School uniforms in Scotland

Overview

Introduction

The Scottish Government has committed to introduce statutory guidance in Scotland which aims to address equalities issues around uniform policy and reduce the cost of school uniform, as this can be a significant barrier to  participation in learning.  This consultation seeks views on:

• what should be included within the scope of the guidance
• the role that school uniform plays within the ethos, culture and day to day school life
• the considerations available to schools and education authorities in reducing school uniform costs
• the draft principles which are intended to be incorporated as part of national school uniform policy

Read the consultation paper 

Who is this consultation for?

This consultation is open to anyone with an interest in school uniform policy, but especially pupils, parents and carers, education authorities and education authority schools, and those who provide school uniform items.

In addition, we have made arrangements to specifically seek the views of children and young people on school uniform policy.  These will be taken together with the findings of this consultation to inform future policy and guidance development.
 

Application of the policy guidance

It is intended that the guidance will directly apply to education authority schools, independent and grant-aided schools.  It is intended that schools and education authorities will continue to provide school and authority based policy for school uniforms.

What is not included within the scope of the guidance and this consultation

It is not intended that the school uniform items will be mandated at national levels.  Instead it is intended that the national guidance will inform local authorities and schools policies. 

It is not intended that there will be a national school uniform policy which is applied in all schools - therefore this is not the subject of this consultation and is not in scope.

It is not intended that school uniform in Scotland will be abolished.  Therefore that is not within the scope of the consultation.