Parents and principal of one of Brisbane’s best performing state schools to clash over a uniform

Students at one of Brisbane’s best-performing state schools have staged a protest against a change in uniform policy, and the situation is likely to get even more heated following confirmation of a crucial meeting.

A POLITICAL stoush between parents and the principal of one of Brisbane’s best performing state schools over uniform policy is likely to be thrashed out at a P&C meeting next Tuesday.

The bunfight has been brewing for more than 12 months after Kenmore State High School executive principal Paul Robertson started making changes to a decade-old policy.

On Monday, dozens of students staged a ‘day of dissent’ against the proposed changes by defying its dress code.

A student attends 'day of dissent' day at Kenmore High State School as part of a planned protest against changes to the uniform policy. Pic: Darren Cartwright

The protest varied with some students simply wearing non-compliant socks to shirts not being tucked in while others changed the colour of their hair or wore their sports uniform and not the prescribed formal uniform.

The major sticking point for parents and students is that Mr Robertson wants the formal uniform worn every day next year and not allowing students a choice.

His edict has resulted in the membership of the P&C growing almost 10 fold, said P&C vice president Michael Sheehan.

Mr Sheehan said disaffected parents had joined the fight against the change which would no longer allow students to choose between the sports, or formal, uniform.

“Last year there was on average about a dozen parents that attended the meetings and at the last P&C meeting in June there were more than a 100,” he said.

“The July meeting was cancelled but we are encouraging as many parents as possible to attend next week.”

A student, with pink instead of natural coloured-hair, attends 'day of dissent' day at Kenmore High State School as part of a planned protest against changes to the uniform policy. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Mr Sheehan was concerned the uniform policy had driven a wedge between the parents and the school and damaged community trust.

He said the P&C meeting could be decisive in determining the future of the uniform policy and whether there would be a shake-up of the positions on the P&C.

“There will be some important voting issues,” he said alluding to the point that some positions may be placed under scrutiny — even his own.

Kenmore State High School was the 14th highest placed public school on last year’s OP rankings and 58th overall.

It finished ahead of private schools Toowoomba Grammar (67th overall), Rockhampton Girls Grammar (70) and The Southport School (76) and respected Brisbane public institutions, Indooroopilly State High School (80) and Kelvin Grove State College (91).

AP&C meeting next Tuesday may ultimately decide the fate of a uniform policy change at Kenmore High State School for 2020 with students expected to wear formal school uniform everyday. Pic: Darren Cartwright

Mr Roberston was installed as an interim principal in 2018 before being formally appointed earlier this year.

One of the major changes he made was to make Year 7 students wear formal uniform every day in 2019 while Years 8-12 only had to wear it on Mondays.

The change resulted in a $60,000 windfall for the P&C’s uniform shop and Mr Sheehan said the policy shift was a financial impost that was too much to bear for some families.

“The P&C this year, was asked for the first time to give $5,000 to help out families who for socio- economic reasons couldn’t afford to upgrade to the formal uniform one day a week,” Mr Sheehan said.

“The change in policy will cost our family over $500 more that we otherwise would not have had to spend.”

Kenmore State High School principal Paul Robertson’s uniform policy has not been universally embraced by parents. Pic: Achper Australia

If Mr Robertson wins the uniform policy battle, it will result in the P&C raking in tens of thousands of extra profit while on other hand being asked to donate more money to help those who least can afford it, he said.

“It’s (the sports uniform) easier to wash, clean and hand down because it’s a unisex uniform,” he said.

The uniform policy became a hot topic a couple of weeks ago when a student faced being suspended for wearing generic, and not school-approved- white socks.

The school charges $25 for a three-pair pack while generic white socks can be bought for as cheaply as $10 for a pack of three at major department stores.

The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.