THE British used to have a peculiar enthusiasm for school uniform, happily supposing that blazers and gymslips would produce discipline and good exam results. Then came the Seventies, when schools across the land abandoned dress rules altogether. According to its supporters, uniform gives children a sense of identity and creates disciplined teamwork. Opponents say it stunts individuality, and that community and hard work have nothing to do with clothes. Now the trend is back to uniform � but does it make a difference? The Times visited the Lister Community School, an inner-city mixed comprehensive in East London. Until three years ago, pupils there wore jeans, leggings, T-shirts and trainers. Today, after parental pressure, they are kitted out in black trousers or skirts, flat black shoes and either a purple sweatshirt with the school logo or jumper, blazer and tie. This is what the teachers and the children have to say. . . BEFORE THE UNIFORM Discipline: Deputy head teacher David Whyte says that while pupils have always been reasonably well-behaved, standards have improved since the introduction of uniform. "Previously the school could look quite scruffy and the tone of the place was casual with the attendant buzz that brings � kids found it harder to settle down to lessons. "It was also quite obvious that some students were in the fashion stakes, while others weren't, which caused problems and anxieties for the ones who couldn't afford the right clothes." Kim Walton, a third-year form teacher who started at Lister as uniform was introduced, says it definitely affects discipline: "When the students come into school in uniform they are rather like working people who put their suits on in the morning to go to the office � they go into work mode. We occasionally have non-uniform days for charity and the kids are definitely harder to teach. All they want to do is discuss their clothes." Mahfuza Rahman, a fifth-year pupil, spent the first two years at Lister in uniform. "In our own clothes we obviously had more individuality, but that meant we were less inclined to settle down. While I sometimes think I'm too old for uniform now I can definitely see its advantages � it does help with discipline." Cheryl Miller, 14, in the third year, says: "The ones who don't make an effort with their uniform are definitely ruder to the teachers. " Truancy: "Most inner-city schools have some truancy, and we did have a problem with pupils leaving within schooltime," says Mr Whyte. "When they were in their own clothes they were obviously less conspicuous and so locals would not pull them up." Exams/results: The school averaged 20 per cent of pupils achieving five GCSEs grade A-C. In 1992, 75 per cent went on to sixth form education. Parents: Alan Clark, chairman of governors, whose 16-year-old son Gary attends Lister, said parents wanted the introduction of uniform for a number of reasons. "With the cost of clothing generally and peer pressure to wear the right things, parents were hit in the pocket. There was also a perception, right or not, that schools with uniform seemed to do better in the league tables. We wanted the school to have an identity within the community." David Cassidy, 13, agrees. "Some people can't afford all the changes in fashion, and it is unfair on those who can't compete." AFTER THE UNIFORM Discipline: "I think the introduction of uniform has shaped the feel of the school � it's given students a common identity," says Mr Whyte. "The tone is much quieter, the image is more groomed, and it has also made a difference in terms of being an appreciated school in the area. Discipline has improved. "We're trying to create a culture that relates to hard work and discipline. "It has also helped with behaviour out of school because the students are more readily identifiable. While this has led to a small increase in complaints from neighbours, this is because they know where the offending students are from and we can also more easily identify the troublemakers. Uniform has helped us to build our relationships outside the school. Mahfuza Rahman says: "This is our identity � we have a logo that separates us from other schools and it's something to be proud of. I think people's perception of you improves; if you go for a job and you have a uniform people will think better of you." For Parvez Iqbal, 16, a uniform restricts personal freedom and thus helps channel the school atmosphere towards work and discipline. Cheryl Miller says: "You're not coming to school to look good, you're coming to school to learn and uniform helps with that. When the uniform first came out we used to get called boffin by some of the other students who didn't want to wear it but we're all used to it now and it's not a problem." Tim Kerin, a fifth-year tutor who was initially not in favour of introducing uniform, says: "At first, the uniform created discipline problems because you had to pull the children up all the time. But once they realised it wasn't going to go away most have stuck to it well. Truancy: "Uniform has definitely helped," Kim Walton says. "The colour stands out so vividly that people outside can identify our pupils if they are out and about during the day and contact the school. We can easily identify them as well. Having said that, it's important to emphasise that you can still draw out the students' individuality in uniform � their personality still comes through." For Parvez Iqbal, the issue was simple. "You are more conspicuous in your purple colours," he says. Exams/results: After a slight slump in results two years ago, the school had a 7 per cent increase in its GCSE performance last year to 22 per cent and the number of children staying on into sixth form has increased to about 93 per cent in the past three years. Mr Clark says: "As a parent, I feel there has been an upturn in standards generally, with students working harder for exams and working more closely with teachers � and it all seems to have happened since uniform was brought in." Mr Whyte says: "It is too soon to say if uniform has affected exam results, but we do feel that it, combined with other strategies such as after-school clubs, will ultimately have an impact on grades." Parents: Parents agree that the uniform was designed to be as financially viable as possible and are in no doubt that it is cheaper for them, even if they have a number of children at the school. While a blazer costs from �31, sweatshirts and jumpers start at �10.95. By comparison, a pair of designer trainers, now outlawed, can cost from �20 to �120. Many parents also see the uniform as a security measure because strangers who enter the school stand out against the uniformed pupils. "I think parents feel the school has more focus, and our students walk with their heads held higher," Mr Clark says. "They can look people in the eye and know they're as good as anyone else."