’
The student added members of the grade had to pay additional costs to get their dresses altered to meet the requirements.
A second student said the rules were ‘ridiculous and getting turned away would be ‘devastating’.
Principal Elizabeth Forgie has previously said the dress code was pushed for by students and she hadn’t received feedback.
The student added members of the grade had to pay additional costs to get their dresses altered to meet the requirements.
The ball has always been formal but students wanted a dress code to ‘avoid confusion’.
Ms Forgie said the code wasn’t gender-specific and catered to all.
‘The last thing the students wanted is that someone might misinterpret what has always been a written guidance and we don’t want to spoil anybody’s night,’ she said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kerikeri High School for comment.