I've never 'got'

My wife went to school in the states and is very pro-uniform because of exactly what Tonts wrote. It’s a flattener. We probably need it more here

Bullying and classism is worse here because we are an incredibly spiteful, classist and all-round cunty country. Imagine how much worse the bullying and classism would be if everyone wore their own clothes to school. It was bad enough on non-school uniform days, can’t imagine how hideous that would have been spread across the course of a whole school year.

Broadly speaking I’m in favour, as it cuts out some of the above and also makes it easy to deal with the logistics of getting your kid to school. Schools that get mega hung up and fussy about it can gtfo tho.

bullying and classism is far worse here than in the American and Canadian school system

There are some contrary views on that. Historically, I'd have said that U.S. school culture has some of its own conventions (school proms, a significantly higher emphasis on competitive sports) that create their own conformist orthodoxies which are ripe sources of bullying. Historically, because some of those things are now being copied over here. The U.S. education culture also preserves some unfortunate school-age concepts into higher education (exemplified by fraternities/sororities) that can make people feel still trapped in school culture where U.K. universities are more often an opportunity to escape that and reinvent yourself.

You can see some of the experiences and attitudes that led to Incel culture in that linked Slashdot article and the responses.

Can't speak for the States but I defo approach this from a 'parent' standpoint. It's a good leveller. School has one badged cardigan which is £11.50 new (we have most of them second hand) and everything else can be bought cheap from supermarkets. They run a secondhand uniform sale once a year as well where you can grab a few bits for pennies. Defintely appreciate it as a leveller and avoiding morning clothing arguments with an opinionated 6yo.