Calls grow for comfy school uniforms to help kids be more active

The movement, fronted by the Active Uniform Alliance – a collaboration between groups like Play England, Youth Sport Trust, Opal, and Bristol-based charity Children’s Scrapstore – is pushing for schools to rethink how children dress for learning.

“We believe kids have a right to move, play, and be outside every day,” said Paula Phillips, head teacher of East Wichel Primary School in Swindon, one of the early adopters of the change.

Why schools are saying goodbye to formalwear

At the heart of the active uniform campaign is the idea that comfort equals better concentration – and that traditional school uniforms aren’t built for modern childhoods.

“Coming out of Covid, we were seeing more and more children struggling with their mental health, spending more time on screens, and being less active than before,” explains Mrs Phillips. “As a school, we knew we had to do something that would make a real difference.”

Now, pupils at East Wichel Primary wear brightly coloured, sporty house tops instead of shirts and jumpers – and teachers say they’re not only happier, but more switched on.

“They concentrate better, feel more confident, and enjoy their day more,” says Mrs Phillips.

More movement, fewer outfit changes

At Summerhill Academy in Bristol, PE lead Sally Goodridge says the shift to sporty uniforms has been a practical win too.

“The children are much more comfortable and we can jump up and get active at any time in the day,” she told the BBC. “They have more time during PE lessons as they do not need to get changed, and it is cheaper as there is only one uniform to buy.”

It’s an appealing argument for families already stretched by the cost of branded uniforms or multiple PE kits.

But not everyone’s ready to ditch the traditional look

While many schools are embracing the change, not all are convinced. At Chilthorne Domer Church School near Yeovil, head teacher Nichola Chesterton says the idea has been divisive.

“More than half of the children in the oldest class prefer to wear the traditional uniform,” she says.

Some of the pupils said they’d find it harder to concentrate in relaxed clothes, while others felt the traditional attire was important for maintaining the school’s identity.

“They want to keep the uniform because of our status as a church school and to respect the church when we visit,” Mrs Chesterton added.

What’s next for the school uniform debate?

For Glyn Jones, head teacher at Blue Coat Primary in Gloucestershire, rethinking what children wear is part of a bigger conversation about how schools adapt to the times.

“Schools need to adapt to a changing world,” he says. “The clothes that adults wear to work have changed; seeing somebody wearing a suit or other formal clothes is a rarity. Schools need to reflect this.”

Whether this trend will take hold nationally remains to be seen – but for many parents and teachers, the conversation has already started: should school uniforms prioritise how kids look, or how they live?

Read more:

• Spending Review 2025: What it means for families and your wallet
• New NHS baby food warning: Parents told to cut back on shop-bought pouches
• Cervical screening now every 5 years for under-50s in England – here’s what mums need to know