business dress in the sixth form is one of the most ridiculous things there is (they do it at our schools too). It makes me fizz with rage
We do this in my school and I do not fizz with rage. Indeed teachers have a similar dress code too. There was a letter in the local paper this last week from an ordinary lady in the street who was criticising some pictures of local state school and she commented on the poor and scruffy dress.
So, what is this about? Well, first it is image. In my school we want present a good image,just as most businesses do. They may have corporate dress. Thats called uniform in school. One of our local grammar schools does uniform. We decided to allow our sixth formers more autonomy.
Secondly its about anticipatory socialisation. We anticipate ( and hope the students do too) that our sixth formers are going into management posts in business or professions eventually and want them to have an appropriate understanding of suitable dress.
Thirdly, if we did not have some sort of code, experience of other schools ( and lord forbid our own too) 16 - 18 year olds have little sense and may well turn up dressed like Miley Cirus because its " cool" We do not want that on the school bus in a morning. I can see enough of that in the local comprehensive around a mile away.
Finally, it6 does lend itself to some sort of corporate belonging. A sense of pride in community and school. It also serves a purpose of ensuring that we do not have too much distinction between the wealthiest and the less well off in school. They all wear pretty well the same and that is good for them and us.
But each to their own. School isnt just about exams and subjects and results. Its also about social roles and modelling and learning those soft skills for the future.