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Change out of uniform to keep safe, pupils told
Tim Ross. Education Correspondent28.07.08
Schools are telling children to change out of uniform to avoid being attacked on their way home, a government adviser revealed today.
Sir Mike Tomlinson, chief adviser for London schools, said the precaution was being taken to curb rivalry between pupils at some secondaries.
He also said schools should consider all available methods, including the use of metal detectors, to prevent more teenage killings.
His comments followwarnings from the Government that teachers must be on the look out for pupils wearing gang colours, bandanas and jewellery.
Sir Mike told the Evening Standard: "I have heard of schools where kids are told to change out of uniform to stop them being picked on."
This month, 14-year-old David Idowu died after being stabbed in Southwark in what is believed to have been a feud between pupils at two schools.
Sir Mike stressed that most did not have a problem with knife crime and the use of metal detectors should be a matter for individual headteachers to decide on.
"The vast majority of knife incidents occur outside of schools, not in schools," he said.
"Many schools will know whether they are in an area where the knife problem is serious, and therefore they may choose [metal detectors] as one way of deterring young people at least from taking them into schools.
"I think it is right that we look at every possibility - anything to reduce future deaths of young people in London has to be something we should support."
The adviser's comments came amid growing unease over the safety of children on the streets.
It emerged this year that pupils at £13,000-a-year Highgate School were being forced to cover up their uniforms to avoid being mugged on the way home.
Police said the children were targeted because muggers believed they would be carrying cash.
Schools have increasingly returned to uniforms as a way of improving discipline and fostering a positive ethos. But in recent government advice, schools were urged to consider the impact of "styles and colours of clothing associated with gangs" when drawing up their uniform policies.
But one headteacher warned some schools still refuse to accept they have a problem with pupils wearing gang colours. The head, speaking anonymously, said: "The problem is when you have got a headteacher who doesn't understand the issues and is putting their head in the sand, saying, 'I don't have a problem.'" Sir Mike said that the education system had failed to give many of the teenagers who turned to knife and gang crime the sense of success and belonging they needed.
"Education is vital," he said. "If we can get it right then we can recognise the talents and achievements of every person and increase their own personal self-esteem and self-belief.
"If we fail to do that then some people who still want to have that recognition and sense of belonging will choose the way of gangs and gang culture. My impression is that many of the young people who are the perpetrators have not had any form of success within the education system."
SCHOOLS WHERE DRESS IS KEY TO SUCCESS
• Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney has been hailed as a shining example of how to raise standards in a poor area. Key to its success has been a strict discipline policy, which includes a traditional school uniform. Headteacher Sir Michael Wilshaw, who co-designed the grey and red blazers, has said the uniform adds to pupils' sense of "self-worth". Ofsted rates the school as "outstanding".
• Pupils at Fulham Cross Girls' School in Parsons Green exchanged the "scruffy" black and red sweatshirt they used to wear for a black blazer with pink trim - at their own request. Headteacher Carol Jones said pupils were now "walking taller". Exam results have also improved.
• Students at Sydney Russell School, Dagenham, stand out in their green blazers. Headteacher Roger Leighton said the policy saw exam pass rates quadruple and behaviour improve dramatically. Last year, the school rewarded pupils by allowing them to wear "modern" polo shirts instead of formal shirts all year round.
• Lower school pupils at King Solomon High School, Ilford, are expected to keep to the uniform policy, with school blazers and badges. The modern Orthodox Jewish school insists on uniform and a kippur (skull cap) until sixth form when suits are allowed. Former pupil Craig Silver, 21, said: "The younger years looked up to the sixth-formers and we didn't take that lightly. We were there to set an example. In suits, we felt like proper working adults. It made us grow up."
Reader views (7)
Isn't it strange how when my child gets called a 'Jew' because she is wearing the colors of the jewish school's uniform- no-one cares? If she were from a different background- and was being called raciest names- it would be race hate- yet apparently the Jewish community are ignored when we get race hate.
King solomon is a fantastic school- the local authorities should protect its Jewish residents- especially the children...But no- just keep on saying how much racism goes on- and keep on using it for every possible reason- just ignore the real minority- the jewish community- which once thrived in our area- and now- most have been driven out and forced to move to safer areas.
- Suzie, Ilford
Bring back borstals for young offenders.
If that does not set them all straight, nothing will, but at least some will be.
- Mike, London
So you take off your uniform so you can be identified in your gang colours and more trouble erupts. Very clever! What do you do then? Instead of issuing these silly orders someone should find an outlet for these young people to utilise their skills after school, bullying took place when I was a youngster but it was only in fun and we never roamed the streets as there was always somewhere/something to occupy us. Think it all still lies with the parents, look after your kids if you do not want them and let them run wild foster them, someone will love them.
- Anon, UK
Why does this government insist on fuelling everyone with fear and stealing innocence from otherwise fearless children?
- Chic, London, UK
Any child should be able to go anywhere in any uniform. The liberal establishment has let juvenile delinquency get out of control, and it should fix the underlying problems (family breakdown; lack of discipline in schools; lack of community policing; ghetto values lauded in the media; pathetically weak policies on drunkenness and illegal drugs), rather than expecting kids to take responsibility for dealing with the symptoms.
- Oliver Chettle, Bedford
2 fingers to the Gov't...nah nah ne nah nah....
- Paul, poole
What utter insanity! Where does this stop? don't travel alone, don't use certain routes thugs are known to hang around??
This pathetic government should quit wasting time and money on asking these 'advisor's' for their fear based opinions and simply get more visible policing on the street!
Set an example of a zero policy on aggressive behaviour, and curtail the freedom of those responsible. You do not go down the slippery slope of insisting the innocent go into hiding by changing their clothes.
- Simon Caleb, London
