Allowing pupils to wear their PE kit throughout the school day on PE days significantly boosts girls' physical activity and wellbeing, according to research highlighted by the chair of Cymru Women's Sport.
Professor Leigh Robinson argues that more can be done to give girls the confidence to participate in sport in schools, pointing to findings from the Women in Sport Fit to Learn, Free to Play research.
Striking Findings Across 12 Schools
The study, conducted across 12 schools, found that six in ten girls reported the policy helped them be more active during the school day, while nearly two-thirds said it made participation in PE easier when they were on their period.
Around seven in ten pupils and PE teachers wanted the policy to continue. Teachers also benefited, with many reporting significant time savings that could be redirected into teaching and learning.
Removing Barriers to Participation
Professor Robinson notes that concerns about body image, confidence, menstruation and peer judgement all contribute to declining participation among teenage girls, who are far more likely than boys to disengage from sport during their teenage years.
Requiring pupils to change clothes during the day, often in communal changing environments, creates an additional and entirely avoidable hurdle, she says.
Measurable Improvements in Wellbeing
The pilot demonstrated that removing this barrier delivers real benefits. Thirty per cent of girls reported feeling less stressed and anxious, nearly 60% said the policy created more opportunities to be active throughout the day, and 45% felt it encouraged them to be more active on their journeys to and from school.
Professor Robinson describes these as meaningful improvements in physical activity, wellbeing and confidence at a time when many girls are at risk of becoming less active.
Growing Public Engagement
She welcomes growing public engagement around the issue, including a parent-led petition before the Senedd calling for a review of school uniform guidance to promote active uniforms for all pupils up to the age of 16.
The petition highlights concerns that restrictive uniforms can limit participation in informal physical activity and play throughout the school day, while recognising the particular challenges faced by teenage girls.
Professor Robinson argues that the solution is simple, affordable and immediately achievable, requiring no major capital investment from schools and no additional costs for families. She is asking supporters to take action, including speaking with schools about uniform policies, championing evidence-based approaches, and supporting the petition in Wales.
The message from the evidence, she says, is clear: when girls are free to move, they are better able to learn, play and thrive.
