|
School asks: will uniform curb bullies?
|
Parents and pupils to be surveyed on whether
they favour a switch to blazers
|
From left, pupils Lauren, 14, Sian, 13, Omega, 14, Shauntene,
13, and Gentia, 13
|
A WEST Hampstead secondary school is considering introducing
uniforms amid concern about a possible link between bullying and
the way pupils dress.
Hampstead School headteacher Andy Knowles has asked parents for
their views on whether it would improve the Westbere Road school’s
image if pupils were to wear uniforms.
Pupils are also to be asked for their opinions and whether they
believe dress is related to bullying. It will be the first research
into uniform policy at the school since the early 1970s.
Mr Knowles said: “The most interesting feature will be to
see if there is a difference between the kids and the parents.
I imagine the older kids will prefer to wear their own clothes,
but the younger children might feel they were better off wearing
a uniform.” He said pupils had three main types of dress
– “grungy, townies and the jean and t-shirt brigade”.
A New Journal survey of 20 pupils revealed they would rather keep
their own clothes, even if it made them targets for bullying.
One pupil, Sian, 13, was not aware of a strong link between bullying
and dress. She said: “I know everyone thinks it goes on,
but I don’t see it very much. I don’t want to look the
same as everyone else.”
A year 11 pupil said: “I would call my style of dress alternative.
And I get a lot of stick. But wearing your own clothes helps build
you as an individual.”
|
