School denies underwear checks

WINCHESTER, England, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A Winchester, England, school has denied claims that teachers have been checking students' underwear to be sure they comply with the dress code.

Parents of 11- through 16-year-old students at Kings School said their students were told during assemblies that boys are only to wear white or black underpants and girls are to only wear white or light-colored unpadded bras, The Daily Mail reported Thursday.

Some students claimed teachers were performing "spot checks" to ensure students were following the underwear rules.

Stuart Gander, whose daughters Chelsea, 15 and Kirby, 13, attend the school, said his children were told that the school considers colored bras "offensive."

"They were told they had to wear white ones or very light pale bras and they would be spot checked," Gander said. "You wouldn't be able to do that in a work place so why should you be able to do that at school?"

However, a school spokeswoman said female students were merely told what was appropriate dress for the school as a way to prepare them for the workplace.

"There is no rule, we are not checking underwear. We are not checking girls' bra straps and we have certainly not had an assembly with any of the boys telling them what color underwear to wear."