Students campaign for school uniform rule changes in Northern Ireland

Astrid and Rhea were behind a successful campaign at their school to change uniform rules, but are now taking their fight to the government

Rhea and Astrid, who are both 11-years-old, are two school pupils on a mission.

The friends, from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, successfully campaigned for their school to change its uniform rules, so girls can choose between wearing skirts and trousers.

Now, they are trying to persuade the Northern Irish government to change the law so that every school has to offer the choice of whether to wear skirts or trousers to their students.

Rhea and Astrid said it's "weird and unfair" that some schools still enforce skirts.

Rhea told the BBC: "I didn't really like being made to wear a skirt, it just felt wrong. It's 2025".

And Astrid said, she thought it was "important to have the choice for our privacy and for our comfort".

Does your school offer girls the choice between skirts and trousers?

Some schools in Northern Ireland, and around the rest of the UK, already allow girls to have a choice between wearing trousers and skirts.

But others still make skirts compulsory for female pupils.

Astrid and Rhea's school changed its policy after the girls wrote a letter with the help of Dr Mairead Ryan, a mental health campaigner.

Her research outlined a link between school uniforms and physical activity.

Dr Ryan said: "Gendered uniforms can limit girls' movement and engagement in physical activities."

"Uniform items like dresses and skirts can restrict certain movements and inhibit young girls from climbing, jumping, and participating in other forms of active play that are crucial for their development," she added.

"It's quite hard to run around without your skirt blowing up in the wind," Rhea added.

"All schools have the power to change it so if you have the power, then I think you probably should."

The Minister for Education of Northern Ireland, Paul Givan, told BBC News the decision lies with individual schools and their boards of governors.

But Rhea and Astrid have now taken their case to the home of the Northern Ireland government, Stormont, where they spoke at an education committee looking into broad changes to school uniform law.

Chris Quinn, Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, said: "The girls have articulated in their words how wearing trousers would make such a big difference. Not only to their education but also to their play time, to their privacy and to other areas of their lives.

"I believe that it needs to be legislated on because that would remove any doubt."

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