STUDENTS have defended their school head teacher accused of making a “body shaming” comment, claiming that her joke was taken the wrong way.

Anne Malcolm sparked a row after suggesting to pupils in a girls-only assembly that young women above a dress size 10 should not wear short, tight skirts.

The assembly for female Year 10 students was called by Mrs Malcolm who was trying to stress that it was not school uniform to wear Lycra tube skirts.

The principal at Manor Community Academy in Hartlepool was criticised for her approach to the uniform issue, with pupils and parents claiming her comments reinforced negative body stereotypes.

Mrs Malcolm has since apologised after she said: “I am not a size eight to ten, I wouldn’t wear one.”

However, several students believe she has nothing to apologise for and that the “mindless comment” was a joke about herself.

Ellie J Bate, a Year 10 student at Manor Community Academy, said: “The next day Mrs Malcolm asked every year 10 girl that was in that assembly to go to the theatre as she wanted to speak to us.

“When we all arrived and sat down she began to apologise to us and talk about how she understood how it was taken by some people and how her saying that wasn’t very thoughtful.

“She then explained what she meant by her statement, saying it was a joke directed to herself about her own size, yet she understood why people reacted the way they did.

“She also told us that if we wanted to know anything or ask anything about it or the uniform in general to stay behind and she would speak to us.”

Girls were also addressed in the assembly over the Academy’s uniform rules on wearing makeup and jewellery in school.

Miss Bate added: “It was a mindless comment made by her which was taken – rightfully so – in the wrong context.

“Body image is a big topic among my age group and every gender, yet in a very mature, acknowledging and professional way, she apologised to the students she said it to.”

Mrs Malcolm, who describes herself as a size 16, said that her comments had been misunderstood and she apologised during an assembly on Wednesday.

Another student at Manor Community Academy added: “The headmaster has apologised to all of the girls and simply told us that it was taken out of context.”

The secondary school for students aged 11 to 16 carries a uniform policy for all pupils which states: “At Manor Community Academy we are proud of our school and this is reflected in our uniform.

“We believe that compulsory uniform ensures that students – and their parents – do not feel under pressure to compete regarding appearance.

“At Manor, all of the students conform to our uniform code and students’ individuality is expressed through their work and not through their appearance.”