School uniforms bring all pupils down to the same level - Yorkshire Post Letters

I am appalled at some of the assertions made by Jayne in this article. It seems to reflect the new situation where pupils determine what they should be allowed to wear at school and ‘unbelievably blame the wearing of school uniforms as their excuse for poor performance.’

In my experience, and that of my Daughter, who is Deputy Head of a school in North Yorkshire, with pupils from various financial backgrounds, it is those parents from struggling families who are most insistent that they will ensure their children are equipped with the full school uniform, whether it be new or a cast off and, whether they have to make sacrifices elsewhere or go into debt to finance it.

They, and their children, realise that they are fortunate to go to this school as a gateway for their children to prosper in the world and are justifiably proud to wear the school uniform.

They appreciate the need for their children to look smart both in school and at interviews for employment or higher education elsewhere.

Not for them the trendy fashions and constant pursuit of trad fads purchased by over-indulgent parents, the massive outlay on school proms, trendy footwear, body piercing, tattoos, nail clinics etc.

School trips, formally restricted to visits to York Museums and a trip down the Ouse to Bishop Thorpe,to a short stay in New York or Paris.

The school uniform brings all pupils down to the same level where the only difference is in adaptation and willingness to show their gratitude to their parents for sacrifices made to give them a real chance in life.

It is these parents we need to support, not the social climbers who wish to dictate how their children should be educated.

Schoolchildren need to be shown discipline, by their parents hopefully with the aid and support of teaching staff and realise that their ambitions in life are determined, to a great extent by their ability to accept and respond to discipline.