School governors and head teachers can choose to have a no school uniform policy at English maintained government school, academies or free schools in UK. Vast majority of UK state British schools have uniforms, although students are accustom to wearing uniforms, providing an identity and helps stop peer pressure for individualism in clothing style.
Children attending infant, primary & secondary schools without uniform can wear smart or relaxed casual clothing. School pupils are free to be seen and express themselves as individuals within set acceptable dress code guidelines what they can wear attending school.
11 UK boarding/independent schools without school uniforms
| School | City/Town | County |
| Dallington School | Islington | London |
| Hampton Court House School | East Molesey | Surrey |
| King Alfred’s School | Hampstead Way | London |
| Rochester Independent College | Rochester | Kent |
| Bedales School | Steep | Hampshire |
| Steiner School | York | North Yorkshire |
| Winchester College | Winchester | Hampshire |
| Frensham Heights School | Rowledge. Farnham | Surrey |
| Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle | South Kensington | London |
| St Chris School | Letchworth | Hertfordshire |
| St Paul ’s Girls’ School | Hammersmith | London |
Non uniform secondary schools in London
| School | City/Town | County |
| Acland Burghley Secondary School | Camden | London |
| The Camden School for Girls | Camden | London |
| Parliament Hill School for Girls | Camden | London |
| Fortismere School | Muswell Hill | London |
South London primary schools without uniform
| School | City/Town | County |
| Walnut Tree Walk Primary | Lambeth | London |
| Ashmead, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| John Ball, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| Edmund Waller, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| Kilmorie Primary School | Lewisham | London |
| Horniman, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| Brindishe Lee, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| Streatham Wells, Primary | Lambeth | London |
| Fairlawn, Primary | Lewisham | London |
| Brindishe Green Primary School | Lewisham | London |
| Brindishe Manor Primary School | Lewisham | London |
| Honeywell School, Primary | Wandsworth | London |
North London primary no uniform schools
| School | City/Town | County |
| Grasmere Primary School | Hackney | London |
| Yerbury, Primary | Islington | London |
| Eleanor Palmer, Primary | Camden | London |
| Muswell Hill, Primary | Haringey | London |
| Rhodes Avenue Primary | Haringey | London |
| William Tyndale Primary School | Islington | London |
| Hanover Primary School | Islington | London |
| Columbia, Primary School | Tower Hamlets | London |
| Soho Parish C of E Primary School | Soho | London |
| Prior Weston Primary School | Islington | London |
| Highgate Primary School | Highgate | London |
West London primary schools don’t have uniform
| School | City/Town | County |
| Fox, Primary School | Kensington | London |
| Bousfield, Primary | Kensington | London |
| Little Ealing Primary School | Ealing | London |
East London primary schools don’t have uniform
| School | City/Town | County |
| Henry Maynard Primary School | Waltham Forest | London |
| Halstow Primary School | Greenwich | London |
| Millennium Primary School | Greenwich | London |
| Brooklands Primary School | Greenwich | London |
Non uniform schools in England & Scotland that choose a no uniform policy let children express themselves in clothing choice & colour as its part of the schools ethos or tradition.
A sensible dress code for different age groups is adopted as part of each schools policy for student attire.
“At Brooklands we have deliberately chosen not have a school uniform. Instead, we prefer to allow children and their parents/carers a choice in what they wear to school, encouraging individuality, personal taste and style“.
School uniform is not compulsory in UK, well in England, although the great majority of British school governors & headteachers have a student uniform policy for primary & secondary schools in England, Wales & Scotland.
South East England no uniform schools
| School | City/Town | County |
| Clapham Terrace Community Primary School | Leamington Spa | England |
| Milverton Primary School | Leamington Spa | England |
| St Matthew’s Primary School | Cambridge | England |
| Morley Memorial Primary School | Cambridge | England |
| Newnham Croft Primary School | Cambridge | England |
| St Ebbe’s Primary School | Oxford | England |
| St luke’s Primary School | Brighton | England |
| East Oxford Primary School | Oxford | England |
| Larkrise Primary School | Oxford | England |
| St Barnabas Primary School | Oxford | England |
| SS Philip & James’ C. E VA Primary School | Oxford | England |
| Cotham Gardens Primary School | Bristol | England |
| Cherwell Secondary School | Oxford | England |
North England schools that don’t wear uniform
| School | City/Town | County |
| Park Grove Primary School | York | England |
| Oswald Road Primary School | Chorlton, Manchester | England |
| Westways Primary School | Sheffield | England |
| Quernmore CE Primary School | Quernmore, Lancaster | England |
| Stubbings Infants School | Hebden Bridge. West Yorkshire | England |
| Anthony Gell Secondary School | Wirksworth Derbyshire | England |
No uniform Scotland schools
| School | City/Town | County |
| Sandwick Junior High School | Sandwick, Shetland | Scotland |
| Anderson High School | Lerwick, Shetland | Scotland |
| James Gillespie’s High School | Edinburgh | Scotland |
Private sector fee paying schools in the UK offer students individual & group lessons and feedback.
All independent schools are different with operational, curriculum, uniform choice and adopt they’re own rules & policies without following government external education rules to a certain extent.
A few private schools in Surrey, Kent, London, and Hampshire have adopted a no school uniform policy. Reasons why: they have freedom to choose, part of school ethos or founding member covenant mandates the school must follow the tradition.
Why independent sector schools choose no student uniform
Some senior & private primary schools in UK have adopted a no student school uniform policy, although they all have a certain standard of dress code attire.
The vast majority of UK fee paying schools have a formal student uniform that must be worn seem in contrast to opinions and ethos of a few schools.
Casual dress is the norm for students from jeans/trouser t-shirt/jumper with casual everyday shoes or a more formal suit.
Dress code standard on what students can wear and not allowed also extends to different age groups, as what is appropriate for older teenage girls maybe inappropriate for 5-10 year girls.
Schools have rules & policies for what they think are best in relation to appearance, student learning and child development as a person.
Dressing as an individual and making the correct decision for each appropriate class is seen part of an enhanced educational school learning environment.
When a few UK private schools were founded they installed an ethos of no school uniform and a covenant on this policy is required to be followed for financial or operational reasons stipulated from the covenant from founding members.
In addition, ethos of an independent school where each student is an individual and has a choice within reason has been chosen by school stakeholders.
From day and boarding school in UK a no student uniform has been decided following parent consultation, management, school owner, board of governors and students feedback.
Another reason why an independent school chooses a no uniform policy is they can as they are not legally obliged to have one.
Affect on student grades and behaviour
Independent schools have much more control over students with strict behaviour policies and enforce school rules better that state schools.
I have taught in both state and private sector schools and I can inform you that fee paying schools have almost no behaviour issues in relation to bulling or classroom issues.
Children that attend independent day or boarding school in UK come from families that in general have conditioned they’re children to act in an appropriate way and this is reinforced by the child’s school when in attendance.
Current UK private schools that have adopted a no uniform policy don’t suffer any negative behaviour, average or below national standard grades compared to similar schools.
Students attend school as normal dressed the way they have chosen, follow school rules, respect others and try the best they can for the future.
Students can express themselves as individuals when they wear clothing they like and feel comfortable in all day at school appropriate for each subject.
Many parents son’s and daughters take pride in the clothing they wear daily at and outside school. Students at private school choose to dress in trousers, tops and t-shirt that is suitable for the weather and classes in according to school dress code.
Indeed, certain students would benefit a no school uniform policy such as autistic & special needs children as they may feel more comfortable in a less formal environment.
For some students a less formal dress code would help with focus on academic learning, depending on personality.
In contrast some boys and girls I noticed as a school teacher were academically distracted.
They prioritised what they were wearing and how they looked, hence affected focus, motivation to try and impacted school grades.
Understanding you’re child, requirements to the type of environment were they feel more relaxed guides you’re decision for a private school with a uniform or no uniform.
Peer pressures of no school uniform policy
One significant negative with a student that wears they’re own choice of clothing at private school is possible peer pressure. For a few children seeing other students with expensive or latest design clothing may make them feel left out if they’re are not part of that crowd.
Peer pressure clothing choice does exists in all parts of society as children wear what expresses them individually.
Parents that send they’re children to UK independent day or boarding school should be able to afford quality clothing for they’re child, and also make sure they’ll have a wide selection of clothing so not wearing the same outfit regularly.