Case study: Birchanger C of E Primary School, Bishop’s Stortford

A uniform fit for a modern childhood

We introduced an active school uniform in September 2024. Prior to this, our uniform consisted of a navy sweatshirt, fleece or cardigan (with logo), grey trousers or skirts, school shoes, and a blue polo shirt (with logo). During the summer term, boys could wear shorts and girls had the option of summer dresses, jumpsuits, or skirts/trousers. Children also had a separate PE kit and wore their own clothing for forest school.

Our current uniform is designed to be practical, inclusive, and suitable for an active school day. Both boys and girls now wear a navy sweatshirt, fleece or cardigan with the school logo, a pale blue polo shirt, and navy joggers or leggings. In the summer, children may wear a navy skort or cycling shorts. Children wear trainers (predominantly black) and keep a pair of wellington boots in school. There is no longer a separate PE or forest school uniform, except where additional clothing is required due to weather or mud.

Dressing children for childhood

A range of considerations informed our decision to move to an active uniform:

• Encouraging physical activity: Children are ready for spontaneous movement throughout the day, supporting a more active lifestyle in line with our OPAL programme.

• Enhancing comfort: Comfortable clothing helps reduce distractions and enables children to focus more effectively on learning.

• Supporting mental health: Increased physical activity is linked to improved mood and reduced anxiety, promoting positive mental wellbeing.

• Promoting equality: A consistent uniform ensures no child is advantaged or disadvantaged by clothing choices.

• Reducing costs: With only one compulsory branded item and no requirement for a separate PE kit, overall costs for families are reduced. Many items are available from local retailers.

• Supporting families: A single uniform removes the need to remember different kits or clothing for specific days.

• Consistency and appearance: Children wear the same uniform each day rather than a mixture of uniform, PE kit, or forest school clothing, making expectations clearer and easier to uphold.

• Meeting sensory needs: The move to softer, more flexible clothing supports children with sensory sensitivities. Feedback from pupils indicated that the previous uniform was uncomfortable for some children.

Bringing everyone along

From the outset, we recognised the importance of consultation. We spoke with other schools that had already adopted an active uniform, sought feedback from governors, and surveyed parents and pupils. Over 80% of children voted in favour of the change, which played a significant role in our decision-making.

We also took the opportunity to modernise our school logo. To minimise costs for families, we offered logo badges that could be added to existing uniform items so these could continue to be worn. We carefully sourced suppliers, updated our uniform policy, and implemented a one-year transition period to allow families time to adjust.

Overcoming challenges

As with any change, there were some initial concerns from parents. These included worries that children might appear less smart or that behaviour standards could decline. We addressed these concerns through our school newsletter, sharing positive examples of the uniform in use, and by inviting parents to observe lunchtime play as part of our OPAL provision.

At the same time, we introduced a revised behaviour policy to ensure high expectations remained clear. This helped reassure families that standards would not be compromised.

Once the uniform was established, concerns largely reduced. Many families, particularly those with children who have SEND, reported positive experiences. Parents also appreciated the reduced cost and the simplicity of having one uniform for all school activities.

Ongoing challenges include monitoring branded non-uniform clothing and managing the large number of wellington boots during wetter months, but these are manageable and expected aspects of an outdoor-friendly school environment.

The difference we’ve seen

Since introducing the active uniform, we have observed a number of positive outcomes:

• Children appear more relaxed and settled in their learning.

• Levels of physical activity during playtimes and lunchtimes have increased.

• Teachers are able to be more flexible, easily taking learning outdoors or engaging in activities such as the daily mile.

• Time efficiency has improved, with no need to change for PE, forest school, or swimming.

• Children look more consistent as a school community, rather than wearing a mix of different clothing throughout the day.

• Inclusion has been strengthened, with all children dressed the same and at a lower overall cost.

Final thoughts

Staff and pupils are overwhelmingly positive about the active uniform, which aligns closely with our school values and culture. While we acknowledge that the uniform may appear less formal than traditional school attire, we firmly believe the benefits to children’s wellbeing, comfort, and engagement outweigh the need for a more formal appearance.  We feel this approach allows children to be children – there’s plenty of time for more formal uniforms in secondary school!

Sharon Vessey, Headteacher, Birchanger C of E Primary School