Industry News
Uniforms 'contribute nothing' to education
Posted on 22nd August 2007
A Salford councillor for children's services and youth issues has launched an attack on the concept of school uniforms.
John Warmisham claimed school uniforms belonged "in the 50s and 60s" and added nothing to the education of children.
He made his comments to the Manchester Evening News and expressed concern over the expense of uniforms to families.
"Pupils can be proud of their school without having to wear a uniform," he said, but added "extravagant jewellery and inappropriate footwear" would have to be banned.
The councillor's comments were not welcomed by local head-teacher Tarun Kapur who told the newspaper a uniform prevented children from competing to be fashionable which he claimed put pressure on families.
He added uniforms made it easy to identify pupils and made it harder for interlopers to wander into a school and cause trouble.
A study last month by Oxford Brookes University suggested school uniforms acted as a social leveller and reduced the risks of children being bullied.