THE EQUAL Opportunities Commission has started proceedings for a test case to clarify the right of girls to wear trousers at school. Gateshead County Court has been asked to summon Wickham school for sexual discrimination against pupil Jo Hale, whose mother, Professor Claire Hale, has been fighting the school rules which say her daughter must wear a skirt. She claims that skirts disadvantage girls on the grounds of cost, comfort, freedom of movement and protection against assault. The commission said it received many similar complaints every year, but as there was no case-law on dress code restrictions in schools, it hoped this case would clarify the legal position.