A group of British schoolgirls is demanding a ban on school uniforms in pornography after one pupil recalled watching a television scene at just 12 years old that changed how she viewed her own clothes. The campaign has also raised concerns about artificial intelligence (AI), with the teenagers explaining that they avoided wearing their uniforms at a parliamentary event because they feared photographs could be misused, while arguing that proposed pornography laws may still leave a gap.
The pupils, aged 14 and 15, belong to the Little Feminist Book Club at The Cooper School in Bicester, Oxfordshire. Their petition calls for school uniforms to be removed from pornographic content, arguing that clothing designed to represent community and belonging should not be used to sexualise young people.
The TV Scene That Shocked Mae
Mae, 15, recalled watching a television drama with her mother when she was 12. In the scene, a woman in her thirties put on a schoolgirl outfit to attract a man, prompting Mae to think about the uniform she would wear to school the following morning.
She explained that the scene made her associate her own school clothes with something sexual, despite being a child herself. Mae said she found the experience uncomfortable because she knew she would soon be wearing a uniform similar to the one presented on screen, even though it was meant to represent her life as a pupil.
School Uniforms Make Girls Fearful
The campaigners say the issue extends beyond television and adult entertainment, affecting how comfortable they feel wearing their uniforms outside school. Willow, 14, said she changes out of her uniform when she gets home because she feels vulnerable, while Mae has also described feeling afraid when walking in hers.
A 2018 survey of 1,004 girls in the UK found that 35 per cent of respondents aged 14 to 21 had experienced unwanted sexual attention while wearing school uniform in public, according to Plan International UK. The pupils say their campaign has also prompted women from different generations to share experiences of being sexualised or harassed while wearing their own school clothes.
AI Fears Changed Their Parliament Plans
The teenagers' concerns also extend to the possibility of their own photographs being misused. In an article written by the campaigners, they explained that when invited to speak at a parliamentary event in July, they unanimously decided not to wear their school uniforms because they were conscious of the risks associated with being photographed while linked to the campaign.
They did not claim that their images had already been turned into abusive material. Instead, their decision reflected concerns about what could happen to photographs in an age of AI, when digital images can be manipulated or repurposed. The girls said they had discussed the possible consequences of speaking publicly before deciding to continue with their campaign.
Proposed Porn Laws Leave a Gap
The campaigners argue that planned legal restrictions will not necessarily cover every portrayal of school-age identities in pornography. Under provisions in the UK's Crime and Policing Act 2026, due to come into force on 6 November, pornography involving sexual activity by adults pretending to be under 16 is set to be prohibited, but the pupils say adult performers presented as older schoolchildren could remain outside that restriction.
Professor Clare McGlynn, a law academic at Durham University, has supported the campaign's call for greater scrutiny of sexualised school uniforms. She explained that content involving an adult pretending to be 17 while wearing a school uniform would not necessarily fall within the specific under-16 provision, highlighting the issue the campaigners want lawmakers to address.
Petition Gains Support From Women
The pupils launched their campaign through the Little Feminist Book Club, an after-school group focused on discussing social issues and taking action. The group has previously been involved in campaigning for better access to period products at school, and its members say they were shocked to discover that sexualised school uniforms could still appear in adult content.
Their petition had attracted more than 26,000 signatures when the BBC reported on the campaign in October 2026. Mae also said hundreds of women had contacted the group to share their own experiences, with some describing unwanted attention during their school years. The students say these accounts have strengthened their determination to push for change.
Schoolgirls Want Politicians To Act
The teenagers have written to the prime minister and received support from political figures, including Alex Davies-Jones, the minister for victims, who said young women and girls should not have to grow up seeing their school uniforms sexualised. The pupils are seeking a change in the law, with their local MP reportedly exploring whether existing legislation could be amended rather than introducing an entirely new measure.
For the campaigners, the issue is about more than what appears in adult entertainment. They want school uniforms to be recognised as clothing worn by children going about their everyday lives, rather than as a sexualised symbol. As they continue their efforts, they are asking adults and politicians to take responsibility for making that change possible.
