PUPILS at a Camden secondary school claim a ban on them wearing ripped-at-the-knee jeans in the classroom is part of a backlash over their own teachers being branded scruffy by Ofsted inspectors.

Holly Heartfield has collected dozens of signatures from fellow students at Acland Burghley in Tufnell Park who say the school’s dress code rules are a sexist and knee-jerk reaction.

The 14-year-old was handed four hours in the Burghley Road’s school’s “reflection room” as punishment.

“I was thinking in the reflection room that this whole thing is stupid – it has nothing to do with anything,” said Holly. “So I got a clipboard and started the petition. They say that girls are not allowed to wear ripped jeans any more because they show off too much knee.

“It doesn’t affect boys, because boys don’t wear ripped jeans. Lots of girls wear ripped jeans and they have had to stop. I think it’s silly, and sexist. I think that boys should just have a bit more respect and, anyway, what is so special about knees? They are really not that interesting, quite ugly really. They are not going to distract anyone. I really think the school should be focusing on my education, rather than what I am wearing. ”

The school detailed what's 'acceptable' and what's 'unacceptable' in a bulletin parents last week

An Acland Burghley statement said the dress code had so far received “fantastic support” from most parents and carers and that pupils and parents had been properly informed.

Last week a newsletter went out to parents with a diagram showing how pupils must have an “unbroken line of clothing from shoulder from the top edge of the shoulders to mid thigh”, adding: “Midriffs must be covered at all times.”

Holly said that since Ofsted published scathing inspection report last year, the school’s management had panicked.

One criticism of the school’s headteacher at the time, Jo Armitage, told her: “Some staff take your lead and dress in a business-like fashion. However, in other cases, teachers’ attire is too casual.”

Holly added: “They [the teachers] told us they had been criticised for being scruffy and that ripped jeans are scruffy. One of the new rules is that you can only hang out with four people in the playground, which no one adheres to because it’s impossible and silly.”

After refusing to change her clothes or wear a baggy tracksuit offered to her from the 

PE room, Holly was cautioned with a “yellow card” – a football-style system for maintaining order, which has also recently been adopted by the school.

Holly’s dad James Heartfield, a journalist, said the school – which does not have a regulation uniform – rang him and asked him to bring in a change of clothes or pick her up, but he refused as he “fully supported” her.

He said: “Of course they have a right to enforce the dress code. But it seems that they were fixated on the girls. I wonder how many boys had been sent home?”

The school has recently received encouraging follow-up reports from Ofsted which say it is now back on track after a turbulent period.

In a statement, Acland Burghley said: “Several weeks ago, we clarified to students that there should be no rips in clothes. A few individuals were unhappy with this decision. One parent criticised the decision as sexist but the dress code applies to both boys and girls. For example, we do not allow students to wear hats in school and, although more boys wear hats than girls, we do not regard it as an ‘anti-boy’ element of our dress code.

“We ask parents, carers and families to work with us to uphold our policies and we mostly enjoy fantastic support from Acland Burghley parents and carers. They have particularly encouraged us and backed us with our work to improve standards of behaviour, which was described as ‘transformed’ in Ofsted’s most recent inspection visit.”