School uniforms would bring only limited benefits in France

Preliminary findings from a two-year trial of compulsory school uniforms in France suggest limited benefits and raise budgetary concerns.

The pilot scheme was launched in 2024 in more than 100 schools by then-education minister Gabriel Attal. Its aim was to measure what impact, if any, wearing a uniform had on issues including bullying, secularism and performance. A full roll-out was mooted across all state schools if successful.

An initial assessment by the ministry’s statistics department, in collaboration with the independent organisation FORS-Recherche sociale and published in May, concluded that the effects on student behaviour and learning are “limited” and that the impact on the school environment is “modest and mixed”.

Mixed views on the pilot

The results are supported by Christine Mussard, professor of contemporary history at Aix-Marseille University.

Last year, she and colleague Julien Garric carried out a study in three local schools to determine how the pilot scheme was working.

She claimed the initiative was introduced amid “a rise in moral panic” in France about issues including the wearing of headscarves and abaya dress, which are already banned in state schools, indecent clothing, bullying, and the impact of social inequalities on academic achievement.

First Lady Brigitte Macron, a former teacher, was among several political figures to support the scheme, saying it could help to tackle social inequality among students.

Prof Mussard said: “The initiative is led by the education ministry, but it owes much to the influence of Mrs Macron.”

While Napoleon introduced uniforms in secondary schools in 1802, France has never had a law enforcing them nationwide since becoming a republic.

Children commonly wore smocks until the 1960s to protect their clothing from ink stains, but by the end of the 1960s, with the arrival of the ballpoint pen and low-cost clothing, pupils stopped wearing these.

Today, most state schools do not have uniforms, but they are a more common sight in private schools, military schools and in some of France’s overseas departments.

Do uniforms reduce inequality?

So what are the benefits of changing the status quo? “From the ministry’s perspective, the aim is to reduce social disparities, combat the culture of appearances and tackle inequality and proselytism,” said Prof Mussard.

There has been opposition from teachers, with many arguing that the debate over uniforms masks the real issues and problems facing France’s schools, from underfunding to staff shortages. The CFDT union has said “there is no scientifically proven positive effect linked to introducing school uniforms”.

As part of Prof Mussard’s own research into the pilot scheme, she sent questionnaires to pupils and their families who were trialling it in the Aix-Marseille education authority.

“Most parents supported school uniforms, but most pupils were against it,” she said. “Teachers also seemed to support the project.”

She pointed out that schools taking part in the pilot were already more likely to support wearing uniforms.

“In schools where we carried out the survey, the headteacher sought the views of the school community before launching the pilot scheme. Some secondary schools in the education authority, which were initially involved, ultimately backed out due to opposition from members of the school community.”

Cost is a major obstacle

One major obstacle to any wider roll-out of school uniforms is cost.

“If the government decides to make school uniforms compulsory, parents will have to contribute towards the cost, which was not the case during the pilot scheme. This financial obstacle will play a significant role in decision-making.”

Some local education authorities have already said they will not repeat the scheme for budgetary reasons.

Five schools taking part in Reims (Marne), for example, are not keeping uniforms in the 2026 school year because of the withdrawal of state funding.

Political divisions over uniforms

The issue of school uniforms is also politically charged.

“While it is generally supported on the right – and even more so on the far-right – it is criticised on the left as an infringement of pupils’ freedoms, but also as outdated and incompatible with 21st-Century schooling.”

In 2023, parliament rejected a bill brought by the far-right Rassemblement National to introduce compulsory school uniforms.

Nevertheless, the party has continued to push for change, with current leader Jordan Bardella supporting it.

“He says it will help eliminate social inequalities,” said Prof Mussard. “Along with mandatory use of the formal vous and the ban on mobile phones, he advocates measures he considers simple and effective, but does not address the sensitive issue of funding.”