A SECONDARY school closed the gate on its own pupils yesterday as a protest about a “sexist” uniform policy descended into chaos.

More than 150 furious parents and pupils at Lewes Priory protested on the first day of term, demanding the school reverse a decision banning girls from wearing skirts.

The students, some wearing skirts, then tried to get into the school past the teachers and police officers who were standing guard at the entrance checking uniforms.

Overwhelmed school officials then decided to lock the gate on its own pupils – some in the correct uniform – leaving more than 100 outside.

Furious parent Karen Sansusi confronted teachers as the gates were shut on the children.

She said: “The arrogance is unbelievable.

“I asked whether the uniform is more important than my son’s education and they wouldn’t answer.”

The school forced all pupils to wear trousers in 2017 after “concerns” were raised over the length of skirts and to cater for its transgender pupils.

In effect, the decision banned all female pupils from wearing skirts.

At the time, the school said only new students would be required to wear the new uniform.

But days before the end of last term, it announced that all students, not just newcomers, would be required to wear the “gender neutral” uniform.

Parents have branded the uniform “sexist”.

Parent Sheila Cullen, 57, said: “This disproportionately affects girls as they are the ones having to change uniform, not the boys.

“The school is, and always has been, obsessed with the length of girls’ skirts.

“This policy is sexist, it’s not about being gender neutral, they are just using that to justify the new policy.”

Another parent, who did not want to be named, agreed the school was “obsessed with skirts”.

She said: “One teacher once even made my daughter kneel on the floor to measure the length of her skirt.”

After being turned away from the gates, the pupils held placards against the window of the staff room before being moved on by police.

Others rushed to the front of the building and banged on the door shouting “let us in” after realising it had also been locked.

Some remained at the school gates holding a sitdown protest while other pupils attempted to climb the fence to get in to school.

Jeers could be heard as a female staff member was seen wearing a skirt.

One boy was also seen parading around in a skirt.

A small group of rowdy pupils threw liquid over the fence in an attempt to hit staff.

Pupil Sefia Salih, 12, who was stuck outside in the chaos, was wearing the correct uniform.

She said she was “annoyed” that she could not attend her lessons.

She said: “My friends were in the right uniform but they have gone home now.

“I’m with the protesters – it’s stupid and I’m annoyed at the teachers for not letting us in.”

Her mother, Rachel Salih, who has another daughter, Nadia, 15, at the school, said: “I’m very upset that the emphasis at this school seems to be on uniform and not on education.

“My daughters should be in school today.”

Parents of Year 11 pupils, who were originally told the new policy would not apply to them, argued that buying new outfits for the last year would be a waste of money and clothes.

By 10am, some children had made their way into the school through the reception.

However dozens of pupils, including girls in skirts and groups of boys, had started walking away.

Parent Nicola Jackson, whose daughters Freya and Olivia are at the school, said: “I have had to come down to the school today with some trousers.

“This is grossly unfair to have withdrawn a girl’s right to express herself in a skirt.”

Another parent, who didn’t want to be named, said: “This is like Brexit, just push something through that doesn’t make sense.

“I’m unemployed, I can’t afford a new uniform.”

Piers Morgan branded the decision “ridiculous”.

The controversial Good Morning Britain star took aim at his old school in a tweet to his 6.8 million followers.

He said: “Speaking as a former Priory student, I’d like to state that this is absolutely bloody ridiculous, and the protesting parents and students have my full support. 

“This whole gender neutral craze is out of control. 

“Let girls be girls and boys be boys.”

Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, also expressed concerns.

She said: “I am very disturbed to see the school turning away girls from Priory school because they choose to wear a skirt and then called the police on them. This is not how we should be treating the young women of Lewes.”

Sussex Police said no incidents had been reported at the protest.

A spokeswoman said: “Police attended Mountfield Road, Lewes, on Friday morning where a group of around 100 adults and children were protesting.

“Officers engaged with the protesters and they left the area shortly after.”

The school refused to respond to numerous requests for comment.