A shirt, tie and blazer may not be the ingredients for my favourite outfit, but if I were given the choice, I wouldn't throw away the idea of school uniform. Wearing a uniform is a badge of pride, creates an identity for a school and is an important part of being a school student.

Claire Howlette, an English teacher, says: "Uniforms give students a sense of belonging to a particular school and create an identity for the school in the community."

A school uniform teaches students to dress smartly and take pride in their appearance. Howlette says: "Uniforms help students to prepare for when they leave school and may have to dress smartly or wear a uniform."

Some people believe that a school uniform can improve learning by reducing distraction, sharpening focus on schoolwork and making the classroom a more serious environment, allowing students to perform better academically.

Perhaps most importantly, a uniform means students don't have to worry about peer pressure when it comes to their clothes. When everyone is dressed the same, worrying about what you look like isn't so important. Potential bullies have one less target for their insults; it's hard to make fun of what someone is wearing when you're dressed exactly the same.

Source: The Guardian