This kind of storm in a teacup is precisely why schools in the UK invariably have a school uniform. The requisite black or grey trousers, pullovers, skirts, socks and tights, along with the white shirts or blouses , can be obtained at minimal cost from major supermarkets such as Tesco or Sainsbury during their 'Back to School' promotions in August. The jackets or blazers with school logo, and the ties (usually clip-on nowadays) can be more costly, but some shops sell sew-on or iron-on patches of various school crests or logos and there is a thriving second-hand market in school uniform items.

Generally-speaking, uniforms are affordable for all, render the students easily identifiable locally (putting a stop to illicit purchases of cigarettes and lunchtime pub visits). Also they put a brake on 'fashion wars' among the students and prevent kids getting beaten up for sporting a t-shirt featuring the 'wrong' soccer team!

Years 12 and 13 -what used to be called Sixth Form- the 16-18 post-compulsory students, are exempt from uniform in most schools. However, schools may still stipulate 'smart casual' or even 'business' dress for these students, stopping them turning up in full-on Goth gear, or the tracksuit bottoms, hoodie and baseball cap rig popular with Chavs.

Much easier to enforce and less prone to cause problems than a looser 'dress code'. As a one-time reader of the Peanuts strip, I recall Peppermint Pattys' constant struggles with the dress code at her school, so it seems not to be a recent issue!