People in Northern Ireland want flexible, inclusive school uniform policies, according to a new survey.
A poll has found that a clear majority of people surveyed believe it is unacceptable for young people to be excluded from school for not having the right uniform.
The survey, commissioned by Save the Children NI, reveals that 93 per cent of people who took part in the survey oppose the removal of uniforms, but want more flexible policies.
It comes just weeks after the charity revealed that the majority of parents in Northern Ireland (60 per cent) said they find it financially challenging to cover the costs of their children's school uniform.
A separate poll had found that 30 per cent of all parents have had to borrow money to afford their child's uniform or PE kit.
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In the latest survey, carried out by LucidTalk, it reveals that 65 per cent believe it’s unacceptable for children to be excluded from school for not having the correct uniform.
The survey also revealed 76 per cent think it is unacceptable for children to be excluded from PE if they don’t have a mandatory item.
It also found that 93 per cent also believe that when dressed for school all children should feel comfortable and 87 per cent agreed that during menstruation girls should be allowed to wear trousers or leggings for PE.
Naomi McBurney from Save the Children said: “We share the public’s view that it is not acceptable for children to miss out on their education due to issues relating to school uniforms and PE kits, especially when many families are struggling to afford the uncapped costs.
"We want to ensure that all children are treated equally and not denied their right to education or play and can express their views on issues affecting them.
"One way that schools can ensure they remain in step with legislation is to assess their current policies by completing Child’s Rights and Equality Impact Assessments.
"We would urge the Department of Education to support decision-making stakeholders with this process.”
Youth advocate, Lauren Bond said: “I agree young people should feel comfortable, but I feel that the current uniforms in many schools fail to ensure this.
"From rigid policies surrounding school blazers affecting those with sensory issues, to the ban on girls wearing trousers, there is a long way to go to ensure that young people are entirely comfortable in their uniforms.”
