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SUPPORTERS say uniforms promote equality, belonging and identity. Detractors say they promote conformity and cost too much. Which is true?

SUPPORTERS say uniforms promote equality, belonging and identity. Detractors say they promote conformity and cost too much. Which is true?

As it turns out - the answer is both.

One of the biggest mistakes I encountered as a new school principal was making "minor" changes to the sports uniform.

It was done with the best intentions but I soon found out how naive I was, given the volume of feedback from our parent community.

There were many lessons I learnt from that experience.

The first was that school uniforms not only represent a financial investment but also an emotional one. Uniforms are a tangible representation of something much bigger - school culture and values.

There has been media coverage recently debating whether school uniforms are still relevant.

Ask most students and they would probably prefer wearing casual clothes. On the other hand, most parents and teachers are supportive of having uniforms for a number of reasons.

The most important is that it creates an environment of inclusivity and equality where children aren't judged on their clothing choices or the price tag. Uniforms take the competitive nature out of appearance.

Uniforms give all students a sense of belonging and identity. They encourage a level of personal discipline and pride in being able to wear a uniform and wear it well.

Also, knowing what to wear each day makes life much easier for parents and students.

The counter arguments are both practical and philosophical.

Uniforms can be seen as promoting conformity. Students will argue that wearing a uniform stifles self-expression.

There is also the question of how useful and practical uniforms are given they can only be worn in one place for a finite period of time.

Cost is perhaps the most significant factor in any debate on school uniforms. Uniforms can include many pieces, including backpack and hat.

'CRITICAL TIME' FOR CHILDCARE REFORM

While uniforms don't have a direct impact on the quality of learning, they can contribute to the overall school culture in which parents and schools have high aspirations and expectations of each learner.

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SUPPORTERS say uniforms promote equality, belonging and identity. Detractors say they promote conformity and cost too much. Which is true? SUPPORTERS say uniforms promote equality, belonging and identity. Detractors say they promote conformity and cost too much. Which is true? As it turns out - the answer is both.

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Many students across Australia wear traditional school uniforms. These consist of button-up shirts, tailored trousers, pleated skirts or tunics, and black leather shoes.

This is despite the fact most students, teachers and parents support a move away from traditional uniforms to ones more comfortable for students and more supportive of a range of activities they do at school.

Schools across Australia set their own uniform policy, informed by their jurisdiction's education authority. Here are four reasons schools should consider offering students the option to wear sports-like uniforms every day, starting with the savings for parents.

1. Traditional uniforms are expensive

The average cost in Victoria for a primary-school student uniform appropriate for summer and winter, as well the sports uniform, is around $330 on average. For secondary schools this increases to around an average of $526 per student. Catholic and independent school uniforms are consistently more expensive than ones in government schools.

The biggest saving that comes from shifting to an everyday policy of sports uniforms is that parents don't need to buy multiple uniforms. If parents only need to buy a sports uniform, this could save around $167 for primary-aged and $363 for secondary-aged students (based on Victorian figures).

Sports uniforms are cheaper than traditional uniforms. Most sports uniforms consist of a tracksuit, polo shirt with school logo, sport shorts and trainers - at a total average cost of $163. Increasing mass production of a sports uniform may reduce this cost even further.

2. Teachers, students and parents prefer sports uniforms

In a positive step, all government schools across Australia must now offer a shorts or trouser option to both boys and girls. Most schools choose to offer tailored shorts or trousers.

Students don't like wearing traditional uniforms. Studies show 62% of primary school students and 72% of secondary school students would prefer to wear a sports uniform every day.

Overall, four in five parents and six in ten teachers support a change in uniform policy allowing students to wear sports uniforms every day.

3. Sports uniforms support physical activity

Most students think they would be more active if they could wear their sports uniform every day. Older students, who are generally less active, more strongly agree they'd be more active wearing sports uniforms every day.

In a country with a climate like Australia's, we must ask if traditional school uniforms are fit for purpose

Nine in ten parents agree school uniforms should support physical activity.

Beyond health, active students do better in class, having better concentration, attention and classroom behaviours, which can lead to improved academic performance.

Research suggests by changing from a traditional uniform to a sports uniform, primary-aged students can improve their physical activity. Changing to sports uniforms may be even more important for Australian girls, who are typically less active than boys.

But uniform changes are just one ingredient to increase young people's physical activity. Combining factors such as the option to wear sports uniforms daily with classroom energisers, such as short active breaks from seated teaching, safe active travel routes to school (such as bike lanes) and subsidised cost of sport increases students' physical activity.

The sports uniforms make it easier for students to engage in these other types of activities on a daily basis.

4. Traditional uniforms are uncomfortable

"Uniforms hold me back from running," was one of a number of reasons given by South Australian secondary school students for not being active at recess.

Unlike schools in other countries, we've heard some Australian primary schools do not have changing facilities to allow students to switch between active wear and traditional uniforms at recess.

Workplace dress policies are almost always appropriate for the type of work required by employees. For example, tradies wear reflective active wear. So why not in schools? In a country with a climate like Australia's, we must ask if traditional school uniforms are fit for purpose.

Challenges and next steps

Only one-third of school principals support swapping to sports uniforms every day. Among the two-thirds who don't support the change are those who they say sports uniforms are inappropriate for formal occasions. Half also say there is no evidence to support making a change.

We strongly encourage uniform suppliers to work with school departments to design sports uniforms that encourage physical activity and that are also smart and appropriate for formal school occasions.

As a parent or student, you can ask your school to consider offering the option to wear a daily sports uniform.

Matthew Mclaughlin is aPhD candidate, School of Medicine and Public Health; Luke Wolfenden is aprofessor of public health; Nicole McCarthy is a PhD candidate and Nicole Nathan is an NHMRC MRFF investigator, all at the University of Newcastle.

This article was first published on the Conversation

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Four reasons Australian schools should let students wear sports uniforms every day | Matthew Mclaughlin, Luke Wolfenden, Nicole McCarthy and Nicole Nathan for the Conversation

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Traditional uniforms are expensive, uncomfortable and inhibit physical activity