Talks to be held over school uniform policy
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CALLS have been made for a citywide school uniform policy to be introduced in Glasgow amid concerns over pupils being sent home.
School uniform issues were referred to the council’s education committee after some councillors raised worries over varying requirements across the city, the cost of uniform, access to shops selling the clothes and pupils being excluded from class because they weren’t dressed correctly.
Maureen McKenna, the council’s director of education, said sending children home was “completely unacceptable”.
She agreed to raise the issue at an upcoming Children’s Conference to see whether a policy would be well received.
Councillor Aileen McKenzie referred the subject from the council’s operational performance and delivery scrutiny committee to the education committee.
She said she had heard of one case where a school’s uniform was only available online or from a shop in Stirling.
“If you want the right fit for your child it would mean travelling to Stirling. I understand the shop does go into the school to measure the children, but it’s not practical.”
She added online shopping wasn’t possible for families who don’t have the internet.
Ms McKenna said: “School uniform is encouraged but absolutely not compulsory. I need the names of these schools.
“I need to know where schools are saying they send children home for school uniform, because it’s completely unacceptable.”
Councillor Jon Molyneux asked whether a citywide policy would be beneficial.
“If there’s no policy in place then there’s an ambiguity about what’s acceptable or not,” he said. “In my view, it would help give clarity about what is acceptable and what’s unacceptable.”
And Councillor Soryia Siddique suggested learners in the city could put forward designs for a uniform, with each school adding a unique touch.
She said there could be a social enterprise approach, encouraging recycling and reuse of uniforms.