On the 9th of October 2024, a the new uniform policy was finally revealed to students and parents. While many of the changes were positive, it was revealed that students will no longer be able to come to school in their sport uniform if PE is timetabled in the middle periods. We believe that this decision is illogical, and strongly suggest that it should be reversed.

While we understand the value of traditional school uniforms, the student body is confused by the need to change. There are numerous benefits to a school uniform, including a better image in the eyes of the public, and safety benefits from being able to identify non-students in the school. However we don't understand why these benefits wouldn't apply to sport uniform as well. Does wearing sport uniform really reflect badly on the public image of the school, or compromise safety so that it shouldn't be worn outside of PE classes? Even more confusingly, it is not required to change for sport-based/active cocurriculars, or for 9/10 sport. So in these instances the supposed detriments of wearing PE uniform outside of sport are fine, but not if you have an actual PE class?

Not only can we not understand the reasoning for the changes, such changes are actually a detriment. Changing into and out of PE uniform removes significant amounts of class time at the beginning and end of class. Shouldn't we be taking advantage of the longer periods, not wasting that extra time on getting changed? There are already numerous schools who agree with this mindset, and after the lockdowns many have found that coming to school in PE uniform is actually far better than having to change.

Research overseas and in Australia (here and here) also shows that uniforms are one of the main barriers preventing access to exercise at school. Students (particularly girls) are more likely to feel discouraged from participating in physical recreation due to the limitations of the uniform. The current year level sport program at SCHS aims to promote sport and physical activity, but contradictorily this new uniform policy prevents it outside of when it is timetabled. Many students struggle to find time for exercise outside of lunch and timetabled sport due to homework, tuition and other commitments outside of school. The current policy offers a balance between the regular uniform and the sport uniform, but the changes will instead discourage activity and make it harder for students to keep physically active.

Students said about the changes:

"I would trade wearing a tie [again] for not having to carry sport uniform to school and change"

"what were they thinking 😭😭🙏"

"I don't get how its a detriment to have people wearing sport uniform to school"

"not sigma"

Please sign the petition so that students can continue to wear their sport uniform to school, promoting physical activity and saving class time.