School Uniforms; A Part Of Life Or Something To Change?

By Writers’ Club member Kaitlin.

From the age of four or five, school uniforms have become a regular part of our day to day lives. But have we ever stopped to question why?

Obviously, from an educational perspective, there are many reasons why school uniforms are beneficial, not only to students but to staff and the school community as a whole. One of the main reasons stated for school uniforms is that they promote equality among all students. By wearing the same shirt, tie, and blazer, students can feel secure in a learning environment where their clothing will not be judged or scorned. This logic is understandable, as in some cases, young people could possibly be bullied for wearing unbranded clothing, which would create an unequal, unhappy environment. School uniforms also encourage a sense of community within a school. As everyone is dressed the same, it is easier to find a sense of belonging among people your own age, making it easier to find and make friends. 

However, I believe the negatives of school uniforms far outweigh the positives.

School uniforms are viewed by schools to promote equality, but is this really true? In some places, school uniforms can be quite costly, which means that  families with financial burdens can sometimes not have access to brand new uniforms, relying on hand-me-downs or charity. This can often result in bullying, as students are shamed for not having immaculate uniforms like their peers. If they were allowed to wear their own clothes, perhaps less bullying would ensue, as most young people already have their own clothes to wear. As well as being shamed by peers for their uniforms, in many schools, students are also punished for not having uniforms that adhere to dress codes. For example, not wearing the correct shoes, trousers, or skirts could result in detention or isolation, meaning students who are already at a disadvantage are put in a worse position. In my opinion, schools should be more open-minded with their school uniform policies, to avoid putting students at a disadvantage.

School uniform policies also discourage individuality in young people. Our whole lives, we are told that we are unique individuals, however school uniforms do not allow us to express who we are. In many schools, even things as trivial as a hairband, ear piercings, types of shoes, or a certain haircut are banned to keep standards. This leads to a lack of diversity, meaning that children are perhaps unprepared for the diverse nature of society in general. Arguably, rather than preparing students for the outside world, school uniform restrictions hinder pupils. Although we are taught that uniforms prepare us for the working world, many workplaces allow more casual clothing, especially as many people still work from home. Surely if the working world is shifting, the policies in schools need to change to reflect that? Also, when students move up to sixth form and college, I would argue they are utterly unprepared to have freedom over their clothing, meaning school uniform really isn’t helpful, instead it is unnecessary. Not allowing young people to make their own decisions regarding how they look is wrong on many levels.

I would also argue that some school uniform policies are slightly sexist. Although this isn’t the intention, the control over young girls’ bodies, because of how much they are sexualised, is disgusting. For example, many uniform policies state that girls must wear knee-length skirts. This wouldn’t usually be the case in a professional setting, so why are we setting this standard for young girls? In schools, we are often told that shorter skirts cause a distraction for boys. However, why are we teaching girls to cover up, rather than teaching boys to be respectful?

Allowing students to wear their own clothes would improve the school experience for so many young people. Clothes are what people pick out to help them feel more comfortable in their skin, so allowing students to wear clothes they feel confident in would improve the school experience. Some people may argue that school is about education, rather than comfort, but I believe that if school was a more positive, comfortable environment, students would learn better and achieve more. For example, during lockdown, I found learning much more enjoyable and less stressful when I was wearing clothes that I picked, and I’m sure that many people will agree. Instead of being concerned about how the uniform looked, I was focused on what I was learning. Instead of being distracted by feeling uncomfortable, I could focus on what mattered; education.

Overall, although school uniforms do have some benefits, for me, there are far more negatives. School uniforms are classist, sexist, and discourage us from being our authentic selves. For these reasons, I see school uniforms as mainly pointless in society today, and think personal clothing is a much better alternative.