School Uniforms in France: High Expectations, a Sobering Assessment

Two years ago the school uniform in France was still regarded as a political symbol. It stood for order, authority and the hope of a school that would regain lost direction. Today the tone sounds much more sober. The first nationwide evaluation of the experiment, running since the 2024 school year, shows a mixed picture – with limited successes and many open questions. The project had been initiated by the then education minister Gabriel Attal. At first glance the idea seemed simple: if everyone wears the same clothes, social differences ...