|
|
 |
| |
Uniforms return to Hampstead school
UNIFORMS will be introduced at a West Hampstead school after more than 40 years of casual dress.
Hampstead School in Westbere Road had a uniform when it was a Haberdasher Aske’s school, before it became a secondary modern in the 1960s. It is now a comprehensive.
At a meeting last Wednesday governors decided to bring in uniforms for the first time at the comprehensive after a consultation with parents, pupils and staff.
Students at the 1,200 pupil school will be designing the new schoolwear.
Head Jacques Szemalikowski said: “I realise it is a big change for the school but it’s a step in the right direction.”
A riot outside the school gate involving police and teenagers – some from Hampstead – hit the front page of the New Journal earlier this month. Later Mr Szemalikowski made a complaint about police heavy-handedness and allegations of racism.
“If something happens in the community people often blame Hampstead students,” said Mr Szemalikowski. He denied the uniform decision was a reaction to recent trouble. He added: “We don’t really have fighting with other schools.”
Although the majority of pupils voted against the change, with just over half saying ‘No’, staff and parents weighed in in favour of uniforms.
Mr Szemalikowski said: “We don’t do things to be popular, we do things when they’re right.”
And on Monday he posted this message on the school’s website: “The introduction of uniform is part of Hampstead School’s very ambitious ‘Transformation Agenda’ centred on improving the ethos of the school, creating a sense of community cohesion and identity and reinforcing key messages about learning.
“This underpins the development of an environment where learning is taken seriously and appearance signals the difference between our high expectations of learning behaviours in school and ‘street culture’.” |
 |
|
|
|
