The vast majority of UK schools mandate that pupils wear a uniform when attending school, and yet while this has been the norm for many decades now, there are still those parents who don’t believe in uniform enforcement.
However, with much of the evidence pointing towards the fact that school uniforms actually benefit students, here are 5 reasons not just to support kids wearing them at school, but to support your local school uniform shop, too:
1. Uniforms can help kids feel as if they belong
Among the younger population in particular, some clothing worn by youngsters and teens is often seen as saying something about the individual wearing them (whether intentionally or otherwise), and can often be the source of conflict and distress in crowded environments such as schools. By putting every pupil in the same clothing, however, you can minimize the chances of them being bullied or victimized due to the way they dress, and at the same time, reduce the stress pupils may feel about choosing their clothes and the pressure they may be under to conform and wear clothes deemed fashionable.
If your child is less worried about their clothing and isn’t subjected to bullying as a result of the clothes they’ve chosen to wear, they’re far more likely to be able to focus on their studies, and that has to be a positive thing for both child and parent.
2. Uniforms can improve pupil discipline
Over time, research has been carried out into the disciplinary repercussions of schoolchildren not being made to wear school uniforms, and it was found that children wearing uniforms tended to be more attentive in classes and cause less disruption overall. This meant that teachers didn’t have to spend as much time disciplining them and were able instead, to concentrate on creating a positive and educational environment for pupils.
Uniforms help to give pupils a clearer distinction between home life and school life, in turn, encouraging them to behave more appropriately according to where they were and what they were wearing.
Additionally, some studies showed that pupils were more likely to have higher rates of attendance in secondary school if made to wear a school uniform.
3. Uniforms ensure kids are dressed appropriately
Often, when kids are given the freedom to wear whatever they want to school, they tend to make inappropriate choices, and wear items that aren’t conducive to studying and being in an educational environment. Not only that, but deciding what to wear each day for school can weigh heavy on a child’s mind, and they may even spend a lot of time either in the morning, or the night before, deciding what to wear and worrying about how it will be viewed by their peers.
4. School uniforms are a more environmentally friendly choice
Fast fashion is a hot topic of late, and when a school doesn’t mandate that its pupils wear a uniform, parents and caregivers may be inclined to make poor clothing choices simply to save money, or in order to buy their children what they want to wear. Most schools invest in high quality school uniforms in Northamptonshire, that are designed to be robust and last well without the need for regular replacement. And when a child grows out of a uniform, it is likely to be in good enough condition to be passed down to a sibling or child from another family.
5. Uniforms help parents spend less
The majority of school uniforms tend to be reasonably priced for parents, and since – as mentioned above – they’re typically well made and durable, they should last a pupil at least a year, or until they grow out of them, by which time you may be able to donate them to another pupil. There is also often financial support for families who struggle to pay for school uniforms, making it possible for every pupil to attend school in the appropriate uniform.
Having a uniform that lasts, helps parents spend less on other clothing for their kids to wear while they’re at school, which would likely not last as long and need to be replaced much sooner.
School uniforms have been embraced by most UK schools, and as it would seem from the evidence above, with good reason, too.
