Ladies’ College is first sixth form to relax its dress code
THE Ladies’ College has become the first sixth form to relax its dress code – with students allowed to decide what to wear.
Until schools returned after the summer break, the Ladies’ College had the most traditional sixth form uniform in the island, with students wearing a slightly more relaxed version of the uniform worn throughout the upper school. But they are now largely free to choose their own outfits each day. The school said its new approach was to ask the girls to dress for the day, which it said was being adopted increasingly in the business world.
‘That might mean girls might opt for more relaxed clothing when studying art or discussing ideas in history than when meeting with our pathways business partners or engaging with Institute of Directors events, where they might opt for a suit,’ said principal Daniele Harford-Fox.
Sixth form students at Elizabeth College, Blanchelande College and the States’ Sixth Form Centre do not wear the same uniforms common for students in Years 7 to 11, but they all still require sixth formers to dress smartly or in business attire, such as suits or blazers.
Ms Harford-Fox said the change at the Ladies’ College took place following consultation last year.
‘We recognise that changing uniform, particularly for a school with long traditions such as ours, will always feel a little different at first, but felt we have a duty to ensure that we are building the skills the girls are going to need in the future.'
She added that the change was in line with many other independent schools, including those on the island that have moved from a uniform to a dress code.
‘While there is always some nervousness around any change, the girls have done brilliantly and made us all proud,’ she said.
‘Women know that it is challenging in any new environment or workplace to navigate dress codes. We have to work to balance our personal brand and the cultural context and expectations. We want to give the girls space to learn how to navigate those situations and be ready for a rapidly changing work environment.’
A pupil who recently left the Ladies’ College after finishing A-Levels, and who spoke to the Guernsey Press on condition of anonymity, said she was glad the new policy had not been in place when she was there. ‘I think uniform is useful for simplicity, as you don’t have to worry about what to wear and you can just focus on the school day,’ she said.
‘It creates an equal playing field with what you wear, which I think is especially important in a school where students come from such a broad spectrum of wealth.’
