Children in Scotland face gender-neutral school uniforms

EVERY pupil in Scotland could be told to wear a gender-neutral uniform under plans to cut costs for parents.

A consultation launched by Nicola Sturgeon’s administration outlines plans to write a national uniform policy, and could see items such as expensive blazers or branded PE kits banned.

The Scottish Greens, who secured the policy as part of their power-sharing pact with the SNP, said the plan aimed to “cap the cost of school uniforms”.

Ross Greer, the party’s education spokesman, said it was an opportunity to “promote equality in our classrooms” by removing “unnecessary rules around what each gender should wear”.

However, private schools are furious, after the consultation documents stated they must also follow the new rules. It raised the prospect of traditional clothing, which in some cases date back more than a century, being banned.

John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, which represents schools such as Fettes and Gordonstoun, said: “I’m not sure why it’s the business of government ministers what children in non-government schools wear.

“The whole point of our schools is they’re run independently. So choices they make about uniform is their business. It would be an erosion of the independence of schools. Uniform is really important to many of our schools, it’s part of who they are and their identity.”

Fettes College in Edinburgh, where Tony Blair was educated, charges up to £170 for one of its famous striped pink blazers. Sources within the sector said that the smartness of pupils was a major selling point to parents.

The agreement Ms Sturgeon struck with the Greens last summer said mandatory guidance would be produced to “increase use of generic items of uniform and reduce costs for families”.

However, it made no mention of independent schools then.