why do girls get to wear nice loose summer dresses in the hot weather but boys still have to wear shirts buttonned up to the neck, ties and 'shorts' that are made of thick material and not at all cool. why are schools allowed to get away with it?

they aren't allowed to get away with refusing to allow girls to wear trousers anymore, so why do they get away with allowing girls to wear a summer uniform that keeps them cool while the boys have to suffer? surely this is sex discrimination?

<<beautifuldays gets self arsey mother reputation on PTA before child has even started at said school>>>

What do you want boys to wear?

Ds school they can wear shorts and a short sleeve polo neck shirt also in a lovely golden yellow colour..lol

I've often wondered this. maybe the boys could wear looser open-necked shirts in the same material as the girls' summer dresses?

I'm the wrong person to talk about this because the whole idea of school uniform irritates me immensely.

However, I often think that it's sexist that girls have to wear skirts and short ones at that. It restricts the way they play. They can't climb around, hang off fences or even sit cross legged unlike the boys. They are vulnerable and people pull their skirts up to show their knickers.

I just WISH that in primary school kids could wear their own clothes. Comfortable, bought with them in mind and appropriate for the season.

here you go BeautifulDays

I think this could catch on...

I didn't think state primaries were allowed to enforce uniform codes.

At the dc's school the boys summer uniform is currently shorts and a polo shirt, though the polo is being discontinued and will become a short sleeved shirt worn without a tie.

Incidentally at their school girls cannot wear trousers.

my little ones do have a summer unifrom, short sleeved shirts, sleeveless jumpers, shorts and short socks - look really sweet.

At our 6th form the girls wear a black skirt and black jumper (which could be nice thin cool cotton or nice thick warm wool depending on season) prob c £5 from Primark or wherever - the boys have to wear a black blazer, with a school badge, c £50 from uniform shop

I keep meaning to go to the annual Govs meeting and raising this, but it comes around in late November and it's cold, dark and wet and I can't be arsed.

lol.. marina

I think a lot depends on the school. The boys at my son's school wear short airtex shirts in summer and shorts. I'm sure the boys would be allowed to wear a summer dress if they wanted to...

should have clarifies that i'm talking about primary here not secondary!

polo shirts would be great, but unfortunately our primary makes the boys wear shirts and ties all through the summer. a polo shirt would be a lot more comfortable, or even an open neck shirt. they must all be so hot!

i am shocked some schools still don't allow girls to wear trousers. that is awful. how do they all get away with it?

At our school, girls can wear sweatshirts or cardigans or fleeces ovr their polo shirts, skirts or trousers, tights or socks, summer dresses and God knows what else.
Boys get trousers/shorts and sweatshirts (over polo shirt). And that's it.
That's surely sexist?

loshad that sounds lovely :

It's those poor little boys who have to wear shorts until they get to year 5 (like some of the schools in my area) I feel sorry for. Poor little things. Can't wear tights like the girlies- seems so unfair!

Girls not allowed to wear trousers. [anger] That's rather offensive, sexist and old fashioned. Do they force them to wear hair ribbons too I wonder.

Bloody hell! I wouldn't have that.

I think that ties are stupidly impractical for primary school. What happens about PE? Ties must be one of the most pointless items of clothing invented.

Do girls have to wear a tie? otherwise its completely sexist.

it's more the shirt with tie all through the hot summer months with no alternative that bothers me. it can't be comfy can it?

make a suggestion to the school that polo shirts are allowed for boys.

Ties and collars are just so ridiculous.

I like that dd has to wear a PINAFORE (INFANTS) or skirt (juniors) or the summer dress.

I don't like girls school trousers, or rather I don;t like the style of most of them nowadays especially the ones the older girls wear half hanging off their bums. If dd ever kicked up about it I'd have a word with the head first and make her wear boys trousers, that would cure her of wanting to wear trousers.

My feeling is that we chose the school knowing the uniform so we adhere to it.

It is indy, not state but I know plenty of state school who don't allow girls to wear trousers in the summer.

girls have to wear a tie in the winter, but only boys have to wear them in the summer cos the girls get summer dresses.

i hate ties. i mean 4yr olds in ties. whoever thought that was a good idea

polo shirts have been rejected on the grounds htey are not 'smart' enough......

My dd wears a tie in winter. She likes it. It's on elastic so easy to get on and off.

smart enough for what? Working in the city?

Seriously, smart enough for what?

Girl's school trousers are, on the whole, quite horrid items of clothing!

DD's school is pinafore, shirt, tie and cardigan in winter. In summer it is a summer dress. No boys so no problems with lifting of skirts, etc. Also doesn;t stop the girls from playing how they want too - they can all still manage the climbing wall in the playground, skipping, ball games, running about, jumping, etc.

When I was at school - bog standard comp = iit was skirts ony for girls. Never stopped me or bothered me at all.

the school is a state school not private btw. maybe it's just me but i just think the poor boys must be so hot and uncomfy wearing shirts and ties in the height of summer

are school unoforms compulsory? how do you go about raising the issue? PTA i assume? god the school are gonna hate me

At my dcs old school it was thick corduroy shorts all year round for boys (but at least polo shirt in the summer and no tie), tunic (with tie) or flimsy summer dress for the girls. Both had button up stiff collared shirts

The only requirement at thier current school is the school sweatshirt, navy 'bottoms' and white top. In summer girls can wear a dress but can equally wear shorts and the whole thing is so much more practical.

State primaries cannot legally enforce a uniform. Not sure how much you'd have to fight hat though.

Are you sure thre is no relaxing of the rules in the summer? I ahve worked at state secondaries and in the summer, once deemed warm enough, the schools normally relaxed the tie rules and that gies and they are allowed top button open, and jumpers/blazers don;t have to be worn except for hometime/arriving.

At high school we used ot have "tie off day" in the summer term, and after that day you could take off your tie and unbutton your collar.

Ours is really flexible.

Boys;

Grey/Navy/Black trousers or shorts
White/Royal Blue polo shirt/t-shirt/normal shirt
Royal Blue sweatshirt with school logo (obv not in summer)

Girls;

Grey/Navy/Black skirt/pinafore/trousers or checked summer dress
Rest as for boys.

But there is also a cardigan with the school crest which dd wears.

But there is also a cardigan with the school crest which dd wears.

nope they definately have to wear shirt and tie all summer. they are 5 ffs! school seem very strict about the uniform...

right so not leaglly compulsory, interesting...

I think every state junior school in this town has polo shirts(although at some have the options of shirts and tie) Very silly not to IMO, as there is no way I would be ironing shirts, and my DC's would definately not be looking smart!

At my kids' secondary the girls used to be able to wear summer blouses, with rever (sp?) collars and short sleeves; they stopped that - they can have short sleeves still, but has to be proper shirt with tie. (Same for girls and boys though, so that is at least equal!)

Maybe it is just me being rubbish at laundry but I find the white polo shirts look grubby very quickly, and DC's feel they are hotter than the cotton or polycotton shirts. Ours are allowed to leave off the tie on the hottest day and they have grey loose legged shorts for the summer.

Have you never heard of shirt sleeve order!?

<grumble, grumble ... what is the modern world coming to ... grumble, grumble>

I love having boys - uniform is so much easier.
At our primary boys have - polo shirt, sweatshirt, trousers. Younger ones have shorts in summer.
girls have - polo shirt, sweatshirt, cardigan, burgundy polo shirt dress, checked summer dress, skirt, pinafore, trousers, ... Most of them have all of the possibilities!

It always horrifies me when people want to do away with the uniform, it makes life so much simpler and stops all arguments. It also stops DCs going to school in totally inappropriate clothing, which is what would happen in some cases. I know a school near here where they don't wear uniform and it states very clearly on their web site that there are to be no brand names, if you go to the school it is widely ignored. It opens DCs to bullying if they don't wear the 'in' thing. Boys wear shorts in the summer and short sleeved shirts-I would call that a summer uniform.

Don't know where you live but up here in the frozen north I think I'd rather wear a shirt and tie in "summer" than a flimsy dress....

I chose DDs primary school on a criteria that girl's uniform included trousers as an option.
I saw one girl's school that said "skirts must be 20 inches long"
WHAT?!
Was this designed by a MAN with a thing for teenage girls? What if you were very tall?!

I think it's bonkers that some schools have the summer dress as "mandatory" for the summer term.
The girls down our way are wearing the dress with thick tights and jumpers as it is so cold, how silly is that?
At my school there was a dress but it was optional.
Boys could wear short sleeved shirts.
Blazers optional for girls but mandatory for the boys if outside.

I wouldn't send my children to a primary school that made five years olds wear ties unless I absolutely had to. At their old school they had the standard grey trousers/shorts/skirt (for girls) with red school polo shirt, and then school sweatshirt/cardigan. The girls could wear a summer dress but ds never even wanted to wear shorts!

Well having looked at the 'lovely' polyester/viscose/ manmade fibre dresses that are in general stock in all the shop saround I think I prefer dd to wear a cool cotton shirt or polo shirt. The dresses look and feel hideous. Any ideas where they sell cotton ones or even cotton material that doesnt cost the earth?

As far as I'm aware no primary school can enforce any uniform rules.

DD's school states that girls may wear trousers only in cases of severe weather. Well she always wears trousers and nobody has ever said anything. She's the only girl who does though.

I also send her in a checked blouse rather than the regulation polo shirt or plain blouse as I think it looks smarter.

cotton dresses on ebay, tarantula (only in red or blue though)

My mother used this caveat to avoid sending us to school in uniform. It was awful. We stood out like sore thumbs in the kilts that my mother thought were so much nicer than the admitedly nasty full school unifom with tie and blazer. I would never ever do that to my children. We were teased horribly but were never able to tell my mother about it as she thought we looked so nice

i wasn't suggesting not sending them in uniform, just wondering how best to approach the school with the idea of giving the option of polo shirts or open neck shirts during the summer for boys

my dd wore her shorts and polo to school today, just as cool as a summer dress

At the DCs school the boys wear aertex shirts and shorts in the summer - they are the type that have a collar not made for a tie and are flat at the bottom so can be worn tucked in or tucked out. (the just wear plain cotton shirts but no ties in the winter).

In the winter the girls wear divided skirts and thick, brightly coloured tights. I like that as it means they can do cartwheels/climb up the climbing frame without uneccessary modestly.

Hi beautifuldays I think you should go for it. Uniforms should be child friendly. Polo shirt based uniforms are great IMO. Cheap and easy for parents, allow a range of trousers/skirts etc (great if you have a non standard shaped child or want a non polyester alternative), reduce peer pressure and easily smart enough for primary.

i will ask etc etc but i think the school are going to be very resistant. they are very proud of their uniform.

but i just think shirts and ties in summer is daft. and sexist. daft bloody school

oh and i am not sending them to that school through choice. it is the school at the end of the road, and we didn't get offered a place anywhere else.

they have a reputation for being a bit <<ahem>> posh. hence the shirts and ties for 5year olds......