Bradford Academic Dr Elizabeth Nassem Warns Strict School Dress Codes Harm Student Well-being

Dr Elizabeth Nassem, an academic specialising in school bullying at the University of Bradford, has asserted that strict school uniform policies are increasingly out of touch with contemporary student realities, negatively impacting well-being. Dr Nassem, founder of the consultancy Bullied Voices, contends that uniform regulations, many based on 'Victorian era' approaches, are leading to damaging interactions between teachers and pupils.

She notes that when teachers must enforce inflexible rules without professional judgement, routine exchanges can become harmful. Dr Nassem specifically cited accounts from girls who reported feeling 'sexualised or humiliated' when instructed to 'cover up', even if unintended. This experience, she argues, has profound consequences for self-esteem, trust, and mental health.

Student Experiences Detail Humiliation

Jessica, a 17-year-old student from Notre Dame Sixth Form College in Leeds, recounted an incident at her previous Bradford school where a teacher allegedly shouted that a group of Year Nine girls, wearing socks instead of tights on a hot day, 'all look like porn stars'. Jessica described this as sexualising 'essentially little girls'.

Dr Nassem stated that such experiences are not uncommon, observing that girls 'feel humiliated, they feel sexualised and they do say a lot of it is the men'. She added, 'It's almost like this body that becomes a female, which starts to become a woman, becomes punished. And I think that's how they see it.'

Another Notre Dame student, Eva, 17, recalled 'uniform checks' at her secondary school where girls were made to stand and faced 'negatives' for incorrect skirt lengths, often rolled up 'Charleston skirts'. Blessing, also 17, noted similar issues with trousers deemed too tight.

Jem, a male classmate, observed a disparity in treatment, expressing discomfort when male teachers confronted groups of 12-year-old girls about rolling down their skirts.

Calls for Pupil-Informed Dress Codes

While not advocating for the complete removal of uniforms, Dr Nassem urges schools to consult pupils to understand their concerns, then develop dress codes informed by 'pupil voice'. She highlighted that many uniform styles are remnants of 'Victorian times'.

This call for reform follows Alvaston Moor Academy in Derby’s decision in February to abolish shirts, blazers, and ties for incoming Year 7 pupils from September, deeming the new policy more 'practical' for both school and home use.

However, some students expressed a preference for uniforms. Jeffers, 17, pursuing a legal career, found wearing a tie made him 'feel smart' and prepared him for professional life, believing uniforms foster 'a sense of community and pride'. Diego, who attended secondary school in Barcelona without a uniform policy, felt 'inferior to some people' due to clothing disparities, noting 'class differences and the money issues'.

Jem suggested that schools' adherence to uniforms is often a matter of 'tradition', with institutions largely 'afraid to adapt'.