Figure 1.--Many New Zealand schools require school uniforms, both state and private schools. Generally the private schools give more attention to school uniforms, but quite a number of state schools have strict requirements. |
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Uniforms while very common at New Zealand schools are quite varied. School uniform styles are fairly similar at the different types of schools around New Zealand. The uniform regulations can vary depending on the type of school and age levels as well as the gender of the student. Most also have different summer and winter uniforms.
While there are many similarities, there are notable differences. In particular there are exceptions here at the private prep schools as well as the Catholic and other religious affiliated schools. Most secondary schools do require uniforms, both state schools and private schools. The uniforms tend to be a little more elaborate at private schools and uniform rules enforced more vigiriusly at private schools. There are many state schools, however, with very strict uniform requirements. Often the uniform requirements are most strict at coed schools. The same tends to be the case with many of the private schools integrated into the state system. Schools also vary as to how strictly they ebforce the uniform rules. Sample regulations at representative schhols are presented here. Many schools still have very detailed, specific regulations. Others have only general guidelines.
New Zealand's state school system has a number of different types of schools, including Catholic and other private schools integrated into the state system. Representative uniform regulations are presented here.
Most state primary schools do not have uniforms, althought the integrated Catholic primary schools generally do. There are no country-wide regulations on this, but rather is up to the individual schools. The uniforms that have been adopted at primary schools are very simple and serviceable.
New Zealand intermediate schools are all coeducational and all that we know of require uniforms. Most students come from primary schools which did not have uniforms so they are wearing school uniforms for the first time. The uniforms are usually quite simple.
Generally speaking the coed secondary schools have the most relaxed uniform regulations. A few are quite strict, but some have even abandoned uniforms all together--mostly schools in Auvckland. One of the coeducational secondary school used here as an example indicates that "We feel that our uniform reflects the innovative and progressive image of our school. It is a uniform that the students are proud to wear."
Many boys secondary schools have had stricter uniform regulations than the coeducational state secondary schools in the state system. They have generally insisted on traditional uniform styles, although in the 1990s many schools adopted increasingly casual styles pemitting more student choice.
Generally speaking the girls secondary schools have the most strict uniform regulations of all the different types of schools in the state system. These schools usually have comparable, if not quites elaborate uniforms, as private girls' schools.
New Zealand has one of the smallest private or independent school system of all the western democracies. Successive governments have made a concerted effort to absorb private schools through policies of reducing state support to private schools and generous financial enducements to schools agreeing to integration. Many parents, however preceive decling standards in the state system. Declining discipline standards which has affected academic achievement in particulsar has concerned parents. This has created continued demand for private school education. Generally speaking the discipline standards are higher at private schools. These schools also tend to give more attention to school uniform than the state schools. Some state schools do give attention to school uniform, but there is more variation in the state system. The privates schools almost uniformally plasce considerable attention to the school uniform. There are differences depending on the type of private school.
