Uniform will ‘suck colour out of’ Gayhurst Community School, parent warns
Uniform row: Gayhurst Community School wants to introduce ‘grey’ clothes, but parents are not uniformly keen. Photograph: Emmanuel Mair
Angry parents are urging a Hackney primary school to reconsider plans to introduce a uniform after a “shock” announcement.
A petition launched this month calls for Gayhurst Community School near London Fields to suspend plans to launch the new uniform until a thorough debate over the issue has been held.
Over one hundred people have so far signed the petition, which criticises the school’s decision making process and its choice of grey and black colours for sweatshirts, skirts and trousers.
School staff have defended the decision, saying a consultation was held and that “everyone was invited to contribute.”
‘Colourless’ claim
But Lara Bowen, a mother of two children who attend Gayhurst and one of the petiton’s instigators, said the new clothes would “suck the colour out” of the school.
She said: “Gayhurst brings together one of the most diverse, creative and colourful communities in London and the lack of uniform unifies the children. Why should colour be sucked out?
“We want the school management and board of governors to hold an open public meeting with an impartial inspector.
“This isn’t all about blocking the uniform – we want an opportunity to contribute to the discussion and if we all agree on having a uniform, then we should have a say in what the uniform might look like.”
Ms Bowen added that the school had not been open about the results of a consultation held last year.
Open door policy
Executive Headteacher Louise Nichols said the response had been “good and in favour overall, with many comments about what it should involve, which we have tried to incorporate.”
She added: “This was not a vote as ultimately decisions about the school are made by the school leaders.
“The Gayhurst governors and leadership team spent many hours discussing the pros and cons of uniform and the detail of how it would work.”
Governors voted by a margin of 10-2 in favour of implementing a uniform.
“As we have an open door policy at Gayhurst, we are more than happy to meet with the parents organising the petition if they would like to get in touch,” Ms Nichols added.
The uniform is due to come into force in September, and children from nursery school age up to Year Six will be expected to comply.
Interesting that the head has an ‘ open door’ policy yet this decision was passed without consultation with the parents. It wasn’t a ‘vote’ it was decided and enforced. Sounds like the open door is in fact closed for the most part.
[This comment has been removed following a request to do so from Helen Britton.]
I’m concerned about cost too – they grow so fast that it seems such a waste to be buying clothes that they can only wear to school. And also having to frequently wash the same school shirts seems like another cost I can do without.
They may have ‘spent many hours discussing’, but not with the parents. I wrote and asked for an open discussion at the time of the original ‘consultation’ but was ignored. This has happened to so many Primary Schools in Hackney. Gayhurst was not a failing school and does not deserve these measures. Does the new leadership have no imagination as to how to maintain the high standards without uniform? To me it represents a huge idealogical shift in how the children are viewed.
Key stage 2 children voted against uniform. EYFS children (who,short of actually being put into a uniform, can have no possible idea of the implications) were given a form with a happy face to tick for uniform and a sad face to tick for no uniform. Consultation or coercion? Over 200 parents and carers have now signed asking for an open public meeting.
I would like to question how Louise Nichols knows that the response to uniform is “good and in favour overall” when the school has actually failed to consult properly and discuss openly with the parents this clearly sensitive subject? I’m seeing contradictions all over the place here! To top it off, many many parents have asked for an open discussion on this issue but have yet to receive direct replies regarding that from Louise, or anyone in the School Management Team!
While many of us signed the petition, which now holds over 200 signatures compiled in just two days, for me, the petition is not solely based around the introduction of a uniform per se. My signature records my objection to the manner in which a decision that will affect nearly 400 children, their families and care givers has been related. I respect the informed opinions of the Management Team, staff and Gayhurst’s Board of Governors, but I signed the petition because I query the lack of communication about what has informed their views and the lack of dialogue with families and care givers. Dialogue is time-consuming (and confusing at times), but in my opinion, it would be appropriate for both the Management Team and Board of Governors to more deeply engage with one of the school’s strongest assets: its very diverse community. I have always respected the work of Gayhurst’s management, its committed, compassionate teachers, staff, extended staff and TAs. I have been delighted by the many great opportunities for extended learning the school has offered both my children. I hope that this petition can ultimately offer a new form of communication between the school and the communities it works so very well with.
The ‘open door’ policy is consistent with the message we were given when we went for our school tour prior to our son starting at Gayhurst. However, this process seems completely at odds with an ‘open door’ policy, with most of what we’re hearing having been decided behind closed doors…
School uniforms are expensive. For children who live in two households the logistics become particularly difficult – and so costs mount. For me the move to school uniform betrays a lack of confidence in the community to overcome prejudice. I prefer the idea that all children can look however they want to look and be accepted, it also has always felt as if that was the case with Gayhurst. If visible inequality is causing problems with learning and socialising at Gayhurst, this won’t be brushed away with a uniform. Children are too perceptive for that. (Those with more money will be able to make sure that their child has a fresh sweatshirt when the first gets lost/dirty). Let’s address prejudice rather than the symptoms of inequality. If children are made to feel bad about having less, lets talk about that, and make sure that our community is a real one, that seeks to make things better, to stand together in all our differences.
It is noted that in more formal situations gender asserts itself more strongly. Women wear heels, and skirts, men wear trousers and ties. It is also noted that in learning environments where gender is emphasised, and girls are reminded that they are girls they will start performing less well in subjects thought of as male subjects (maths, physics etc). The move to uniform will make this environment more formal, there will be less room for fluidity. The children will be being taught to conform rather than to think for themselves and work out who and what they are.
Most of all though uniforms are expensive. They smell, are cold, get lost, need to be bought again, and are expensive all over again. I know my daughter had one at her last school.
I am becoming increasingly worried about the future for Gayhurst…..
I think this is quite unfair to the school’s leadership team. There was a formal consultation process – it was detailed and there were strident views on both sides. The school reported back on the results of the consultation (which if I recall was in favour of uniform) by saying the Governors were going to delay a decision given its magnitude. The decision was not a surprise. The criticism that this was a decision taken behond closed doors is also not well founded. My interactions with the school have always been open – I would be extremely surprised if someone had sought a meeting or a phone call and that had been ignored or refused.
The reality is that much of the criticism is displacement activity. Some parents feel very strongly that they don’t want a uniform. They are entitled to that view, but ultimately the school is not run by referendum. It is for the Governors and school leadship to run the school and make these decisions. The decision has been made. Parents should respect that even if they disagree and support their excellent school.
In the last five years the school curriculum has been overhauled. Gayhurst staff are working intensively implementing radical and dynamic changes to what our children learn and how they learn it. But what do parents get worked up about? Whether or not they had a say in the colour, style, shape of the uniform. Sad times.
S
I find this last comment to be quite divisive and patronising.
I think what parents who supported the petition were asking for is the chance to exchange views about the uniform – and I don’t recognise this description of the “formal consultation” described above. William Patten had a vote – why not Gayhurst?
What’s really sad is the divide between parents now occurring, which could have been avoided if the school had taken into account the strong feelings of many parents and handled the situation with more sensitivity. Parents aren’t upset about the colour/cut/shape of the uniform, they’re upset about the fact that they specifically chose Gayhurst as the school for their children for its relaxed ethos above other local schools like Queensbridge and London Fields (who actually have slightly better OFSTED reports), and now a big contributor to that feeling of the school is to be taken away. People have very strong views about what uniform represents. The exec head of Gayhurst is contradicting herself by saying on one hand that they did consult with parents and then on the other hand that they don’t have to take into account what the parents think as ultimately it’s the schools decision. And if that’s the approach they have towards the running of the school then we should all be worried. Next time it might be a decision that more/other parents don’t agree with.
And I certainly don’t recognise the description of a “formal consultation” mentioned above.
This is getting a bit confused. Schools are run by the Governors and the leadership team. The Governors include parent governors who are elected by parents. Parents are welcome to make representations to the Governors or school leadership on any point at any time. On certain matters of importance the Governors can undertake consultation with stakeholders in the school (of which parents are one group. Staff and children being the other main groups). The Governors ran a written consultation about uniform last year. Forms were sent out and views collected. Consultation should not be confused with a vote, nevertheless, in this case, the consultation responses from parents were evenly balanced (for and against). The responses from teaching staff were very strongly in favour of uniform. Worth remembering that the teachers are the people whose judgment we usually rely on to educate our children. It is interesting they are so strongly in favour. The Govenors then considered the consultation responses and the arguments for and against decided to go for uniform. People are obviously entitled to disagree with that decision. But it is unfair to say that the school leadership have not gone about this properly.
“Gayhurst is a school where children come first; a vibrant, inclusive school that reflects the community it serves” – as long as they all dress the same
“Every child here is valued, cared for and nurtured in an environment that stimulates intellectual curiosity and develops not just academic achievement, but physical development, imagination and creativity, spirituality, personal, social and cultural development” – as long as they all dress in grey and black.
Both quotes are taken from the school’s website.
Why was William Patten able to hold a vote on whether to introduce uniform and Gayhurst not?
How can I reach a governor if I don’t know when they are at school and how to reach them?
Mary: You can reach any governor by telephoning reception and leaving a message for them, likewise for the schools leadership.
Gayhurst parents did have a vote last year. But they form one component of the decision makers as Jamie says. It is right and fitting that the governors, leadership and school teachers are the other parts.
Sorry you find my comment patronising but it is a fact that the massive changes to the teaching and curriculum implemented in the last two years have not received a fraction of the interest this issue has and that is sad.
The consultation was very half hearted and if the school leadership team were really interested in as many people having a say as possible on this matter it would have been conducted far more rigorously. There has been no update on this matter since Christmas. Why not? All it would have taken is a sentence in the newsletter to say it was still being discussed.
As for being cast as rebel rousing anti uniform group, that’s simply not accurate, we only ask that another transparent gauge of opinion is taken, if a uniform is decided upon so be it, we would just like a little more say in what form it should take, black and white seems like going from one extreme to the other especially for a 3 year old starting nursery. I don’t think that’s so unreasonable.
No one is questioning the work the leadership carry out on behalf of our children this is a separate issue.
Gemma why would an update in the school newsletter have made any difference at all?? And the thought of 200 people having a say in the uniform….wow that’s exactly what Gayhurst needs. Don’t like grey marl, hey let’s vote on blue or red or yellow jumpers. Don’t like black trousers/skirts? Hey let’s talk some more about charcoal grey versus battleship grey. Don’t like white…well there’s always cream…perhaps we should go out to tender and get Vivian Westwood to design us something….this is exactly what school is about.
Introducing a uniform is instigating a major cultural change in the school and a decision of that magnitude should not be trivialised.
Wearing uniform does not improve educational outcomes.
All we are asking from the school leaders and teachers is that they continue to do what they do best i.e. educate our children so they can fulfil their potential.
They do not need to concern themselves with what colour tops the children are wearing.
All the parents and children who would like to wear the uniform are welcome to do so – it’s there and available. Those who prefer not to should similarly not be judged.
Very few children will work in jobs that require a uniform. No other countries in europe have this obsession with school uniform.
Let’s stop wasting time and energy and get back to the thrill of learning and discovery which will empower our children.
Eric: 97% of teachers voted in favour of uniform. This is about what our children wear for six hours in front of those teachers. Let’s trust our excellent teachers instead of undermining them with our personal/political idealogy….which is Gove-esque.
Some may feel the decision to introduce a uniform is a trivial one, others not but some of us feel that the consultation or vote (there seems to be some confusion in this thread as there has been at the school) was not managed well. Updates in the newsletter would certainly have helped. And generally there is far less opportunity for parents to engage with the governors than at some (very good) schools: fact.
All of the above does not imply criticism of Gayhurst’s teaching staff.
I request a proper democratic consultation about the uniform issue.
That said, I am personally against uniforms, that is unless every child in the country wears the same one.
That would be truly non-discriminatory. School uniforms are club uniforms reflecting the country various league table divides.
My thoughts are with those kids showcasing their failing school through the stigma of a uniform. Bad enough they will have to mention it on their CV’s…
How can we nurture the next generation of free thinkers if we can’t even trust them to dress themselves in the morning?
1. The comments posted above contain no criticism of Gayhurst’s teaching standards.
2. Regarding the uniform issue, the degree of dissent and depth of feeling shown by a large number of parents only confirms the need for a well-managed consultation – which appears not to have taken place.
3. If lines of communication between the school, its governors and parents were conducted properly, there would have been no need for any petition or calls for more transparency.
For example, an overwhelming majority of parents have no idea of the correct way to contact the relevant school governor, or even who that might be.
4. Like all schools, Gayhurst relies on parental goodwill for all manner of school events that require volunteer support, and to ensure that homework is supervised with positive enthusiasm. That goodwill is invaluable, and takes time and effort to build.
When parents feel their opinion ignored – or that a school agenda has been bulldozed through despite it – that goodwill is quickly replaced by distrust and resentment.
How the school now responds to this particular example will determine the extent to which goodwill has been lost.
I earnestly hope that the schools leaders recognise this, and act accordingly.
As Ms Nichols says “The Gayhurst governors and leadership team spent many hours discussing the pros and cons of uniform and the detail of how it would work.” Which is exactly the problem. The leadership team have not given the children or us , current and future parents, whom their decision effects, significant amounts of opportunities to take part in the discussions about a major change such as this.
I feel it is quite arrogant for the school to send out letters stating there would be a school uniform before the results of the opaque consultation.
Children are not little adults and they should be allowed to be children without yet another rule and restriction. I know there are many children who are saddened by the introduction of a uniform at their school, any child would be. The only people happy are the adults that don’t have to wear it.
Maybe management should concentrate their energy into continuing their work maintaining the good work of educating and nurturing our children,which for many years Gayhurst is known for within the community, instead of trying to change the way their dressed.
The old saying the clothes maketh the man is no longer relivant
The role of governors is going to come under greater scrutiny in the light of the Birmingham affair.
There is clearly a significant amount of parents who are unhappy with the way the school uniform is being imposed on the children.
Surely now is an opportunity for governors and managers at Gayhurst to have a proper consultation over this very divisive and emotive issue.
The problem with the Governors in Birmingham was that they were too responsive to parents demands and too powerful opposite the staff and school leadership. i.e. precisely the opposite of what people are complaining about here. If anything the Birmingham case is going to result in Governing bodies that are better insulated from the influence of loud cliques of parents (of whatever persuasion) rather than more responsive.
I just don’t understand the calls for a “proper consultation”. There was one last year. It came back 50/50 among the parents and strongly in favour from the staff. The ‘anti-uniform’ group have complained very loudly but there are clearly many other parents who are in favour, agnostic or who prefer the school’s judgment to their own on the matter. There have even been whisperings that the staff were afraid for their jobs if they didn’t vote in favour of uniform – something for which there is no evidence and is transparently untrue. People peddling nonsense like that will do serious damage to the school – this issue is not important enough for that.
@ Jamie
Please clarify how you consider last year’s ‘consultation’ proper; the evidence shows that at best it was biased and poorly managed.
As I mentioned earlier, the question of lost goodwill is crucial to the school.
Can you not accept that something radical needs to happen now – irrespective of the uniform issue, which only highlighted it – to rebuild trust?
It is obvious too that a great many parents care passionately about Gayhurst and wish to see the continued progress of a great community school, but feel unrepresented.
Addressed appropriately, the only risk would be increased support – so I cannot grasp the argument against it.
If you are able, I would be grateful if you could clarify that for me too.
The consultation explained why the school leadership team thought uniform was a good idea, then asked whether parents were in favour of a uniform with a box to tick yes or no. What else would you want to see in a consultation? Remember it is not a referendum – different sides don’t put forward opposing visions and allow parents to vote on them. That is not the way any organisation is run. I just don’t see any evidence to suggest that the consultation was either biased or poorly managed.
In terms of “something radical” needing to happen. My point throughout is that the uniform decision has now been made and was made properly. If parents with certain viewpoints feel unrepresented or wish to communicate with the school they should look to themselves primarily. The school has always been responsive in my experience. Or alternatively run for govenorship next time a vacancy appears. In the meantime they should agree to disagree on this issue and support the school leadership in their job. I’ve seen no evidence that the school has done anything wrong and as such doing something ‘radical’ is at best an unnecessary distraction from the huge workload they already have and at worst risks undermining the school’s leadership team to no one’s benefit.
As a practical matter, what is it you would have the school do to address the issue appropriately / rebuild trust?
What this issue has highlighted for me is two very personal things:
Firstly is to do with how after many years as a parent I really have little idea what it is the governors do. I’ve never seen any minutes from their meetings, or been invited to attend any governors meetings. The current methods of communicating with the governors are not really user-friendly – at least for me. Leaving a phone message for the governors at the office or leaving them a note in the pigeon hole don’t seem to be the best ways of being available, or informed of parents’ varying views. I imagine that these are not good ways of encouraging people to communicate their views who may feel more socially excluded either. I would like to see occasional open meetings, minutes of meetings when possible and for the governors to really increase their presence at the school generally.
Secondly now that its been suggested that introducing a uniform would help with social exclusion, I’ve started to notice how little equality seems to feature in the curriculum. Neither of my children have seemed to spend any time at school learning about feminism or child poverty for example, neither of which are contentious. The gap between the haves and have nots is increasing everywhere and my feeling is that in Hackney its particularly acute, and will be more and more. Whether the uniform goes ahead or not there are so many other ways to address inequalities, such as becoming a rights-based school for example. Certainly making parents and carers of all backgrounds feel involved and valued at their children’s school is key to improving social inequalities. I’d like to see this being more of a priority.
@ Jamie
I trust that we agree that consultation is usually defined as a two-way flow of information and opinion exchange), or as a process of dialogue with stakeholders, with a defined start and end date, informing a decision about a new proposal.
I can accept that you were fully satisfied with Gayhurst’s communication on the uniform issue.
Can you accept that many people consider there was no dialogue or clear timetable (giving the appearance of an non-objective, pre-decided outcome)?
As for what the school could do to rebuild trust; it could do worse than start with making parent-governor contact more accessible.
And before you retort that it’s just fine, the fact that so many parents are unhappy proves that invalid.
If we both agree that there are many issues that could do with more support from parents, why are we wasting time disagreeing with each other?
Some will say uniforms will mask socio-economic divides…
Well, not until parents wear a uniform too.