Members of the Little Feminist Bookclub at Cooper School in Bicester want the prime minister to prohibit the depiction of school uniform in pornographic content, arguing it sexualises young people and creates a safety risk.
The petition argues current law bans portrayals of people pretending to be under 16 but leaves a gap for 16–18-year-olds and for the use of school uniforms that evoke school-age identities.
Cooper School publicly supported the students, calling their campaign brave and urging others to sign the petition.
# What happened
Pupils at the Cooper School in Bicester have launched a petition asking the prime minister, Andy Burnham, to ban the use of school uniforms in pornographic content. The campaign was started by members of the Little Feminist Bookclub and posted on Change.org. By September 25 the petition had gathered more than 900 signatures.
# Why the students want the ban
The petition argues that using school uniforms in pornography sexualises children and young people because such clothing is explicitly designed to evoke childhood and school-age identities. It points to a legal gap: the law already prohibits depictions of someone pretending to be under 16 in pornography, but does not fully address the portrayal of 16–18-year-olds or the broader use of school uniform imagery that suggests underage identity.
The group cites Professor Clare McGlynn of Durham University, identified in the petition as a leading campaigner for reform of porn laws, who has described this kind of content as harmful to teenage girls.
# Evidence the students cite
The petition references a 2018 Plan International survey of 1,000 girls aged 14–21. The survey findings highlighted by the students include:
Those figures are used to support the students' argument that the depiction of school uniforms in adult media has real-world consequences for girls' safety and wellbeing.
Bookclub: Rose, Mae and Aylin, all 15, and Willow, 14. Quoted comments in the coverage include:
# School response and public reaction
A Cooper School spokesperson praised the pupils, saying the school could not be prouder. The statement described the students as taking a ''brave, national stand'' and called on the public to support the campaign.
# Legal context noted in coverage
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