Parents in one French town vote for school uniforms

Rentrée and the end of the summer holidays almost inevitably sees the return of the debate on the pros and cons of school uniforms in France.

For one town, in Seine-et-Marne, the debate is over. Within a matter of weeks, all children who attend one of the six schools in Provins will wear the same blue-and-white uniforms - a first in metropolitan France.

The total cost of the uniforms has been set at €145.

The decision was made by public ballot following a consultation with parents in early June. A total 62% voted in favour of uniforms, which will be compulsory in schools after the Toussaint holiday.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is not against the idea of uniforms being implemented at a local level in this way. "It's a subject that needs to be totally dispassionate, that needs to be looked at in a concrete way and that can be very positive," he told BFMTV.