School uniform in the UK has been part of the educational landscape for centuries but it has been, and will probably remain, a source of much debate and controversy amongst both children and parents alike for the foreseeable future.

The Debate

The debate is divided between those who think that school uniform creates more disciplined and harder-working students, and those who see it as an attack on children’s’ individuality and freedom of expression.

During one particularly heated debate back in 2005, the then Education Minister Ivan Lewis stated that:

“I am not neutral about the benefits. It is a fundamental part of a strong school ethos and the high standards which are key foundations for pupil attainment. School uniform reinforces discipline and respect and enjoys support among parents, teachers and the community.”

But not all parents agree with this view and there have been many recent conflicts between teachers and parents in the UK. For example, at a Catholic state comprehensive back in 2005, pupils staged a mass walk-out over plans to introduce a uniform for the first time. Some parents and some teachers said that they did not agree with the introduction of a school uniform because it went against the schools progressive ethos and the schools stated intention to support freedom of choice over students' dress.

Cost

But for many parents their biggest concern is over the cost. Keeping your child in a state secondary school for 1 year, when taking into account uniforms, meals and school trips can easily exceed £1000 per year. In 2003, parents at a school in Somerset sent an official protest to the then Education Secretary Charles Clarke after 22 children were separated from other pupils when a new uniform was introduced at the start of the school year and their children turned up wearing the old – more plain – uniforms that were £9 cheaper.

However OFSTED, the government organization responsible for overseeing school standards, is committed to monitoring the impact of school uniform policy on children from low income families and they currently share the view of the government that school uniform encourages traditional educational values and discipline.

In schools where no uniform is required there have been concerns at children turning up to school either in hooded jackets, popular amongst boys and seen as encouraging anti-social behavior. And in girls’ cases, there is concern that some teenage girls arrive at school wearing clothes that are too revealing.

Religious Dress

Where the most has arisen however has been over the right of students to wear religious dress, in particular the Jibab, which has seen a legal court challenge in recent years after a young girl was excluded from school for refusing to stop wearing hers to school.

Under the Human Rights Act that governs British Law, all UK citizens have the right to freedom of religious expression, education and non-discrimination. This means that everyone who can genuinely prove that their religious beliefs require that they wear certain clothing cannot be discriminated against, or excluded, in any way.

However, older Brits will quickly point out that in their school days there were no European laws protecting their dignity. Back in the 1950s school-boys went to school all year round wearing knee high shorts, even in sub-zero temperatures, many of them look on at the current debates about children’s rights to freedom of dress with a wry sense of amusement.

USEFUL WORDS 

Boys

jacket (single/double-breasted)
trousers
shirt
tie

Girls
skirt
blouse (long/short-sleeved)
dress
cardigan

Both
gloves
overcoat
anorak
blazer

GRAMMAR SPOT

Everyone, something

Every, some, any and no form compounds ending in 'one/-body and 'thing. They also form compound adverbs ending in 'where.

Everyone/everybody means 'all the people':

Everyone must wear a school uniform

Someone/somebody means 'a person':

Someone has lost a black glove

No one/nobody means 'no people':

Nobody enjoys wearing a uniform

(Here 'one 'and 'body' have the same meaning).

Use thing for things, actions, messages

I've got everything I need, thank you
Something has changed in the dress code
It's best to say nothing about his coat

Pronouns in 'one' and 'body' have a possessive form:

The teacher collected everyone's coats
Can I borrow somebody's PE kit?

The difference between some- and any- in compounds is like the difference between some and any on their own:

There's someone at the door
I'm not expecting anyone
Park somewhere along here - anywhere will do

Clothes Idioms

Don't get your knickers in a twist = don't get stressed or upset
Don't get shirty with me = don't get angry/annoyed with me
I've got something up my sleeve = a secret plan or idea
Just speak off the cuff = without previous thought or preparation
It fits like a glove = it fits very well
I wouldn't like to be in her shoes = I wouldn't like to be in her situation
We do everything on a shoestring = we spend as little money as possible
I'll collar him = I'll stop him so that I can talk to him