Children should be allowed to wear tracksuits in class to make school uniform 'more inclusive', MPs say

Published: 10:14, 20 April 2026 | Updated: 10:23, 20 April 2026 Children should be allowed to wear tracksuits in class to make school uniform 'more inclusive', MPs have said. Giving pupils the option to wear trainers or sportswear during regular lessons 'as standard' would allow them to be more comfortable throughout the school day, a new report from the Commons culture, media and sport committee claimed. It added: 'These measures would help reduce barriers to activity, lower costs for families and increase participation [in sports], particularly among girls.' The report focussed on the kit used for physical education (PE) classes, finding it can deter some children from getting involved. While boys tend to look forward to sports lessons, girls are more likely to view it as 'embarrassing' or 'stressful' - mainly thanks to the clothing worn. Around half (47 per cent) of girls do not feel comfortable getting ready for PE, according to a study by Sky, with key reasons being privacy in the changing rooms and 'mandatory over-sexualised uniforms'. Since Covid, thousands of pupils across the country have been allowed to arrive at school in their sports kit and wear it during regular lessons in a bid to mitigate the often uncomfortable process of changing. Schools should encourage more children to enjoy PE by implementing 'uniform policies that prioritise comfort, inclusivity and dignity', the report added. Children should be allowed to wear tracksuits in class to make school uniform 'more inclusive', MPs have said (Stock photo) Children not naturally adept at sports have 'negative experiences' during PE, the committee chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage, pictured, also reported But the findings could also spell the end of the traditional shirt and blazer combination which has dominated school uniforms for decades, with the report urging 'more practical, activity-friendly school uniforms'.  The document also urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to double Government spending on sport and recreation from 0.3 per cent of GDP to 0.6 per cent.  Children not naturally adept at sports have 'negative experiences' during PE, the committee chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage also reported, and a new 'fun and inclusive' curriculum was required. They suggested that skateboarding, roller skating, cheerleading and parkour could be included alongside traditional sports to cater to a wider range of interests. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson sparked anger in February by suggesting that boys should be allowed to wear dresses to school. She said pupils should be allowed to 'experiment' with their gender identity and teachers should not be 'coming down too hard' on them. However she added that primary schools needed to 'tread with a lot of care', after she was asked if five-year-olds should be allowed to identify as the opposite sex. She was put on the spot after her department published long-awaited trans guidance for schools which waters down rules proposed by the Tories that would have banned primary schools from changing pupils' pronouns. Asked on LBC radio on Tuesday if she was comfortable with the idea a five-year-old deciding that 'he is a she', Ms Phillipson replied: 'We've been clear that in primary schools, we need to tread with a lot of care.' Challenged again, she said: 'Well, this was usually where it involves a parent's decision to support their child in that way.' Ms Phillipson has previously clamped down on the concept of a school uniform by pushing for a limit of three branded pieces of clothing, including a school blazer. The Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport were approached for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.