Industry News
Pupils 'losing a life skill by not wearing ties'
Posted on 6th June 2007
The omission of the tie from school uniforms could mean that pupils are missing out on an important life skill, according to one education spokesman.
With increasing numbers of schools eschewing the tie in favour of an open shirt - as is frequent practice in business - Rhys Williams, a spokesman for the National Union of Teachers Cymru, described the current school uniform situation as being in a "state of flux".
He told the Western Mail that it is "amazing" that Conservative party senior officials are moving away from the tie, demonstrating the extent of change regarding formal dress in the UK.
However, he noted that the ability to be able to knot a tie is a valuable one that should not be discarded without.
Mr Williams explained: "If I had pastoral responsibility for a boy who was going for a job interview, I would recommend that he wore a tie."
"By the time we come to secondary school we should be able to knot ties. Being able to tie a tie appropriately is a life skill," he concluded.
The Department of Education notes that it is the responsibility of school governors to set the tone of a uniform policy or dress code.