no school uniform

[rhubarb2010]

can anyone tell me which primary schools in south Wales or Forest of Dean area don't have uniforms?

I really don't want my son to have to wear a uniform next year when he starts school and we do have some flexibility about where to live.

[scurryfunge]

State primaries cannot enforce a uniform code anyway, so your DC could wear anything.

[rhubarb2010]

does that mean he couldnt get into trouble for wearing ordinary clothes?

[scurryfunge]

Yes, though if many choose to wear the uniform he might feel a little left out.

[ampere]

Bit of an arbitrary thing to be selecting a school on, maybe?

I guess you must feel really strongly about it!

[pooka]

Am not mad keen on the fact that the dcs now wear uniform - they go to the same school I did 30 years ago, and when I went there uniform was optional to the extent that by and large people chose not to wear it.

However - doesn't half make mornings easier, particularly now dd is 7 and rather more inclined to be influenced by what other children are wearing than she was when she first started school.

I think it madness to be basing your school choice on the basis of uniform/no uniform. It's not that big a deal in the long run, particularly in comparison to other elements of the school that may be outstanding and amazing. Also you'll be severely reducing the pool of schools from which to choose.

[Ixia]

I hate school uniforms, but I don't think it's fair to send your DS in normal clothes. My DD is v. keen on her uniform and would be horrified if I made her different from the herd.

The best compromise is a school that has a dress code, rather than a strict - you must buy our logoed sweatshirt- policy. Our school uniform is grey bottoms, red or white tops, sensible shoes, no trainers. There is a school sweatshirt/polo/coat, but it is totally optional.

[pooka]

Our's also relaxed in that respect - grey/black bottoms (skirt or trousers). White polo shirt (no need to get the logoed one). Green or grey jumper or cardigan.

[rhubarb2010]

I would never push my child to wear ordinary clothes if everyone was wearing uniform, but equally if said he didnt want to wear a uniform i certainly wouldnt push him to and I would think good for him.

I wouldn't base my choice of school solely on its uniform policy, but I do think the uniform policy does say a lot about the school. And I certainly don't want a school that teaches children all to conform to mindless rules.

It seems really hard to find state schools without uniform nowadays. so maybe the best to hope for is a dress code. Can anyone suggest schools with a dress code rather than a strict uniform.

[SE13Mummy]

I teach at (and my DD attends) a school that has an optional uniform. She was desperate to wear uniform an so she does. The Governors have recently responded to requests from parents for a change to a compulsory/expected uniform and although the parents voted for a uniform, the children didn't and so it's remaining optional.

At my previous school there was no uniform until I'd been there a couple of years and it was introduced. Within 6 months every child was wearing it.

Please don't select/discount a school on uniform. Schools change, uniform policies change and although there are many parents who believe that wearing a uniform 'stifles creativity and individuality' I have never witnessed any such thing. The children at my previous school were individuals whether or not they wore a red jumper and doing so didn't restrict them in any way.

What uniform did do for them was help them realise that they belonged to a community with rules and expectations and that regardless of what they did outside of that community (swear, beat people up, yell at adults, wee up walls etc.) when they were dressed as a member of our school community they had responsibilities to behave in particular ways.

Uniform/school colours is a great leveller; I attended a primary school that had no uniform (not even a school colour/optional uniform) and was desperate to be the same as everyone else. I stuck out like a sore thumb in my Clarks shoes and gingham dresses whilst everyone else wore jelly shoes and shiny nylon character t-shirts. When I went to secondary school I loved the anonymity of uniform - I couldn't wear the 'wrong' thing and so would only stick out from the crowd if I wanted to. Non-uniform days were painful experiences though.

I don't have particularly strong feelings about uniform/non-uniform but I do think you may be missing some good schools if you discount any where children choose their own clothes.

[pooka]

I remember the dragging feeling in my stomach when non-uniform days arrived at secondary school. It was weird, I didn't even really want the clothes the more domineering girls were wearing. They looked uncomfortable and I was pretty hung up on my own modesty" - not at all comfortable in my own skin and painfully aware that my clothes were not fashionable (even though I wasn't really interested in fashion).

But there was the horrible moment in registration when outfits were picked apart, derided, sneered at. :(

[Saracen]

"I would never push my child to wear ordinary clothes if everyone was wearing uniform, but equally if said he didnt want to wear a uniform i certainly wouldnt push him to and I would think good for him.

I wouldn't base my choice of school solely on its uniform policy, but I do think the uniform policy does say a lot about the school. And I certainly don't want a school that teaches children all to conform to mindless rules."

Are you sure you don't want to home educate? You have that sound about you.

If your child is at school, there will be many school rules you won't agree with. Rules are necessary to keep a large institution functioning smoothly. To a particular child on a particular occasion, many of those rules may seem mindless. Uniform may be the most obvious, but it is only the start. Avoid the uniform and you will still find plenty of other issues to wind you up: homework, discipline, (un)authorised absence to name a few.

It isn't really possible for one or two adults to manage dozens of four year olds while paying much attention to their individuality. I think you may find that the school you are looking for doesn't exist.

Have a look around, by all means. And also have a chat with some home educating parents. No uniforms here, and ALL the rules make sense! (If they don't, you can change them.)

[marialuisa]

Rhubarb-if you can stretch your preferred area the Steiner Academy in Much Dewchurch doesn't have a uniform (although stripes and holes are very "in"). You'd have to buy into the steiner bit too though.

Can't think of any schools in that particular area without a semblance of uniform. Maybe Cwm-Du near Abergavenny if it's still open?

[dikkertjedap]

I agree with previous posters, I wouldn't base school choice on whether they have an uniform or not. I myself am not keen on uniform mainly because it gives me a lot of extra work because I have to scour shops and internet sides to get cotton clothes and then find a place to have them embroidered with logo (expensive) and have to make trousers myself.

However, dd loves it. She is really proud of herself in her uniform. And having now seen how catty some of the little girls can be, I think that uniforms might reduce the risk of bullying/teasing in relation to what clothes you wear.

[seeker]

I honestly think whether or not there's a uniform tells you absolutely nothing about whethere the children have to conform to mindless rules. I would think about other rules you might not like - there are very few primary schools in this country that dont't have uniform and you'll be limiting your choice very severely if this is an important criterion for you.

[ShoshanaBlue]

There's a local high school here that doesn't have a uniform and not many people want to send their children to it. Without exception, they all wear Nike....

[piscesmoon]

I agree they make their own uniform if they don't have one-it is a minefield of 'everyone wears.....' and it generally costs a lot! Much simpler to have a uniform and not have to compete in the 'fashion stakes'. I know some good primary schools that don't have uniform, but the majority have one. It is very unimportant. I shouldn't get bogged down in trivialities-go into schools, get the feel and ask the questions.

[civil]

I went to a primary school with no school uniform, and it did convey a nice, creative atmosphere on the place. However, there are very few schools without a uniform now.

[cory]

I never saw the point of uniform myself, but I would need to know more about a school than that before I made my mind up. Better a good school with engaging stimulating staff and a boring uniform, than a less good school without. Not worth sweating imho. All schools have lots of rules (just like families do but on a larger scale), and there will always be some that seem silly to you.

[camaleon]

Rhubarb,
I am sorry I cannot help with your request, but I do agree with you and I believe uniforms speak volumes about places. However, it is very difficult to find a non-uniform place. Hopefully you will find someone able to guide you on this one. Good luck

[gorionine]

Where I come from children do not wear school uniform and I think they are missing on something quite important.

Rather than just make children follow a mindless rule, the uniform gives them pride and a sense of belonging to the schol community.

As parent I also think it is so much easier in the morning to just KNOW what they will wear and TBH I think that it financially makes sense as well.

I do not know a single school here that does not have a uniform, although, as a previous poster mentionned they are not compulsory in primary school and you could choose if you wanted to not send your Dc in a school uniform.

[piscesmoon]

Of course you can go against the tide and send your DC in whatever you choose, but I pity the poor child who is sacrificed for the mother's convictions. They want to blend in at that age. What they wear is really just about bottom in the list in finding a good school.

[anonymousbird]

I'm with Pixie and everything she said.

Think about it...

[DiscoDaisy]

All our schools have uniform but I do laugh on non uniform days. All the children seem to dress the same in mufti ie jeans, t shirt and hoodie. It's just changing one uniform for another.

[piscesmoon]

It has to be a very confident DC who wears something different, to the norm, on non uniform day -or those whose mothers want them to be different-the DCs don't.