Is there ANY proven correlation between school uniform and performance?

[Hullygully]

Any data (either way) anywhere?

Lasaruss why should I not believe her? Of course it is a bit of an exaggeration but I wake her up in the morning so I know how long she has to get ready. She never has her clothes laid out and she is always in a hurry. Mind I was exactly the same at her age and I wore the lovely polyester crap. I didn't spend much time thinking about that either except when I was being told off about it.

The other thing we don't have around here is fights between schools, something I remember well from my school days and have also seen fairly regularly since. As there is no visible difference between the kids from the different schools they just don't happen here. Not that the kids aren't proud of their schools at times, they are, but it's not a big deal apart from at competitive events.

LaQueen- you too are making assumptions about which of my children is being elbowed because of their uniform.

Whole hordes of school children in countries all over Europe (many of which do better than the UK in terms of educational outcomes) don't seem to have major issues around deciding what to wear.

A 6th former at DD's secondary came out with that argument in favour of uniform. I only just refrained from witheringly telling her that if her decision making processes were that poor I feared for her future. She was only 17 after all.
But dear God, what a useless bloody argument!

Yes.

School uniform, like many other aspects of education, is largely anachronistic.

Again, I have to agree with youpointythings. My DD went through primary school in NL and I dont remember a single episode of 'what shall I wear?'

Not having to worry about school uniform meant that the DCs just needed something to be ready not a specific thing.

IME DCs in countries with no school uniform culture wear jeans, trainers, t-shirts and hoodies to school most of the time. Easy, comfortable, practical and available in all possible colours and price points.

As a kid I just knew that the girl at GB (girls brigade) with the 'posh' uniform went to a 'good' school. She did, and consequently so did I. It was all down to her uniform. Not sure what that says about me.

Didn't you wear a Girls Brigade uniform at GB?

seeker - in a recent thread about the importance of going to a school near where a DC lives from a socialising viewpoint you said that your DD's GS is 13 miles away from your home. Previously you said that your home is in an economically deprived part of town.

So I'm guessing that these bullies are local kids that go to the GS as opposed to GS kids from the posh part of town.

It is important to establish the facts since you seem to be painting a picture of your SM son being bullied by posh kids from the GS.

You do realize that this stalkerishness is making you look a little unhinged?

Someone is getting a bit paranoid. I remember you recently accused some other poster of stalking you. It was then pointed out to you that your 'stalker' was the OP so technically you was stalking her.

I noticed that you dodged the question. So I was right then.

"Nope. You're my only stalker. You and your many alter egos.

I would answer your question. But you have some of your facts wrong, despite your detailed dossier of my life. And I know from past experience that you will stick to your inaccurate interpretation, regardless. So there is no point.

So. Fair enough, MTS. You know best."

Wow this thread is long! But in answer to the original question, a review of educational interventions to improve attainment found there wasn't great evidence for school uniforms, and what there was showed they didn't have an effect. www.suttontrust.com/education-endowment-foundation/toolkit/

FWIW I had to wear uniform up to sixth form and was very happy not to have to worry about my clothes being uncool.

I'm going to make a statement of fact which isn't racist, but factual.

Of the 14 secondaries that converge at the clock tower of an afternoon, co-ed, single sex, grammar, sec mod and comprehensive, the only school that is a re-enactment of Beirut is the Catholic boys school (and I've worked there too). It has race wars (black on white, black on black) high levels of immigrant population. The pupils travel far and wide looking for "victims", out of borough as well. It is continually in the press, generally for stabbings, frequently fatal. Massive drug problem too.

The whole area naturally evaporates of shoppers between 2 and 4 because of their behaviour and is awash with police. All the other school mix in quite happily, waiting for their buses, catching up with mates from primary school and so forth so where this whole 'grammar kids get their heads kicked in' comes from, I don't see it.

The Catholic Boys School was one of the most frightening places I've ever worked. 14yo's my arse, might have been getting access to the UK on the passport of a 14yo, but there were a lot who were clearly in their late teens and early 20's with a hell of a lot of 'tribal' baggage. You try getting between three alleged 14yo's going at it hammer and tongs in their home tongue, who then round on you because you are a woman, white and therefore a piece of shit in their eyes.

www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/8783689.BEXLEYHEATH__St_Columba_s_school__extremely_shocked__at_stabbing/

and more high profile case

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/03/yemurai-kanyangarara-london-stabbing-murder

Went a bit tangent there. So uniform has it's place if only to ID murderers.

Anyone with teenage daughters know that Cath Kidson, Jack Wills plus a few other names that I can't remember are must haves brands. And I am talking about kids from state schools as well as private.

Can you imagine being a parent on a limited income telling their DD that mum can't afford £20 for a T Shirt and that the one from Matalan is just as good to wear to school?

I'm on the fence when it comes to my DS. Standard casual for them is jeans our hoodies. Whereas with the girls it's all about brands. A uniform policy removes this expensive keeping up with the girls pressure.

Hollyberrybush- are there two St Columbas in Bexley?

And if it wasn't school uniform it would be hair colour, fashion, bags on one strap or two or any number of other things.

They'd know she was at that school because she wasn't at theirs.

Nope.

I did not say our house is in a socio economically deprived area. I said that our town is in an area of significant socio economic deprivation.

And children who come from the estates in question do not, almost without exception, attend the school the "elbowers" come from.