Pupils revolt over JFS uniform change plan
JFS HAS triggered a backlash among students over potential changes to its uniform policy which were reportedly aimed at making sixth formers “smarten up”.
Sixth form students at Europe’s largest Jewish school are currently allowed to wear their own clothes but new headteacher Rachel Fink is considering changes.
Student sources suggested the changes would include making male students wear suits and female students dress more smartly, though the school denied the policy involved suits.
An online petition, which was signed by 207 people before it was taken down, said: “Changing the school uniform will forever change the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of our school and will put the student body in direct conflict with the new headteacher.”
The petition said smarter clothes were usually more expensive, which less wealthy sixth formers could be unable to afford.
It urged people to sign to “help preserve our school atmosphere”. After the closure of the petition, a second was started which said students “don’t want to be malicious”, but “just want to be heard”. It said Mrs Fink was a “phenomenal” teacher who had turned Hasmonean Girls School from an “average” to an “outstanding” school.
A JFS spokesman told the JC it was “incorrect” that the new uniform policy would involve suits, adding this was part of the reason the first students’ petition was taken down.
He said: “As you would imagine there are a variety of policies that are under review with a new headteacher.
“We are indeed in the process of making changes to our sixth form uniform policy with a view to smartening up the appearance of our sixth form students. “The discussion is still ongoing.” A student source said the new policy would be aimed against jeans, trainers and t-shirts and would require male students to wear a shirt and chinos.
There are a variety of policies under review’