Anything but a uniform approach for pupils
ISEE that old chestnut ‘school uniforms’ has raised its head again. The fabulously named Nicholas Le Poer Trench, 9th Earl of Clancarty, has suggested that it’s a good idea to ‘get rid’ of school uniforms, calling them:“An outmoded idea ultimately a repressive aspect of the educational system designed to keep children in line.”
His 16-year-old daughter adds that she wouldn’t be able to ‘express herself’ every day if she had to wear one.
I might have understood it had the Earl attended Christ’s Hospital School in Sussex where they sport long blue coats, belted at the waist, with matching knee breeches, yellow socks and white neck bands. But, before attending Plymouth Polytechnic, he went to Westminster School where nothing more exotic than blazer, trousers, shirt and tie were worn. A look, that I note, he hasn’t strayed far from judging by his appearance whilst speaking in the House of Lords recently. Although to be fair he was rocking a grey Purdey haircut and a floral tie!
Well I am not entirely sure in what way a uniform stifles expression as a blazer, boater and a dubious dirndl skirt certainly didn’t stop me and my mates expressing ourselves! I did a bit of a shout out for memories amongst the group of us, from Notre
Monday, April 12, 2021
Dame Plymouth, who keep in touch and they all piled in, even Theresa in Australia. The funny thing is none of us seems to be able to agree on exactly what it was we wore. I joined Notre Dame from Stoke Damerel in the 4th form after it was suggested that both the school and myself might benefit from my leaving. Among other things this move allowed me to say goodbye to the pink, yellow and blue candy striped summer frocks and the hated beret. The frocks were bad enough as they were belted at the waist. As someone who Trinny and Susannah once described as falling into the house brick shape category, i.e. no waist, I resembled a bolt of material. As for the beret I looked like someone had been playing frisbee with a cowpat that my flat head had caught!
Notre Dame offered boaters. Straw in the summer, blue felt in the winter. But sadly the waist was still necessary if you were to look half decent in the winter grey pleated skirts. And the summer brought fresh horrors in the shape of a dirndl skirt, with huge pockets, into which you tucked a blue, striped, short sleeved shirt with a pleat at the back that Helen complained made us look fatter than we were!
At the end of the day though a cardi and a blazer covered a multitude of sins even if they were two sizes too big so that they lasted. As Melly reminded me, we expressed ourselves in many ways.
Skirts were rolled over at the top, ties worn as cravats and boaters were steamed and moulded into various shapes. And, Phillipa and Peacock, I haven’t even mentioned hair! By the time we got to the 6th form we were allowed any white shirt, although my stretch, lacy blouse from Etams didn’t quite make the cut, and any blue/grey skirt but, “Not that short Judith!”
Not having to decide what to wear every day meant we could roll out of bed later, our parents didn’t have to wash and buy more clothes and no matter what our backgrounds we were all the same. In all honesty I can’t think of one of us that was held back by a blazer, boater or dirndl skirt.
We were Notre Dame Girls and proud to show it!
I resembled a bolt of material. As for the beret I looked like someone had been playing frisbee with a cowpat