DEPARTMENT FOR
CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0177) issued by
The Government News Network on 4 October 2007
Schools should
make every effort to limit the cost of school uniforms or risk
enforcement action, according to new advice issued today.
The guidance, which was published following a three month
consultation, urges all schools to have a school uniform, but
warns that any set policy must be affordable, non-discriminatory
and sensitive to the needs of pupils.
In particular, the guidelines warn that schools that have
exclusive contracts with suppliers may be subject to enforcement
action under the terms of the Competition Act. Overly expensive
uniform policies may also fall foul of the School Admissions Code,
which places a statutory duty on all governing bodies to ensure
that their policies and practices do not disadvantage any children.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said:
"I strongly support school uniforms and would like all
schools to adopt them. They can instil pride and unity, support a
strong school ethos and prevent the jealousy, rivalry and conflict
that can arise when children wear different clothes.
"But the cost of uniforms must never be a barrier for poorer
families. There's an important balance to be struck between
developing a smart, comfortable uniform and burdening parents with
needless expense by insisting on bespoke designs, for instance.
"We will take action where schools have a uniform policy
that is needlessly and prohibitively expensive, while the OFT has
already written to schools warning that exclusive contracts with
suppliers may contravene the Competition Act."
Other key points from the guidance include:
* Heads are within their rights to send a pupil home to change
clothes if they breach uniform policy, but they must notify
parents first and consider factors such as the child's age,
vulnerability, availability of parent and how easily the breach
can be remedied. A pupil must not be sent home indefinitely or for
longer than necessary to remedy the breach, as this could amount
to unofficial exclusion.
* Schools must be sensitive to the needs of all pupils and should
consult the community, parents and pupils before setting or
changing a uniform policy. They must act reasonably in
accommodating pupils' requirements but may have to balance
the rights of an individual against the best interests of the
whole school community.
* Schools should consider using lighter colours and reflective
materials in uniforms to increase the visibility of children when
walking or cycling to school, and that they should be sensitive
and flexible when setting requirements on PE clothing.
* Schools should prevent young people from wearing clothes that
may encourage cliques or gangs from developing.
Schools Minister Jim Knight also said:
"Schools must make every effort to accommodate the cultural,
religious or medical requirements of all pupils, and should
consult widely when setting or amending the uniform.
"But we are clear that the needs of safety, security and
effective teaching and learning must always be paramount - and
these may supersede individual requests under the terms of the
Human Rights Act.
"Schools must continue to assess each case on its individual
merits, and this guidance will help them make sensible and
sensitive judgements."
The final school uniform guidance is available at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Cost of Schooling Survey (Brunwin et al, 2004) found that
99% of maintained schools in England require pupils to wear a
uniform of some description.
2. The School Uniform Omnibus Survey (DfES 2002) found that 89%
of parents with a child who attended a maintained school said they
were in favour of school uniform.
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