Uniform: It's More Than Just the Clothes We Wear

At Dulwich Pudong we ❤️ our uniform and wear it with pride every single day!

The wearing of the uniform is a tradition that connects us to over 400 years of history, dating back to the founding of Dulwich College London in 1619.

However, putting on the uniform is more than just paying homage to tradition; it is a symbol of belonging and a statement that students are ready to learn.

Research shows that wearing a uniform:

• reduces absenteeism
• encourages students to pay attention to their studies
• instils a sense of discipline and focus

It also helps students speak with confidence, giving them a sense of motivation and purpose.

Our uniform is practical and adapts to the changing seasons, ensuring our students are comfortable and ready to learn.

Beyond that, in the words of our Head of College Garry Russell, "It just looks smart. All too often students graduate from school having little idea that certain occasions are best suited to formal dress; job interviews for example."

We couldn't agree more!

When students reach the IB years - Year 12 and 13 - they are empowered to select their own clothing. This gives them a head start on understanding the expectations of the world of work and is a visible symbol they are taking hold of their own learning journey to university and beyond.

With student agency embedded within our DNA, uniform is an area where students make their voices heard. Over the last few years, they have led initiatives to modernise our uniform to reflect contemporary needs.

For example, in 2020 we introduced gender neutral ties as an important way to foster inclusivity.

The initiative was led by Class of 2021 graduate Astrid B who explains,

"After attending the One Voice Summit at Dulwich Pudong where we had a lot of discussion about the UN Sustainable Development Goals within our school, I realised that our College could benefit from a gender-neutral uniform in order to be more inclusive. I pressed forward with this and worked hand in hand with teachers and staff to develop gender-neutral ties for our schools. I hope these ties are a symbol of the inclusivity at Dulwich Pudong."

Finally, we imbed sustainability into our uniform as much as possible. Our PE jerseys, for example, are made with recycled bottles, are dye-free and come with reusable packaging.

"Community is a core value at Dulwich Pudong and wearing the school uniform is a visible symbol of belonging and inclusivity," says Head of College Garry Russell. "We will continue to listen to the voice of the community to ensure our uniform is smart, comfortable and practical."