A CAMPAIGNING pupil at Galashiels Academy has won a fight for the right to dance with whoever they want.

For decades boys and girls have been partnered up for a Military Two Step, Strip the Willow or Dashing White Sergeant in the run up to Christmas.

But local Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament Zee Timmins, who is a sixth year pupil at the school, campaigned for a change in the policy through the internet's leading petitions site.

And the demands for a rethink over gender selection for social dancing couples attracted almost 300 signatures of support before being taken down.

The 17-year-old stated: "Every year social dancing comes around and with it comes the ridiculous outdated rule that only 'opposite' gender couples can dance with each other.

"This is incredibly exclusionary and discriminatory, and just generally embarrassing for many of the pupils involved."

The sixth-year-pupil is an active campaigner for LGBT rights.

But claims the boy-girl dance policy has wider implications.

Zee added: "It also excludes people, for example, with mental health issues, who may feel more relaxed dancing with their friends, and trans students who not feel comfortable dancing in the 'female' or 'male' role.

"It is 2016 and many pupils still feel uncomfortable and unsafe in an otherwise fun and interesting class, due to fear of discrimination or just sheer unhappiness.

"We want to allow pupils to have the choice to dance with whomever they want, and not restrict them with outdated and backward rules."

While the petition was live on Change.org it attracted support from pupils across the Scottish Borders.

And many left messages of support for the campaign.

Education chiefs at Scottish Borders Council as well as senior staff at Galashiels Academy met with pupils to discuss the petition.

And an agreement has been reached on the gender dance policy.

A local authority spokesperson told the Border Telegraph: “The matter at Galashiels Academy was already being discussed with staff and pupils, and a positive meeting was held where staff and pupils agreed on a way forward in line with the school vision.

“We always welcome the views and input of our students, and we will actively engage with them in working towards achieving Charter Mark status, including holding a seminar in the new year."

Scottish Borders Council is actively working with equality groups.

The spokesperson added: "We have been engaging with LGBT Youth Scotland, including holding staff training, and are committed to working towards achieving the organisation’s Charter Mark status in all our secondary schools."