Murray estimates that "about 50%" of girls who attend Craigavon Integrated College currently choose to wear trousers to school on a regular basis.

"It's really helpful for our girls in the colder winter months because a lot of our children will walk to school, so having that flexibility I think is really important.

"It's also in line with the period dignity recommendations, so a lot of our girls feel much more confident having that flexibility to wear trousers when they want," she added.

There are already laws on school uniform in Northern Ireland, and Givan had previously said they give girls the legal authority to challenge their schools.

Education committee members, however, had called on the minister to go further.

Some assembly members have now accused the minister of making a "U-turn", with "substantial sums of public money" spent on drafting legislation "to fix his error of judgement".

It comes after assembly members passed a new law last year, aimed at addressing the cost of school uniforms in Northern Ireland - with these updated guidelines on wearing trousers now legally binding under the School Uniforms Act.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Givan said the change would come into immediate effect ahead of the next academic year.

"I don't need to go through the assembly to give effect to this," he said.

"Today, I am taking that decision, that will be formally communicated, schools will be hearing from me, and as of the next academic year... schools will be required that this has to be available if it is requested upon."

The minister explained that this change will not apply during the 2026/27 academic year, in order to allow schools to change their uniform policies.

Givan added that the change will also apply to physical education.