Experts call to replace school uniforms with sports wear

Experts are calling for schools to scrap their traditional uniform designs, saying a simple outfit change could save parents up to $360.

Kingswood College has switched to sports uniforms. Dudman sisters Charlotte, (11) and Issey (13) jump for joy in their new outfits while Lucy Beck (13) wears the old uniform. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Leading experts are calling for traditional school uniforms to be replaced with sports uniforms five days a week.

University of Newcastle public health PHD candidate Matthew ‘Tepi’ Mclaughlin and a team of researchers, found in a recent survey four in five parents and six in 10 teachers support a change in uniform policy allowing students to wear sports uniforms every day.

Mr Mclaughlin said research also showed 62 per cent of primary school students and 72 per cent of secondary school students would prefer to wear a sports uniform five days a week.

“We think sports uniforms should be worn five days a week and that would be a saving of $167 for primary students and $363 for secondary students in Victoria,” Mr Mclaughlin said.

“Sports uniforms are cheaper than traditional uniforms. Most sports uniforms consist of a tracksuit, polo shirt with school logo, sport shorts and trainers.”

He said older students strongly agreed they would be more active wearing sports uniforms due to traditional uniforms being too “uncomfortable”.

“The sports uniforms make it easier for students to engage in more physical activity.

“An example of this is girls being able to play on monkey bars without having to worry about exposing their underwear while going upside down, they can already see from a young age that this sets them apart from the boys.”

Geoff Roberts-Thomson, acting principal of Kingswood College, said his school’s students had been wearing an “active wear uniform” since the start of the year.

“It’s incredibly popular with students. It’s every day comfort, easy to wash and dry and gender diverse,” he said.

Mr Roberts-Thomson said it had increased the students’ activity levels at lunch and recess.

Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Michelle Green said independent schools set their own uniform policies and had adopted a wide range of approaches.

“Some don’t prescribe a uniform at all,” Ms Green said.

“In recent years there has been a trend among many schools towards more flexible and in some cases more informal policies on uniforms.

“This has included gender neutral options and uniforms that don’t restrict physical activity, particularly for girls.”