How Victoria’s public and private schools’ uniform rules compare
STUDENTS at Victoria’s elite private schools face a dizzying array of rules governing their appearances, from bans on “extreme” hairdos to strict skirt length standards.
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STUDENTS at Victoria’s elite private schools face a dizzying array of rules governing their appearances, from bans on “extreme” hairdos to strict skirt length standards.
A Sunday Herald Sun review of elite school uniform standards and dress codes found students were monitored the moment they left home.
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Students are warned they will be closely watched, as ambassadors for their schools, with zero tolerance for messy hair, facial piercings or — even worse — an uncovered tattoo.
Students at our top public schools enjoy relatively greater stylistic freedom, with the ability to show a bit of flair in the schoolyard.
It comes as elite schools and their rules are under scrutiny following a controversial incident at Trinity Grammar School, in which a popular teacher was sacked for cutting a boy’s hair. The school, which costs $31,000 a year in tuition fees, is in crisis as students mount a noisy campaign to restore their beloved teacher.
Many other private schools maintain similar or even stricter rules.
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St Kevin’s College in Toorak forbids “extreme hair styles” and mandates that hair be cut “clearly off the collar, face and ears”.
Students at Lauriston Girls School in Armadale must keep their hair “naturally coloured”, above the collar and must avoid make-up, nail polish and face piercings. Girls also face a “ruler test” with skirts forbidden to rise more than 5cm above the knee.
The litany of rules stands in contrast with top public schools, such as Melbourne High School, which has few restrictions on hair styles.
Students at the selective-entry Mac. Robertson Girls High School can wear their hair as they like and are able to swap skirts for pants if they wish.
Uniform-free University High School in Parkville simply asks students to avoid “excessively showing underwear”.
Ruby Pivetta, 15, said she often chafed under the strict rules at her private high school, the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy. “I’ve been told off many times — for not wearing my blazer to and from school, having multiple earrings in, not wearing proper socks and not having my hair tied up neatly,” she said.
Ms Pivetta said the most common infractions students faced trouble for were wearing nail polish, make-up or jewellery.
The teenager said she could see the issue from her school’s perspective.
“The standards (are there) to represent the school extremely well … the dress code is so strict because the academy cares about what the public thinks,” she said.
But if given the choice, Ms Pivetta wouldn’t hesitate.
“If I had the option to wear casual clothes I would … because my uniform can be uncomfortable,” she said.
PRIVATE SCHOOL DRESS CODES
LAURISTON GIRLS SCHOOL, ARMADALE
● Hair must not fall below collar-length.
● Nail polish and make-up forbidden.
● Piercings restricted to ear studs.
● Straw hats must be worn when travelling to or from school.
● Skirts no more than 5cm above knee.
CAREY BAPTIST GRAMMAR SCHOOL, KEW
● Make-up and coloured nail polish are forbidden.
● Facial piercing forbidden.
● Boys are forbidden to have facial hair.
● Skirts must be worn at the knee.
GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL, GEELONG
● Tattoos, jewellery and face piercings banned.
MOUNT SCOPUS MEMORIAL COLLEGE, BURWOOD
● Make-up forbidden.
● Facial hair forbidden.
● Hair styles and colours must not “draw undue negative attention”.
PUBLIC SCHOOL DRESS CODES
MELBOURNE HIGH SCHOOL, SOUTH YARRA
● Most hair styles permitted.
● Tattoos and piercings should not be visible.
BRIGHTON SECONDARY COLLEGE, BRIGHTON EAST
● Long hair must be tied back.
● No extreme hairstyles, including mullets, mohawks or “gang designs”.
● Subtle make-up allowed.
BALWYN HIGH SCHOOL, BALWYN
● Long hair must be tied back.
● Tattoos must be covered.
● Boys must be clean-shaven.
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, PARKVILLE
● No uniform required.
● Students must not wear clothing with offensive slogans.
● Underwear should not “be excessively showing”.
● No restrictions on tattoos or piercings.
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