School Uniforms
As the school uniforms debate continues, a majority of independent schools continue to supply and enforce their unique uniform status. Our definitive guide to school uniforms helps you uncover not only the history and meaning of using a school uniform, but the pros and cons and how school uniforms can affect students mental health.
School Uniform Definitive Guide
Pros and Cons of School uniforms
Effects of School Uniforms on Mental Health
How School Uniforms Affect Student Attitudes
Relevance of School Uniforms in 21st Century Schools
Staying on Trend with School Uniforms
School Uniform News
Be at the heart of the school uniforms pulse as we discuss all the latest school uniform trends including: the pros and cons of school uniforms, the affects school uniforms have on mental health, and how school uniforms affect the schools brand and perception from parents.
Definition of School Uniform
School uniforms are defined as describing a consistent and standardised set of clothing that all pupils are required to wear to school. This can include summer school uniforms, winter school uniforms and PE sports kit. All the clothes are to be worn at all times and enable the school to keep a level of consistency to how a pupil dresses and is presented at all times.
The uniform is only intended to be worn during school hours and often during school trips pupils are allowed to wear their own clothes for comfort.
In independent schools, school uniforms begin from reception and run right through to sixth form.
The uniform will often have the schools logo or badge embroidered onto it, helping to form the schools unique brand and image.
History of School Uniforms
The worlds first school uniform
The first school uniform was recorded in England in 1922 by the Archbishop of Canterbury who wrote in his journal, that students wore robe-like outfits called the ‘clappa clausa’.
However records dating back as far as the 16th century mention poor children that attended a Christian school as a form of charitable support wearing the same blue robes with yellow stockings similar to cassocks worn by the clergy. Students still wore the same uniform in 2014. Unexpectedly, the school ran a vote to its pupils to modernise the uniforms and 95% of them voted to keep the traditional uniform instead of opting for a more modern look and feel.
As the years have progressed, uniforms in schools have represented a status and form of upper class. In fact Eton’s students still wore black top hats up until late 1972!
The United States of America followed suit by introducing traditional uniforms as worn in England to predominantly the private schools. However there is one record at a native american government funded and run school that taught orphans and enforced a military style uniform for all to wear.
Modernisation of school uniform
Today school uniforms are required in most English primary and secondary schools to help standardise students regardless of their background and create the schools identity
This developed further in the 19th century as school uniforms have relaxed from blazers and ties to more casual sweatshirts and polo shirts.
Many schools allow black trainers and jeans in some cases.
There is even statistical evidence from a school in Long Beach, California who’s researchers found that the use of school uniforms created a decrease of 35% in crime, a 50% drop in school muggings, and a 74% drop in sexual offences.