School Uniforms
WHY DO SOME SCHOOLS ADOPT A SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY?
There are many reasons why a school would adopt a school uniform policy. They are:
- To take away the stress from children of what to wear everyday.
- To take away peer pressure to wear fashionable clothes.
- To promote a sense of belonging and identity to the school.
- To promote a sense of pride of belonging to the school.
- To promote equality amongst pupils.
- To create a common identity amongst pupils to reduce bullying.
- To create a common sense of purpose amongst pupils.
- To reduce inconsistency amongst pupils.
- To reduce the chance of a student wearing inappropriate attire.
- To promote community cohesion.
- To promote the well being of all pupils.
- To promote the ethos of the school.
- To promote an appropriate tone for learning.
WHO DECIDES IF A SCHOOL WILL HAVE A UNIFORM POLICY?
By UK law a school or college does not have to implement a school uniform policy. It is up to the school and their governors whether they adopt a uniform policy and from where the uniform should be purchased or sourced.
The uniform policy of a school has to comply with the human rights act 1998 and the equality act 2010.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEB PAGE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBPAGE FOR EQUALITY ACT 2010
A schools uniform policy should be available for all parents to read on the school’s website. The policy should be set out clearly, simply and be easy to understand. Some possible information may be:
- Whether an item of uniform is compulsory or optional.
- Whether an item of uniform can be purchased from a department store or a local second hand store.
- How often and when an item of uniform is used.
- Whether a generic or branded item of uniform will suffice.
WHAT DO SCHOOLS HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN ADOPTING A SCHOOL UNIFORM POLICY?
Schools should do the following before adopting a school uniform policy.
- They should hold talks with parents and pupils to discuss what is best for the community and certain groups who attend the school.
- Determine how comfortable the uniform is to wear.
- Think about including exceptions such as wearing trousers instead of skirts in winter and shorts in summer.
- Is the uniform policy inclusive and enables all pupils to wear the uniform.
- Consideration for different religious and cultural beliefs.
- The uniform policy should not discriminate.
- How does the uniform impact pupils who have shared characteristics which are protected. These characteristics can be religious belief, gender, gender reassignment, pregnancy, disability, ethnicity, race and national origin.
- Determine if the uniform is comfortable for pupils when walking and cycling to and from school.
- Determine if the uniform and PE kit is practical with regards to washing, classroom lessons, sport, and all school activities.
- To ensure the school uniform is affordable to all pupils and their families.
- To ensure that all details including where to purchase, sizes and what to wear is clear and understandable for all parents and pupils when accessing the school website.
- Environmental impact when sourcing their uniform.
- The quality, durability, and value for money of the uniform.
- The school’s uniform policy should be reviewed regularly.
Schools should not include branded items in the uniform policy or they should be kept to a minimum. Schools should also avoid making constant variations in and changes to the specifications of the uniform so the uniform can be worn for a reasonable period and then it can be handed down to younger siblings.
All additional uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities such as drama, music, and sport must be kept to the bare minimum or be affordable for parents
There should not be different PE uniforms for different sports and the number of items should be kept to a minimum and affordable.
IF A SCHOOL DOES HAVE A UNIFORM POLICY, DO YOU AND YOUR CHILD HAVE TO COMPLY?
If the school where your child has been registered on the admissions register has a school uniform policy, then you and your child must comply with the policy.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU AND YOUR CHILD DO NOT COMPLY?
If you or your child do not comply with the school uniform policy then the following can happen to your child:
- They could be sent home to change.
- They could get a sanction
- They could get detention.
If your child is persistently attending school without wearing the correct uniform they could be excluded from school for a few days.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR BEHAVIOUR, DISCIPLINE AND RESTRAINT IN SCHOOLS
If non compliance is due to finances and the family cannot afford the uniform and kits then the parents must inform the school immediately. The school must not exclude or sanction the child but instead liaise with the child and parents to ensure that they have access to ‘already worn’ or ‘second hand’ uniforms or access to a grant to enable them to purchase uniform items.
WHERE CAN YOU PURCHASE SCHOOL UNIFORM?
Most schools will allow you to purchase shirts, cardigans, shoes, PE shorts and t-shirts, trousers and skirts from most department stores as long as you purchase the appropriate colour.
If the blazer has a badge you may need to purchase the blazer from the school shop. Some schools sell the badge separately so you can purchase the blazer from a department store and stitch the badge on.
Most independent (private) schools will require you to purchase the whole school uniform from their shop.
If you cannot afford the school uniform please read the section below.
WHAT IF A PARENT CANNOT AFFORD SCHOOL UNIFORM?
School uniforms should be affordable. Government guidance states that the reason why a parent would not choose a school for their child, should not be because they cannot afford the uniform. Any additional uniform requirements should also be affordable. The cost should be equal for all pupils whether male, female or gender neutral.
There are many options for parents if they cannot afford a new school uniform. They are:
1. The school should have available ‘already worn’ and ‘second hand’ uniforms for low income families. These uniforms can be made available directly from the school, the parent teachers association (PTA) or through an established scheme. The schools website should give details of how to acquire a ‘used’ uniform. If it does not then you must contact the school and find out.
2. The local authority can offer financial help for low income parents and families on benefits. You will need to submit an application and you can do this online via your local authority website.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEB PAGE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY.
3. Sometimes the school will offer grants to families on low income or benefits. Please enquire at the school for more details
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEB PAGE FOR GET HELP WITH SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS
Schools should be aware of the cost of uniforms and PE kits for parents and do whatever they can to keep these costs to a minimum.
SCHOOL UNIFORM FOR NON-BINARY AND GENDER NEUTRAL CHILDREN
More and more schools are adopting gender neutral uniforms. In today’s day and age this is very important. This allows pupils to wear a school uniform in a way that feels right for them and is also comfortable rather than items of clothing being assigned to them.
Where the school doesn’t have a gender neutral uniform and your child is uncomfortable, contact your child’s form tutor or year head and discuss the matter. Explain the issue and how your child and their identity is important and that unless addressed will no doubt affect their education. Hopefully a resolution will be found. If not please click on the link about how to complain to a UK education establishment.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR COMPLAINING TO AND ABOUT UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHAT IS MY CHILD’S SKIRT IF TOO SHORT OR THEY WANT TO WEAR TROUSERS?
The length of a skirt and whether girls should be allowed to wear trousers has been a long standing issue in most areas of the UK.
Most schools will state on their website under uniform policy the required length of a skirt (to the knee, under the knee, or an inch above the knee). This must be adhered to. If it is not, the school can send the pupil home to change or give a sanction (please read the section ‘what will happen if you or your child do not comply’ above).
As far as trousers are concerned it is up to the school whether they will permit female pupils to wear trousers. However, more and more schools are adopting a gender neutral uniform policy now where all pupils can wear trousers if they choose to do so. A gender neutral uniform policy is one where pupils have a choice to wear the school uniform in a way that suits how they see themselves and be comfortable. Pupils can wear a skirt or trousers.
If your child feels discriminated against because the school will not let your child wear trousers, you must contact the school and discuss the issue with them and hopefully come up with a resolution.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR COMPLAINING TO AND ABOUT UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHAT IF MY CHILD WANTS TO DYE THEIR HAIR PINK?
This would most likely be against school uniform policy. The school would probably send your child home, exclude them from school for a few days and ask to meet with you to find a solution to resolve the issue.
Please read the section ‘what will happen if you or your child do not comply’ above.
CAN A SCHOOL ASK ME TO CUT MY CHILD’S HAIR?
Yes they can. There is no legislation on hair length at schools. It is dependent upon the school and the governors of the school.
Most schools will ask girls with long hair to tie their hair back during school time. Most schools also understand that some boys have long hair too. It can be for religious reasons. However, as long as a boy’s hair is tied up there should not be an issue.
If a school does insist on a boy pupil cutting their hair but your son does not want to, the first thing you should do is contact your son’s form tutor or year head and arrange an appointment where you can put forward your case. Hopefully the school will understand and accept that your son’s hair will not be an issue if he keeps it tied up or out of the way with a headband.
However, if the school insists your son must cut his hair you can make a complaint on the basis of gender discrimination because the school has not asked girls to cut their hair. Please click on the link below to read about how to complain to a UK education establishment.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR COMPLAINING TO AND ABOUT UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS.
WHAT ABOUT WEARING JEWELLERY AT SCHOOL?
Most school policies do not allow pupils to wear jewellery.
However, some schools will allow stud earrings and maybe a watch. This will depend upon the school and will be detailed on the school website.
Where a school will allow stud earrings they usually must be removed during PE and swimming.
WHAT ABOUT RELIGIOUS ATTIRE, SYMBOLS AND CARRYING A RELIGIOUS ARTEFACT?
Although most non uniform items are not permitted to be worn in most schools, there are exceptions especially if these are to do with religious beliefs.
General education guidance states that pupils have a right to manifest their religious beliefs but not at all times and in all places.
In recent years, many schools but not all now allow religious attire to be worn by pupils as an optional item. This includes but is not limited to the following:
- The Sikh turban
- The Islamic hijab.
- The Jewish skullcap.
Dressing modestly can be considered an important part of a pupils religious belief. A school can place a restriction on the wearing of a religious item of clothing, symbol or artefact if they feel they have good reason to such as health and safety, cohesion and good order in school.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEB PAGE FOR SCHOOL UNIFORMS
HOW CAN YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SCHOOLS UNIFORM POLICY?
If you are unhappy about the school’s uniform policy you must complain to the school in the first instance. You will find the complaints procedure on the school website.
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR COMPLAINING TO AND ABOUT UK EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS.