SNP tells schools to ditch blazers
Schools have been told to ditch blazers from their uniforms by the SNP.
In new guidance, headteachers have been urged to instead require pupils to wear only “generic” non-branded, gender-neutral items and consider “alternatives” to ties and formal trousers.
Ministers insisted “flexible and inclusive” uniform rules would drive down costs for families and promote the “comfort, happiness and freedom” of children.
However, critics called on the Scottish Government to instead address declining standards and rising violence in Scottish classrooms, as experts highlighted evidence that uniforms could improve behaviour and attainment.
Nine out of 10 of Scotland’s best-performing state schools currently require pupils to wear blazers, while the other asks its oldest pupils to wear one.
Jordanhill School in Glasgow, widely regarded as Scotland’s top state school, is known for its brown blazers, which cost up to £135 and must be worn even when travelling to and from the site.
Boroughmuir High, Edinburgh’s best-performing state school, sees its black blazers as an “integral part of the dress code”. Its blazers cost up to £47.50, although the school also sells £3 badges which can be sewn onto cheaper jackets.
However, under the new guidelines, published on Thursday by Jenny Gilruth, the SNP’s Education Secretary, schools are told they should “not include items such as blazers or other branded outerwear as a compulsory part of their uniform policy.”
Should headteachers insist on maintaining blazers, they have been told they should only be “an optional item” and it must “be clear that these are not needed or expected”.
Parents should also be permitted to buy cheap optional blazers and sew, iron or pin on a badge rather than having to buy bespoke items from a specialist supplier, the guidance says.
The new rules also call for schools to give “careful consideration” to required clothing which pupils may find “restrictive”, such as ties or formal trousers, because of fears they will not “support pupils’ comfort and wellbeing.”
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‘More urgent priorities’
Liam Kerr, education spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said uniforms could be “crucial” in fostering schools’ “identity and community spirit”.
“While it’s sensible for schools to follow guidance on making sure that uniform is affordable, the SNP government should not be attempting to dictate policy on blazers, badges or other school insignia,” he said.
“After the SNP’s serial failures on standards, the attainment gap and funding, many people will feel the Education Secretary has much more urgent priorities to be dealing with.”
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The SNP government has backed away from plans, set out in an earlier consultation, to compel schools, including those in the independent sector, to follow the rules.
However, the party said its new non-statutory guidance would apply to all state schools to “support” them in setting policies, with private schools “strongly encouraged” to also take account of it.
It calls on schools to “avoid categorising items of clothing or uniform as suitable for a particular sex or gender and instead include a range of comfortable and practical, gender-neutral options.”
The guidance says teachers should permit “generic items that can be bought from a range of suppliers” adding that “school uniform is a barrier to participation and engagement for some pupils.”
‘Significant burden’
Lindsay Paterson, professor of education policy at the University of Edinburgh, said that evidence suggested uniforms could improve behaviour.
However, he acknowledged that while blazers were “effective” they were “unlikely to be affordable” for all families.
“Branded items can have an important role to play, provided the branding is affordable,” Prof Paterson said.
“But the new guidance fails to assert strongly the beneficial effects of uniform. Its otherwise worthy aims of inclusion and affordability lack the coherence that would arise from a strong policy of encouraging uniforms in all schools.”
Ms Gilruth said the costs of uniforms could be a “significant burden” for families and claimed the measures could play a “crucial role” in ending child poverty.
She added: “This new national guidance contains measures for schools to develop and implement their own affordable and sustainable policies that recognise the individual needs of all pupils.
“It makes clear that schools are expected to do all they can to limit school clothing costs for families as part of our wider aim to reduce the cost of the school day.
“The guidance also encourages schools to develop flexible and inclusive policies which promote generic items of clothing and do not include compulsory branded items, supporting our efforts to be more sustainable.”