Victoria’s strictest private school dress codes revealed: Is it time they loosened up?
Are some of Melbourne’s elite and religious private schools going too far in forbidding girls’ make-up, obvious hair colour, heavy fake tan and nose piercings?
Education
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Students at some of Victoria’s strictest and most religious schools are not allowed to braid their hair, wear make-up or fake tan and have their skirt length measured, harsh uniform policies have revealed.
A Herald Sun analysis of several schools in metropolitan and regional Victoria show the strictest rules apply overwhelmingly to female students.
Some of the school policies have been the subject of parental criticism, including those that are seen to unfairly target girls, or are culturally insensitive.
Victory Christian College
Regional religious school, Victory Christian College, has stern consequences for students who do not conform to the uniform code.
Students at the school located in Kennington, southeast of Bendigo, are restricted to one pair of stud or sleeper earrings and a watch.
Body piercings such as eyebrow, nose and other facial piercings are not permitted.
The uniform guide states additional items will be removed.
“These items will then be passed on to a Deputy Principal or relevant Head of School to be held for one week,” it says.
“If a student is found to be wearing additional items for a second time, the jewellery will then be held by the Deputy Principal or relevant Head of School for the remainder of the term.
“If a student cannot remove the piercing in question, they will be requested to refrain from returning to school until such time as it has been removed.”
Light foundation and minimal mascara is allowed for girls in secondary school, nail polish is forbidden and all male students must be clean-shaven.
The uniform policy warns razors, makeup and nail polish remover are kept in the first aid room in the event of noncompliance.
Tattoos, including henna, excessive fake tanning and extreme hair colours are banned.
Extreme hairstyles that draw “undue attention”, including shaved patterns and excessive braiding or plaiting of hair are not permitted.
Lauriston Girls’ School
Students at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious girls’ schools, Lauriston, are required to wear their skirts and dresses no more than five centimetres above the knee.
Make-up is also banned for all students and students may wear colourless nail hardener only.
The only jewellery allowed is a watch or single pair of silver or gold studs, or small pearl earrings. Drop down earrings, hoops or sleepers are not permitted.
Nose piercings, or piercings on any visible part of the body are not allowed, and hair colour must be “natural”.
The Armadale school charges just under $40,000 for students in Years 10 to 12.
Trinity Grammar
Trinity Grammar faced open rebellion from students, parents and alumni after the deputy headmaster took the school’s hair policy to a new level.
Rohan Brown, was controversially sacked, then reinstated, after he was filmed cutting a boy’s hair for school photos in 2018, enforcing a common independent school policy that dictates hair must be above the collar and not too long over the eyes.
The elite Kew school’s strict policy states that “hair is to be kept in its natural colour and is to be groomed in a way that avoids extremes of fashion”.
“It must always be cut above the level of the collar of the shirt and be off the ears,” it reads.
Highview College
A regional Victorian school also came under scrutiny for its uniform guidelines after a pair of sisters were locked out of their Maryborough classrooms when their principal took a firm stance on their hairstyles.
Amayah, 17, and Safhira, 16, who are of African descent, were suspended from Highview College last year after a dispute with their principal who asked the girls to tie back their braids.
Their mother Rebecca Rowe said her daughters had braided their naturally thick hair in the “protective style” in the past and it had never been a problem.
“It’s all contained in individual box braids which they pull back from their face and tie at the back to create a half up, half down hairstyle,” she said.
Principal Melinda Scash told the Herald Sun at the time the suspension was a result of a “parent-supported declaration of defiance” that was “aggressively and repeatedly asserted” and so the girls were directed not to attend their classes and to go home and reconsider their choices.
Ms Scash said tying long hair back remains a Highview College uniform requirement.
The girls now attend a different school.
Geelong Christian College
Geelong Christian College enforces strict guidelines on how students are to behave in and between classes.
Students at the co-ed private school are not allowed to go to lockers during periods.
“Students should get books for the next two periods at each break,” their guidelines state.
“No shouting, rough play or running is permitted in classrooms, passageways and breezeways.”
Haileybury
Elite college Haileybury even restricts what umbrellas students can use.
Their uniform policy states umbrellas must be plain black, navy, or Haileybury branded.
The school, which has four sites in Melbourne including in Keysborough, Berwick, Brighton and the CBD, also only allows female students to wear earrings, which are restricted to one pair of “discrete” gold or silver studs in the earlobe.
One fine gold or silver chain with a small hanging pendant is also permitted.
Boys must be clean shaven at all times unless prior consent has been sought from their head master and the deputy master.
Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Oakleigh
Sacred Heart Girls’ College only allows its students to wear red, navy-blue or black hair ties, and plain red or navy-blue scrunchies and ribbons in Years 7 to 11.
An exception is made for Year 12 students at the Catholic school who are also allowed to wear white ribbons or scrunchies.
Coloured contact lenses are forbidden, and students must wear one-piece bathing suits for any swimming activities.
“Make-up, fake/dyed eyelashes, eyelash extensions, fake tan, nail polish and nail extensions are not part of the uniform,” the uniform policy states.
In the winter, students are also restricted to plain navy-blue woollen gloves, not fingerless gloves.
The college jumper may not be worn to or from school without the blazer.
Methodist Ladies’ College
One of Victoria’s oldest boarding schools for girls, Methodist Ladies’ College, says it allows their students “some choice and individual expression” when it comes to uniforms.
Students at the Kew school that charges more than $35,000 for Year 12, are made to wear their “star badge” on the left side of their dress or top.
A badge must also be worn on the blazer lapel.
Students are allowed to adorn their blazer with pins that represent their “passions and beliefs”, including the embroidery patches or leadership badges they collect through their schooling journey.
In winter students may purchase a MLC branded polar fleece hat, or a MLC scarf in black or grey.
Green school backpacks are permitted for students in Prep to Year 4, which changes to a MLC black or plain black backpack for Years 5 to 12.
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