School uniform crackdown promised in 2019 at Kenmore State High School

A UNIFORM crackdown is on the way for one Brisbane high school — and parents aren’t happy.

A Brisbane mum says the focus should be on education not uniforms. FILE PHOTO.

A BRISBANE mum has slammed a decision to crack down on student uniforms at Kenmore State High School next year as ‘ridiculous’.

CJ Flack said many students currently wear their sports uniform as their main uniform, but would now have to wear their formal uniform instead.

“In 2019, all students will be expected to be in our (formal) uniform each and every day unless they have a practical lesson such as HPE, sport, or dance for example, in which case they can wear their sport uniform for the day,” the school’s executive principal Paul Robertson wrote in the school newsletter this week.

“Students not in the uniform will have the responsibility to change into the appropriate uniform before classes begin,” he wrote.

The newsletter said the P & C had recently endorsed their 2019 Uniform Policy that evolved from a range of parent forums throughout the year.

“The key messages received from parents were ‘be consistent in your application of the policies’. This we will be,” Mr Robertson wrote.

“Our community wants us to be a ‘uniform school’ and we want our students to wear our uniform with pride.”

But Ms Flack said the news came as a shock to her and other parents.

“A lot of parents aren’t happy about it. It’s ridiculous. Why fix something that isn’t broken?,” she said.

Ms Flack said she discussed the uniform policy at her daughter’s enrolment interview.

“Throughout the year, I’d seen the students in the sports uniform. That is what students are going to choose to wear 99 per cent of the time because it is wonderfully comfortable for them,” she said.

“The teacher was fantastic and said the rules were very relaxed, and don’t bother buying more than one formal uniform because she will not wear it very often, because all the kids preferred the sports uniform. I thought ‘brilliant’, and ordered five sports uniforms and one formal uniform for when she does debating. And when she wears it, she hates it because of how uncomfortable it is.”

“Apart from the cost of buying more formal uniforms, Ms Flack said the girls formal shirts are see-through.

“You can see their bras clearly through their shirts. It’s kind of an ongoing joke in this household that a pervert must’ve designed that shirt.”

School policy states that a uniform pass will be issued if a student has a note outlining a valid reason for a uniform breach.

Without a note, the student can be referred for detention each day until the breach is corrected.

“So children are going to get detention for not wearing the uniform? That deters them from their actual focus which is education,” Ms Flack said.

Parents have been discussing the issue online for days.

“It’s not about the ‘rules’ - it’s about the back flip on uniform expectation and the impractical nature of he formal uniform, the reason most kids won’t wear it,” Cat Harvey wrote.

A Department of Education spokesman said student dress codes reflect school community standards.

“The Kenmore State High School dress code policy, which is provided to all families on enrolment, has not changed since 2013. It was developed in consultation with the school community and is fully endorsed by the school’s Parents and Citizens’ Association,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the majority of parents and students are happy with the uniform policy and do their best to ensure they comply.

“This year, the school sought feedback on the policy from the school community through forums and consultation sessions and invitations were communicated through the newsletter and via emails,” he said.

“There was overwhelming support to reinforce expectations and remind families that the formal uniform should be worn on significant occasions such as ANZAC DAY, school photos and on days when students are not undertaking physical activity during class time.”

The spokesman said if parents or students have concerns about their school’s dress code, including issues around financial hardship, they are encouraged to discuss these with the principal or P & C.