Roughly half of schoolchildren rejected limitations to school outfit (5)

I believe the answer is:

girls

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'roughly half of schoolchildren' is the definition.
The definition suggests a plural noun which matches the answer.

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for girls that I've seen before include "Members of brownies or guides - one of the 14 films" , "Female children" , "Young females" , "Youthful females" , "Young ladies" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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