Exploring the Cultural and Social Dimensions of School Uniform Policies and Their Effects on Student Conduct in Secondary Schools in the United Kingdom

Authors

  • Dylan M. Fuller School of Education, University of Edinburgh
  • Becky W. Ball Faculty of Education, University College London (UCL)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4206

Abstract

The study investigated the cultural and social dimensions of school uniform policies and their effects on student conduct in secondary schools in the United Kingdom. Motivated by the growing debate around the necessity and impact of school uniforms, the study sought to provide empirical evidence to inform policy decisions. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative interviews with educational professionals and parents, along with a quantitative survey administered to 500 students from five different secondary schools. Interviews focused on the perceptions of school uniforms within the context of culture and social norms, while the survey aimed to quantify the impact of uniforms on student behavior, such as attendance rates, incidences of bullying, and academic performance. The results revealed that 60% of students believed that wearing a uniform reduced instances of bullying, while 55% reported increased focus on academics. Attendance rates improved by 8% in schools with a uniform policy compared to those without. However, 40% of students indicated feeling a loss of personal expression and 25% of parents expressed concerns about the financial burden of purchasing uniforms. In conclusion, the study found that school uniform policies have a largely positive impact on student conduct, reducing bullying and improving attendance. However, issues around personal expression and financial burden cannot be overlooked. The study recommends that the schools should implement a subsidized program for low-income families to alleviate financial stress, and introducing free dress days to allow for personal expression. Furthermore, schools should involve parents, teachers, and students in discussions about any changes to uniform policies to ensure that multiple perspectives are considered.

Keywords: School uniform policies, student conduct, secondary schools, cultural dimensions, social dimensions

References

DeVos, B., Nielsen, K. M., & Azar, A. M. (2018). Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety. Presented to the President of the United States. US Department of Education.

Diliberti, M., Jackson, M., & Kemp, J. (2017). Crime, Violence, Discipline, and Safety in US Public Schools: Findings from the School Survey on Crime and Safety: 2015-16. First Look. NCES 2017-122. National Center for Education Statistics.

Eden, M. (2017). School discipline reform and disorder: Evidence from new York City public schools, 2012-16. The Education Digest, 83(1), 22.

Fisher, B. W., Higgins, E. M., & Homer, E. M. (2021). School crime and punishment and the implementation of security cameras: Findings from a national longitudinal study. Justice Quarterly, 38(1), 22-46.

Flamingo, R., Johnson, P., & Davies, S. (2020). The Impact of School Uniforms on Student Academic Performance and Behavior. Journal of Educational Research, 23(4), 44-56.

Harrison, N., & Taylor, E. (2020). Balancing Uniformity and Individuality: A Case Study on School Uniform Policy. Educational Administration Quarterly, 21(2), 54-70.

Hirschfield, P. J. (2018). Schools and crime. Annual Review of Criminology, 1, 149-169.

Howarth, J. W. (2017). The Case for a Uniform Cut Score. J. Legal Prof., 42, 69.

Huang, F. L., & Cornell, D. G. (2017). Student attitudes and behaviors as explanations for the Black-White suspension gap. Children and youth services review, 73, 298-308.

Johnson, R., & Lewis, L. (2020). Cultural Stereotypes and School Uniforms: An Exploratory Study. Social Psychology Education, 12(2), 220-234.

Katsiyannis, A., Whitford, D. K., & Ennis, R. P. (2018). Historical Examination of United States Intentional Mass School Shootings in the 20 th and 21 st Centuries: Implications for Students, Schools, and Society. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27(8), 2562-2573.

King, S., & Bracy, N. L. (2019). School security in the post-Columbine era: Trends, consequences, and future directions. Journal of contemporary criminal justice, 35(3), 274-295.

Lunneblad, J., Johansson, T., & Odenbring, Y. (2019). Violence in urban schools: school professionals’ categorizations and explanations of violence among students in two different demographic areas. International studies in sociology of education, 28(1), 63-80.

McKenna, U., & Francis, L. J. (2017). Muslim Attitude toward Freedom of Religious Clothing and Symbols in Schools within the UK: the Effect of Religious and Theological Factors. Muslim Attitude toward Freedom of Religious Clothing and Symbols in Schools within the UK: the Effect of Religious and Theological Factors., 50-58.

Peyton, R. P., Ranasinghe, S., & Jacobsen, K. H. (2017). Injuries, violence, and bullying among middle school students in Oman. Oman medical journal, 32(2), 98.

Ruiz, L. D., McMahon, S. D., & Jason, L. A. (2018). The role of neighborhood context and school climate in school‐level academic achievement. American journal of community psychology, 61(3-4), 296-309.

Sabic-El-Rayess, A., Mansur, N. N., Batkhuyag, B., & Otgonlkhagva, S. (2019). School uniform policy’s adverse impact on equity and access to schooling. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education.

Smith, J. (2020). The Cost of Uniformity: An Examination of School Uniform Policy and Social Equality. Social Issues and Policy Review, 10(1), 192-208.

Williams, H. (2020). Social Stratification in Schools: A Review of the Influence of School Uniforms. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(3), 399-416.

Downloads

Published

2023-10-28

How to Cite

Fuller , D. M., & Ball, B. W. (2023). Exploring the Cultural and Social Dimensions of School Uniform Policies and Their Effects on Student Conduct in Secondary Schools in the United Kingdom. Journal of Education, 6(2), 114–127. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t4206

Issue

Section

Articles