By AMC Newton for QHQ
“Ann Marie Coddington, get off this bus right now!”
Me to myself: ‘oh *beep*’ Terrified, I stepped off the bus.
“Where is your school hat?”
“In my locker, Miss” (complete lie, it was at home, but I didn’t want to admit I’d forgotten to bring my hat that day.)
This was Mrs Grant, a senior teacher pulling me off the bus home for not wearing my regulation school hat. I was so scared at the time; however, I got a telling-off and nothing more, but it stayed with me for many, many years as you can tell. This was how seriously School Uniform was taken at the secondary school I attended in the 1980’s. I imagine many of you will have a similar story too.
School Uniforms are in the news in the UK, as it’s ‘back to school’ shopping time, and there is new statutory government guidance coming into effect soon on 1st September 2023, for schools in England. Statutory guidance means that schools and governors must regard it when developing and implementing their school uniform policy.
The reasoning behind the guidance is: “Parents should not have to think about the cost of a school uniform when choosing which school(s) to apply for. Therefore, schools need to ensure that their uniform is affordable.” Which sounds great, that the cost of a school uniform shouldn’t be a barrier to attending a school of choice, but, how will this work?
“Parents should not have to think about the cost of a school uniform when choosing which school(s) to apply for.”
The guidance covers considerations like the amount of ‘branded’ items, which are defined as anything that distinguishes the clothing from something that can be purchased at various retailers. For example, the use of specific logos, badges or crests. It can also pertain to say specific contrast colour piping on a blazer or could be a specific skirt that can only be purchased from one retailer. The rule of thumb listed is: “if an item cannot be purchased at a range of retailers it is likely to be a branded item. “
The guidance on this is: “Schools should keep the use of branded items to a minimum.” While this approach gives individual schools some leeway it doesn’t give any specific guidelines to fall within: say from 0 minimum branded items through to a maximum of 3 branded items. Would this approach be more useful?
“Schools should keep the use of branded items to a minimum.”
Estera, a parent in London UK, commented: “In my opinion what should change with school uniforms is not to require school logo on every cloth item, so people can buy cheeper options. I understand secondary school blazer but why school logo on PE T-shirt or shorts? Isn't it enough if they are same colour?” If the statutory guidance is followed then Estera should see this change. Estera continues “This September we will have to spend quite a lot of money to buy his first secondary school uniform. This school is more strict when it comes to having logo on clothes items, so cheeper options is only for items like trousers or socks. Later it will be better as we will have to change items as they wear out or mysteriously shrink :)”
“I understand secondary school blazer but why school logo on PE T-shirt or shorts?”
This view was echoed by Debi “For both of my children their primary school uniform could be purchased from anywhere with just a jumper with the school logo purchased from the school which was a reasonable price and a school logo book bag ( also reasonably priced). For secondary schools ( one grammar one not) both were from a specific uniform shop with students name’s embroidered onto science coats, cooking aprons, PE t shirts, rugby tops. Shirts and trousers could be purchased elsewhere. Then there’s shoes, trainers, football boots”. So, it seems the issue of cost and branded items is escalated in secondary schools with the sheer volume of clothing needed for different activities. A question is, will this “keep it to a minimum’ guidance be enough to address this issue?
Another interesting element is the provision of second-hand uniform. From September all schools in England, must make it clear to parents where they can acquire second hand school uniforms, and that this is published on the website. Further: “Schools should ensure that arrangements are in place so that second-hand school uniforms are available for parents to acquire (for example through periodic second-hand uniform sales or swap shops).”
Promoting second-hand clothing is good to see from a sustainability viewpoint, however, is there a stigma about second hand clothing still? Additionally, there is no guarantee that parents will be able to find the items they need in the size they need which might increase stress. Would the language of ‘preloved’ rather than ‘second-hand’ have been helpful here? Why not go further and make it mandatory to have at least 1 item be preloved? Thereby, instilling the importance of re-using these valuable materials rather than always relying on buying new clothing as the norm.
“Schools should ensure that arrangements are in place so that second-hand school uniforms are available for parents to acquire (for example through periodic second-hand uniform sales or swap shops).”
Laura in Kent commented “There is a group round the corner from me who reguarly run a school uniform bank. It is all free, ages 3+ to 16 and I think they take donations from people who don’t want/need uniforms anymore”. Hopefully, we will see more of these schemes in the future, at the moment it is very hit and miss depending on the area you live in. What might help is coupling a tailoring service with the preloved/second-hand clothing delivery, so items can be adjusted.
One consideration that is not addressed in the statuary guidance is the suitability of school uniforms, we heard from a variety of people on this issue:
“… horrid polyester clothing that no adult would wear.” Michelle
“…my niece has to wear a dreadful polyester shirt and trousers. I think the quality is definitely durable but it’s not wearable !! Hot and harsh! ” Katie
“One serious issue with uniforms is that some schools does not allow shorts in summer or require to wear blazers even in blazing heat. This is absolutely unacceptable, clothes have to be adjusted to weather conditions and with temperatures raising every year this is even more important. “ Estera
As our climate continues to warm and extreme weather events become more common place there is a real opportunity for all school uniforms providers to design ‘better ‘school uniforms. ‘Better ‘ meaning: better for planet, better for the adaptable climate and better suited for the end purpose. This also includes, considering it for its second, third and fourth owner, and how it might be deployed at the end of its useful life. This goes beyond product development to thinking about the wider systems too. Systems like having a tailoring service available. Imagine if school uniform providers that currently work so well with schools include pre-loved in their catalogue, and that everyone had easy access to an affordable tailoring service?
There are benefits to school uniform: reducing time taken when deciding what to wear, creating a (more) level playing field, and as Colleen in New Zealand commented, it also plays a part in not using ‘gang’ colours for young people which sadly is a consideration in many areas now.
However, having an excessive use of school colours, styles and logos makes the cost prohibitive, the reduction of which is the main goal for this statutory guidance in England. How effective this guidance will be, time will tell. Are school uniforms in the way they are today, with polyester trousers, shirts and blazers for example just out of date, as Michelle expressed “School uniform is useless when I can present to the board in sneakers and a jacket.”
“School uniform is useless when I can present to the board in sneakers and a jacket.”
Additionally, who is going to address the quality and suitability issue? Cheaper might not be better if items don’t last and end up in land fill. However, cheaper options are the only ones available to some families who simply can’t afford to pay more. Perhaps this is where preloved could come into play too. We don’t have all the answers here.
We would love to hear from you, and your experiences with school uniforms: What sort of costs do you have to manage? What would your ideal school uniform be? What fabrics would it be made from? Does your local school provide clear information about second-hand uniforms? What is a uniform to you?
What about the rest of the ‘back to school shopping’, what else do you buy at this time & could that be improved? What if there was a school bag repair lesson as part of the school curriculum for example?
*thank you to everyone who took time to send us comments on this topic already, we appreciate you!
Further reading & resources:
England statutory guidance 2023
Articles:
Preloved school uniforms:
https://oldschooluniform.co.uk