SADLY, September is approaching – already. That means for many families across the UK, it’s time to buy new school uniforms. And that shows where living in Mayor Lutfur Rahman’s Borough offers a better alternative.
Keir Starmer recognised that it is hard for many families to find the money to buy school uniforms. He introduced a new law, coming in to force this September, that schools can only have three “branded items” and, for secondary schools, a tie. Schools often require children to wear very specific items, often only available from a high-cost single school outfitter. It is that habit which Starmer was trying to get rid of, but the new law won’t do it. Schools will still be able to insist on, say, a blazer, a jumper and a shirt with the school badge on. It is not the badge that makes these items expensive: they are expensive because they come from a single official stockist. If the school cannot insist on branded PE kit now, the PE items will still be expensive.
In contrast, Mayor Lutfur Rahman, realising the burden that buying uniforms places on low-paid parents, has introduced a grant to help low-paid parents meet the cost.
Fortunately, in Tower Hamlets many schools, especially primary schools, are not too hung up on uniforms – going for a school colour rather than bespoke items. In diverse Tower Hamlets, many different items of clothing are needed to meet the needs of the whole school population: setting rules for headscarves, hijabs and more would be a nightmare – again, a school colour can suffice.
The mystery is why England is so uptight about dressing its schools students alike, as if they were little soldiers – or baked beans tins, stacked neatly on a supermarket shelf. Why do we encourage uniformity of dress, when we spend so much time encouraging school pupils to be individual and find their own potential?
One answer is that school uniform stops school being a fashion parade and stops kids picking on each other because one has better clothes than the other. There’s still different grades of school uniform to cause arguments, and differences in other material possessions to argue over.
•Perhaps school uniform stops kids ruining their “good” clothes. The rate at which children grow out of their school uniforms just means that any “good” clothes they have are not worn that often. You can see children playing out after school – still in their uniforms. Uniforms take the place of other clothes, rather than preserving clothes worn out of school.
•Some say that school uniforms foster a sense of belonging – and help people identify children running riot at the bus stop. It’s quite possible to develop a sense of belonging in many other ways, and children should not be rioting at bus stops anyway.
•Others believe that uniforms help children learn. They don’t. Learning depends on many factors – but not what clothes you have one.
•Finally, if school uniforms are so great, why don’t teachers wear them?
UK education does not lead to the best exam results. Germany is often cited as an example of good education and good outcomes: there are very few uniforms. Germany is one of the least-uniformed countries in the world. People remember the days when uniformed gangs rampaged through the streets, looking for those who were not in uniform to attack. Uniforms can help foster division and hatred in society.
Whichever way you look at the uniform debate, we can all agree that it’s better in Tower Hamlets – and welcome the Mayor’s uniform grant as a practical way of helping low paid families.
For (some) more information and to apply for a Tower Hamlets School Clothing Grant, go to: School Uniform Grant
●Read more about it: Mayor Rahman’s Free School Meals help 38,000 students Mayor Lutfur Rahman supports children with special needs