Two 12-year-old girls from Enniskillen, Rhea Donnell and Astrid Knox, campaigned since early 2025 for Northern Ireland schools to permit girls to wear trousers as a uniform option. Their work at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School gained trousers for P7 pupils. The campaign helped shape the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026, which gained Royal Assent in February 2026.

Rhea Donnell and Astrid Knox testified before the Northern Ireland Assembly's Education Committee at Stormont on March 4, 2025. They appeared with Chris Quinn of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People.

Donnell sent a letter to committee members on March 11, 2025. She thanked them for hearing her campaign. She stated her goal was for girls to do activities like cartwheels without skirt worries. She expressed disappointment that talks after her departure covered transgender, non-binary, and boys' issues. She noted some members discussed those at length but asked nothing about her year-long campaign. She stressed that children hear adult discussions and called for focus on children's school rights.

On March 4, DUP member Peter Martin questioned a report's evidence from three individuals. Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows asked if boys wearing skirts faced higher upskirting risks.

Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said gender-neutral uniforms aid all students, not only transgender or non-conforming ones. She added boys should not wear skirts if at upskirting risk.

Sinn Féin deputy chair Pat Sheehan said the debate moved from legislation on children's rights to wear trousers or skip skirts. He questioned unionism's emphasis on transgender youth and boys in skirts.

Alliance committee chair Nick Mathison cited Donnell's March 11 letter. He said adults and representatives should follow the young campaigner's guidance.