Uniform can help reduce bullying, say students

New research has revealed that students, teachers and child development experts all agree that school uniform plays an important role in tackling bullying.

In a series of focus groups with 11 – 14 year olds, young people have spoken about the value they place on school uniform and how it can help to reduce anxiety around appearance and fitting in with their peers. As one year 9 pupil said:

“With uniform, you can’t be judged. [Without uniform] everyone would be competing about what the style is, what the trend is, what you need to wear; I think there’d be more bullying.”

Many of the students interviewed for the study said they would feel under pressure to wear branded clothing and footwear – ‘like Nike and Adidas’ – to fit in and avoid being bullied if there was no school uniform. They said this could create problems for students and families who couldn’t afford these kind of brands and, surprisingly, also for those who could: no-one wanted to be labelled ‘the rich kid’.

The research into students’ attitudes to school uniform was carried out by not for profit body, the Schoolwear Association on the back of a poll of teachers in which 75% said they thought more children were experiencing mental health issues than five years ago. 

The majority of the teachers who answered the poll reported that, whilst online bullying was on the increase and issues around appearance continued to be one of the main sources of anxiety for young people, they had actually seen a drop in the instances of traditional playground bullying. Most felt that School uniform played a part in helping children to fit in whilst at school

 Dr. Barbie Clarke, child and adolescent psychosocial development expert, led the research with the students. She said that some important conclusions could be drawn from the study and that school uniform may have significant benefits for the wellbeing of young people.

“School uniform seems to play an important role in establishing identity among young people of this age,” she said. “It can protect adolescents from being picked on or being the subject of banter that verges on bullying. This creates a greater degree of self-confidence, and ultimately helps with the fundamental adolescent need to be accepted by others.”

Chairman of the Schoolwear Association, David Burgess said:

“We recognise that bullying is complex and happens for a huge number of reasons, but this research backs up the idea that uniform can play an important role in tackling bullying in school.

“Most obviously, uniform puts students on a level playing field in terms of dress and reduces opportunities for bullying based on appearance.

“Outside of school, it enables students to be identified in the wider community – increasing both their security and their accountability outside of the school gates.”