Cheltenham Girls principal to apologise for telling girls not to wear skimpy clothes as it could ‘compromise’ male teachers’ employment

A principal at a Sydney girls’ school told students not to wear “skimpy or revealing” clothes for a reason that’s been labelled “inappropriate and regrettable”.

A principal at a Sydney girls’ school who told students not to “compromise the employment” of male teachers by wearing skimpy and revealing outfits will apologise for the “regrettable” comments.

Cheltenham Girls High School principal Suellen Lawrence made the controversial comments in a video address to students this week.

Ms Lawrence told the girls not to wear “stringy, skimpy or revealing” clothes at school events or risk being sent home.

“Please remember girls, there are men teachers at this school and they don’t want to be looking at that either,” Ms Lawrence told the students in a video obtained by 7 News.

“Don’t compromise their employment because you can’t do the right thing.”

Some students can be heard audibly gasping at the comments.

The address was prompted by the outfits some of the girls wore at a recent swimming carnival.

Cheltenham Girls High School principal Suellen Lawrence in the video address. Picture: 7 News

Executive director of school performance Cathy Brennan told the ABC the comments were not appropriate but she was confident there was genuine remorse.

“We’ve taken that really seriously and worked with our principal to raise those concerns with her,” Ms Brennan told ABC News.

“She’s ready to apologise (and) recognises they were not the comments aligned with our view of how we give confidence to our students and how we position our schools.”

In a statement the NSW Department of Education said it did not support Ms Lawrence’s comments.

“The NSW Department of Education does not support the comments made by the principal to students last week. The comments were inappropriate and regrettable,” it said.

“Cheltenham Girls High School is an outstanding school that advocates a positive image of women and high academic achievement.”

The department requires that schools determine local school uniform requirements in consultation with their school communities.

Uniforms should be appropriate for the school activity and comply with health and safety requirements and anti-discrimination legislation.