Rules for school dress codes being drawn up

19/9/96

Regulations are currently being drawn up to allow Western Australian Government schools to implement dress codes for students, Education Minister Colin Barnett said.

Mr Barnett said that changes to the Education Act would give school decision-making groups the authority to set a dress code after consultation between teachers, parents and students.

"Many schools in WA already have informal guidelines in place for school dress codes," he said.

"The changes to the Education Act will formalise these guidelines and give schools the opportunity to establish a dress code if they feel it is appropriate to their school.

"The decision to put into place a dress code, and the decision as to how strictly a dress code is adhered to, will be up to the school community itself in consultation with everyone involved.

"Certainly, the changes to the Act will include that no child can be excluded from being educated because of the clothes he/she wears and I expect that school communities will be flexible in how strictly they enforce a dress code and what the code itself might include."

Mr Barnett said the changes were being made after extensive consultation last year with parents, teachers and students. WA's 770 primary and high schools had already been sent guidelines on how to implement school dress codes.

"I believe these changes will receive widespread support from students, teachers and parents as dress codes establish an identity for the school both inside and outside the school grounds," the Minister said.

"Certainly, many of the schools I have visited have been very proud of their dress codes, as they see them as a way of bringing the whole school community closer together."

Mr Barnett said he expected the changes would be in place in time for the beginning of the 1997 school year.

Media contact: Justine Whittome, (09) 222 9699