This is a step in the correct direction!
Pleats sir, could we wear kilts to school?
GARETH ROSE EDUCATION REPORTER (grose@edinburghnews.com)
WHEN most schools ditch the standard uniform of grey shorts and skirts, they tend to go for something more modern.

But one city primary has opted for something a little more traditional, by adopting the kilt as part of its uniform.

Boys at James Gillespie's are expected to be the first in the Capital to attend a state school wearing national dress.

It was the pupils who decided to go for tartan after organising a survey about the popularity of their existing uniform.


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Their first idea was for girls to be offered tartan skirts, with scarves for all pupils - but unexpected demand from the boys led to a rethink.

The kilt design arrived yesterday and orders are now being taken from pupils, who have the option of the kilt, or regular trousers or skirt.

Ten-year-old John Jones, who was part of the pupil committee who helped choose the kilts, said he was delighted.

"I'm going to order one. I really like kilts and I've got one at home which I wear on special occasions. I think once a few people start wearing them, they'll catch on."

He added: "There's about 14 of us in the pupil council who have been discussing uniform since about October. Quite a few people wanted kilts so we sent a survey out around the classes asking who would want a tartan.

"At the beginning we were just going to get girls' kilts because it was mostly girls who were interested, but then quite a few boys said they wanted them. We are also getting scarves and it was quite exciting when we saw the final products."

James Gillespie's is the second non-fee paying school in the Capital to adopt a tartan.

The tartan, which is maroon, gold and green, was ordered from Clanhouse, in Morningside, after the pupils studied various designs. Initially, the children had wanted the school's colours of maroon, gold and navy blue, but were unable to find the right combination.

Anthea Greirson , who recently arrived as headteacher of James Gillespie's Primary, was happy to back the youngsters in their desire to see kilts introduced.

"The pupil council has been working on this since I got here," she said. "We had a survey on whether children would like to change their uniforms.

"They said they would like a new sweatshirt for P7 pupils and a tartan for the school. We thought some of the private schools have got one, why can't we?

"The pupil council went to Clanhouse to choose a design and found one which belongs to a school in England whose colours are similar to ours. We are also ordering scarves for the children, which will be nice and cosy for them over the coming months."

Although tartans have been adopted by most independent schools, St Mary's Primary, in East London Street, is the only other state school in Edinburgh to have one.

At St Mary's it is only the girls who wear the tartan in skirts. Historians at the National Museums of Scotland said at no time during the history of state education in the Capital have boys worn kilts to school.

A museums spokeswoman said: "Although kilts have traditionally been worn in private schools, as far as we are aware this is the first time they have been worn by boys in a state school."

Councillor Andrew Burns, the city's education leader, said: "It's encouraging to see pupils playing a part in their school and having a say in their choice of uniform."
Robert "the kilted" Lamb