Fountain Gate Secondary College in Melbourne has had a rule requiring students to wear only fully black or fully white shoes. Any mix of colours, even small logos, can result in detention.

This rule is unnecessarily strict and is causing frustration for students and families.

First, it creates an unfair financial burden. Many students already own perfectly good shoes that are mostly black or white but do not meet the “entirely black or white” requirement. Being forced to buy new shoes, sometimes multiple times if they are judged incorrect, puts pressure on families, especially during a cost of living crisis.

While it is often argued that cheaper options are available at stores like Kmart, this does not fully solve the issue. Lower-cost shoes may not be durable or comfortable enough for everyday school use, meaning they need to be replaced more frequently. For families already managing tight budgets, even smaller repeated expenses quickly add up. In addition, not all students can easily access these stores, and the availability of acceptable styles and sizes is not guaranteed. Simply offering a cheaper option does not remove the ongoing financial pressure created by such a strict requirement.

Second, this policy is overly focused on appearance rather than education. Time and energy are being spent checking shoes and handing out detentions instead of focusing on learning, wellbeing, and student engagement. Footwear has no real impact on academic performance.

Third, the rule lacks practicality and flexibility. Students have different comfort needs, and not all approved shoes are suitable for long school days. A strict one-style approach ignores this and can negatively affect students’ ability to focus.

Most importantly, this policy feels out of touch. Students are being punished over minor details that do not disrupt learning or harm anyone. It creates unnecessary tension between staff and students over something that should not be a major issue.

We are not asking for the removal of uniform standards. We are asking for reasonable flexibility. Shoes that are mostly black or mostly white, even with small logos, minor colour accents, or different coloured soles, should be allowed.

We urge Fountain Gate Secondary College to reconsider this policy and adopt a more practical, fair, and student-focused approach.

Sign this petition to support a more reasonable and inclusive school environment.