Let Clothes Be Clothes School Uniform report for DfE

[KatieAlcock]

Very pleased to have been involved in creating this, albeit in a very small way.

Here.

Hi OP, could you give a summary? I'm always cautious at clicking on links.
Thanks

No, sorry, as it's 56 pages long and I'm at work and I didn't write the whole thing.

It's on their web page if you want to Google instead.

Just had a quick skim through. Very illuminating study about the differences in uniform policy for girls and boys with regards to cost and modesty etc...

Great work. Have shared wider.

Great report, well-done to all

Great report, meant to have a quick look at the introduction and ended up reading the whole thing. I really hope this will help drive change...

@myspicynutsarefried

Hi OP, could you give a summary? I'm always cautious at clicking on links. Thanks

If you go to www.letclothesbeclothes.co.uk

It's the piece titled 'School Uniform: Dressing Girls to Fail (2021)

Thanks Katie.

I started reading it and am getting quite furious, despite my DD being done with full time education.

This is awesome, well done you.
I really hope it helps to change policies in schools.

I've never been able to work out why girls uniforms don't just switch to trousers. That would get rid of all the hemline & modesty shorts panics in a swoop.

I've never been able to work out why girls uniforms don't just switch to trousers. That would get rid of all the hemline & modesty shorts panics in a swoop.

Some girls really prefer skirts (never wear them myself), my daughter says periods are easier to manage in a skirt. Very few girls wear trousers at her school.
I was shocked to read that some schools don't allow trousers, I thought that was actually illegal.

I have boys and while I was aware of the rules around girls uniforms being stricter, I had no idea it was also more expensive.

@RayonSunrise

I've never been able to work out why girls uniforms don't just switch to trousers. That would get rid of all the hemline & modesty shorts panics in a swoop.

Try reading the report. There are reasons given by girls they consulted with.

The authors clearly would like to do what you suggest but the girls and women they consulted didn't agree.

Just came to post it Katie, a fantastic report, well done to all involved and yourself too of course!

I've already started sharing here and there.

My DD's uniform is a prime example. £25 a skirt from the uniform suppliers, and boys can wear supermarket trousers. The reason it is so expensive- despite being a grey, unlogoed skirt- is because it has a bright coloured stripe around the waistband which is supposed to prevent the girls from rolling the skirt up.

1. It doesn't prevent any rolling
2. The skirt only comes in 1 length so the whole "must be on the knee" depends on the width of the girl as much as anything. You have a tall, thin child and the waistband could be seen from space but the skirt would still be too short.

Really interesting perspectives around tights and periods etc. I'll choose leggings and a tunic on heavy days for the and reason.

Great report. I'm going to take it to governors.

Great report. Well done ladies!

Shoes; my son can wear one pair of decent school shoes for a full year (we've not hit the crazy growth spurt but yet.) using trainers too now due to Covid rules but he'd have those anyway.

Friends with girls have autumn shoes, winter boots, summer sandals etc. Also frequently v flimsy and tend to need replacing frequently.

I teach children with autism and with some groups of children, those who have intensive sensory and physical programmes, including lots of outdoors, its extremely noticeable how impractical girl's shoes and some clothes are.

@WarriorN

Really interesting perspectives around tights and periods etc. I'll choose leggings and a tunic on heavy days for the and reason.

I'm sure a lot of girls would like a choice.

Which makes the greater cost of the 'girls' items even more unacceptable.

@RayonSunrise

I've never been able to work out why girls uniforms don't just switch to trousers. That would get rid of all the hemline & modesty shorts panics in a swoop.

I think having a choice is a good thing... I would have hated wearing trousers as a child/teenager, still do now. This is partly due to being self conscious in trousers, finding a pair that fit properly/are flattering is a nightmare, plus I have endometriosis and require the flexibility of a skirt that can ride up or down comfortably depending on bloating.

Sorry I haven’t read it yet but will DFE respond to this formally?
It would be helpful be able to point to something from government to guide schools that can’t work out for themselves how to make a non sexist uniform policy.

Excellent report. Well done.
I have just been in talks with my kids secondary school about the uniform policy. They have removed the male & female division in their policy & agreed to change the skirt wording from 'modest fit' to standard length.
I'd still like them to stop all the emphasis on skirt length but I didn't win that battle.
Wish I'd seen this report before I had a meeting with them.

Really well written report. I also ended up reading the whole thing!

Really interesting. Thank you.

As I tweeted, my daughter's school have just decided to go to trousers for all. I'm glad the expensive kilts have gone but she is middle of the primary years and is sad she can't wear summer dresses any more.