“Watching today’s Consideration Stage debate on the School Uniforms Bill, my overriding feeling is disappointment – that this is, sadly, a missed opportunity to strengthen much-needed legislation.
While I welcome the requirement for a consultation on uniform policy to be held with pupils, it remains unclear how this legislation will practically help parents and guardians in terms of keeping the costs of school uniforms down without seeing the guidelines that will be in place.
To just get parity with other parts of the UK in relation to addressing poverty, we need to have a cap on uniform costs, a cap on the number of branded items, and higher levels of school uniform grants available. It is unacceptable for parents and families in Northern Ireland to be worse off in comparison with the rest of the UK.
We have read the consultation responses which showed overwhelming support for legislation on school uniforms and provided evidence to the Education Committee on how this Bill could better comply with the UNCRC.
We also had some incredible young people stating their case for uniform changes, including affordable, comfortable uniforms and PE kit, allowing girls to wear trousers – all backed with very well-reasoned arguments. It is, therefore, incredibly disappointing that the voices of children and young people, and those who responded to the consultation, were not represented.
Whilst I welcome the fact that this legislation is making its way through the Assembly, I believe that this a missed opportunity to make a real difference to children, young people and their families.”
