A UK school has banned high-end coats in a bid to end ‘poverty shaming’

The school has also prohibited other expensive brands like Moncler and Pyrenex.

Woodchurch High School in Birkenhead is now disallowing pupils from wearing certain types of outerwear to school. Parents received a letter home stating that branded coats such as Moncler, Pyrenex and Canada Goose are now not permitted to be worn by students on the school premises. This is to come into effect after the Christmas holidays. According to the BBC,

"The labels banned by the school include children's sizes which sell for between £400 and £1,000."

As most people can relate to, the cost of sending children to school is significant and peer pressure to possess certain brands of school bags, stationery, shoes and coats can put both children and parents under stress. In a bid to relieve some of this, headteacher of the school, Rebekah Phillips met with students to discuss the possibility of banning certain brands of outerwear. She said:

"We are very concerned as a school about poverty-proofing our school environment and, as such, we met with groups of pupils and made the decision in consultation with them. The pupils spoke to us about the pressure on families and the pressure on themselves to wear particular branded coats. A few years ago we introduced a school bag for the same reason."

The ban has received a mixed opinion on Twitter, with some in favour and others against.

Well done Woodchurch High Scool ? Expensive designer coats ban at Merseyside school https://t.co/xKimakyM3T

— Pub Politics Podcast (@pubpoliticspod) November 15, 2018

Woodchurch High School bans expensive clothing like Canada Goose so poor kids won't have their feelings hurt.

"Shielding lower-income students from stigma " is such BS. I wore kmart t-shirts in school but also parents who taught me not to get jealoushttps://t.co/UKep5KgPZY — Zepblackstar (@zepblackstar) November 17, 2018

Many schools now have a designated school coat as part of the uniform, but Woodchurch's approach in banning certain brands is somewhat unusual. What are your thoughts regarding the decision?