School Uniform Policies Debate

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Department: Department for Education
Monday 12th June 2023

(1 year, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The Government believe that it should be even more local than that. I agree with the first part of the noble Baroness’s question: schools absolutely know their communities. We very much encourage schools to work with their parent bodies to establish their school uniform policies and to work out what suits them.

Lord Cormack Portrait Lord Cormack (Con)
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Does my noble friend agree that it is important to allow children to have a sense of identity and belonging, with which uniforms help very much? What is being done to encourage schools that have a recycling policy? That is terribly important and can significantly reduce the cost.

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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I agree with my noble friend’s first point, but we are encouraging schools to identify elements of their branded uniform that are low cost, finding their identity through a tie, perhaps, rather than a blazer. Our guidance is clear about promoting second-hand uniforms, which many students prefer because of the environmental impact.