East Renfrewshire’s education boss has defended a Barrhead school’s new uniform policy after concerns were raised over the cost of tartan skirts.
St Luke’s High School is introducing a Black Watch tartan skirt for all year groups from August this year, with girls no longer able to wear plain black skirts.
Some parents have complained about the policy and, at a council meeting last night, Cllr Caroline Bamforth, SNP, said it wasn’t “appropriate” during a cost of living crisis.
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“What really concerns me is that I know one school in one of our less affluent areas has brought in a new policy around girls’ skirts,” she said, adding pupils had previously been able to buy black skirts.
“Our children look very smart, however you can’t go into a supermarket and buy a specific tartan skirt which I believe costs around £22 a skirt.”
Cllr Bamforth said she had heard another school was planning a similar change to its uniform policy. “This is the worst time ever to be changing a uniform and setting these expectations to change uniforms.”
However, the council’s education director Mark Ratter said St Luke’s had consulted with parents on the policy and bought skirts for some pupils.
He said the school’s consultation with parents and pupils looked at a variety of options. The “majority of them agreed on the change to the school skirt”, he added. “The senior management team is absolutely committed to supporting their school community in terms of the cost of the school day.”
Mr Ratter added measures to help families have included a “transition year”, a “successful” school bank last summer to allow parents to swap uniforms and financial support.
Staff have also shared online shopping links where the skirt “can be bought for £13”. “It’s essentially the same price as you can buy the black skirt,” Mr Ratter said.
An East Renfrewshire Council spokesman said there had been “extensive” consultation with the St Luke’s community over introducing the Black Watch tartan skirt as the “official uniform”.
“To support the move to this new uniform, a transition year was in place to allow those still with black skirts to continue to wear these,” he said.
“From August 2023, the Black Watch tartan skirt will be the school uniform, and the school is committed to continuing a range of initiatives to support families with adhering to the uniform policy.”
It is understood a bank of skirts is still available for those who need it and any parent needing financial support should contact the school.
