Uniform policy shift gives pupils more choice

Showing off the new trousers available for Columba College pupils to wear is Poppy Edmond (14) in...
Showing off the new trousers available for Columba College pupils to wear is Poppy Edmond (14) in front of (from left) Franki Jones (10), Sophie Boyle (15), Emmi Murray (12), Darcy Baldwin (14), Tegen Baldwin (14), Lily Ferro (17), Angela Fu (18) and Shiah Taela (9) at the school yesterday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Girls at Columba College now have the choice to wear trousers to school, leaving just one high school in Dunedin without the uniform option.

The school launched new uniform options at the start of term 4 last week.

Pupil Poppy Edmond said there were a lot of strong and powerful women in New Zealand who wore trousers, such as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and it was great to be able to dress in professional clothing.

She was pleased the school had modernised the uniform, she said.

Principal Pauline Duthie said the choice was not relinquishing tradition, but it instead embraced inclusivity and comfort.

The school had trousers available, and other brands and styles could be approved to be worn at school on an individual basis, she said.

Of the other eight high schools for girls in Dunedin, only St Hilda’s Collegiate School does not have the option for pupils to wear trousers as part of their uniform at present.

However it will not be that way for long.

Principal Jackie Barron said a new uniform would be introduced next year, which included options for pants and culottes.

Year 13 pupils were already allowed to wear their tidy casual dress to school, she said.

As part of the dress code those pupils could choose to wear pants, jeans, tidy track pants and other types of trousers.

Other schools in the wider region still do not have the option for pants.

wyatt.ryder@odt.co.nz

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