To be put off a school by it's uniform?

[SnugglyButterflySnuggler]

I know I probably am UR.

DD is 3.4 and we're applying for schools for her. Ready for her to start next September. She has a few SN so even though technically we have a choice (she has an EHCP) we actually don't as there's only 2 primaries schools (out of 6) in our town that are willing to take her with her specific issues.

The closest school to us that would take herI hate the uniform. It's a state school but they insist on blazers from the January of reception year all the way through to year 6. No pinafores or trousers for girls, skirts only. No shorts for boys only trousers. No polo shirts for anything other than PE, full button up shirts and ties. It just seems so formal for such young children. It's an oversubscribed school so it looks like the parents don't agree. I just can't imagine trying to battle DD into a shirt and tie everyday. The website says children are only permitted to remove blazers if a teacher says they can, even the local high school isn't that strict! (HS has blazers but they don't have to be worn at all after Easter and up until then the individual child is allowed to choose when they take it off) This is actually our closest school even if DD didn't have SN, so this is likely were we'll be allocated.

So AIBU to be put off a school by it's uniform, and is there anything I can about it? I am going to put the other school down as first choice, but I don't think we'll get it as we're just outside of it's catchment for the last 3 years and SN in catchment come above SN out of catchment for that school

[Happydoingitjusttheonce]

Seriously?

[Only1scoop]

[HousefulOfBoysNow]

Yes YABU.

The secondary school ours are going to has an awful uniform - yellow. But it's the best school in the County so we just have to suck it up.

[Ginormoustrawberry]

#nowords

[Splinterz]

I bet its oversubscribed though? Some parents like certain standards.

[juddyrockingcloggs]

What’s the ofsted report like and what is the general consensus amongst parents whose children are already there? I would say that that is more important than the uniform they wear. I am battling to get my son (year 1) moves into the second closest school to us due to the one he is in at the moment failing in every area including bullying and the one I want him to move to have shirts ties and blazers - that comes secondary to his actual education.

I think you Abu.

[Sirzy]

To be honest as the Mum of a child with SN I think it would make me at least approach with caution.

Not so much the uniform itself but the seeming lack of flexibility and other issues that may come along with that sort of attitude.

[juddyrockingcloggs]

*moved

[ObscuredbyFog]

If she's likely to have sensory issues, go with whichever school's uniform will irritate her the least, or one you can adapt for her.

[TheHungryDonkey]

YANBU. Uniform is usually a massive deal for children with Sen. I wouldn’t pick a school with an over zealous blazer policy, especially with any sensory processing difficulties for example.

Two of the Ofsted outstanding schools we’ve put down for next year have a polo T shirt and sweatshirt uniform. That was a big consideration with out application without an EHCP.

[Starlighter]

It would definitely put me off! I like smart uniform but this seems overkill!

But if it’s a great school in every other way, then maybe it’s worth putting up with...

[HaHaHmm]

Unless you feel that the uniform is indicative of a deeper ethos that you dislike, then yes, YWBU to dismiss on the basis of uniform alone. Have you visited? Is it a calm, happy environment? Are the children happy and settled? What do you think of the SENCO?

Don’t worry to much about wrestling DD into the uniform. She will copy the other children and it will soon become normal. My DD goes to a school with a similarly formal uniform (although the blazer is optional) and the children manage just fine.

[SpinMill]

I don't agree with such a formal uniform for young children, but I wouldn't have thought there was anything you could do about it, if you choose to send dd there then you have to adhere to their rules.
Unless dd's SN mean she can't wear the uniform for some reason?
It would put me off too if I'm honest.

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

Given a choice, wouldn't go anywhere near a primary school with that attitude to uniform. My eldest has sensory issues and it was hard enough getting him into standard trousers/polo shirt/sweatshirt uniform. A blazer would have induced meltdowns and he'd have been very very unhappy.

This is a ridiculous expectation for a primary school. YANBU at all.

[SnugglyButterflySnuggler]

Yes it's oversubscribed. I have visited it, and it seemed ok in every other sense I just didn't like seeing all the little 4 and 5 year olds in blazers, seemed an expensive waste of money and overzealously strict to me.

DD has a Sensory Processing Disorder and can only wear soft fabrics. She just about compromises on things like skirts or trousers, but Tshirts have to be soft cotton. Senco said that it would be a problem if she couldn't wear the uniform because the head is of the attitude that if they do it for one then the others will want it.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Glasgow's best state school has no uniform.

[RidiculousDiversion]

I think that sort of uniform is often a new regime trying to make its mark in a visible way, rather than being up for a long, hard slog of real change and improvement that's less visible (but more important - about teaching and learning and pastoral care).

So yes, it would put me off.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Of course you should avoid! Any school with a ridiculous uniform is doing it in the hope people will avoid, blazers are more expensive than jumpers, so the hope is that the poor won't apply.

If you simply didn't like the colour, that would be unreasonable, but ridiculous uniform rules are very much a reflection of the whole school ethos.

Avoid!

[LittleDorritt]

It would totally put me off. I hate stupid draconian rules like that. You can bet your life that the teachers take off their jumpers or cardis if they are a bit warm, but heaven forbid a child takes off their blazer to be more comfortable.

[CakeNinja]

I would not apply based on the fact that boys cannot wear shorts when they're hot and girls can't wear trousers in the winter
I'm all for uniforms and like my dc to look smart for school, but bollocks like that is just archaic and like a step back in time!

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

It would put me off, comfort and practicality (and low cost) should be the main considerations when it comes to uniform.

My dd has SPD and I would not send her to a school with such a ridiculous uniform policy, it would not be worth it.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Oh and even more if they won't even make a reasonable adjustment for your kid, because the head isn't able to deal with different rules for different kids.

Reasonable adjustments for individual needs is what everywhere should be doing (from schools to jobs to anything), that they can't says very bad things about it, their over-subscribed-ness is because they get results by chasing everyone out surely.

[BubblesBuddy]

Will the EHCP not be reviewed and a suitable school named on it? So you could get any school you want and they have to meet her needs. It’s illeagal not to. Some parents like a formal uniform. My DDs wore one without problems and it’s just the norm if you have no choice.

[TheHungryDonkey]

You are going to have problems with that school and probably more than just the uniform.

I totally understand the sensory processing thing with fabrics.

The mainstream secondary school I put for first preference - Ofsted outstanding and oversubscribed with just logoed polo shirt - the Senco said they gave out the logo pattern for parents to find the right soft white polo shirt and get it printed themselves because they understood about the feel of the fabric.

I suspect the school you are talking about wouldn’t recgnise the Equality Act If they were hit over the head with it.

[Beeziekn33ze]

What is the point of a blazer except to impress? Overpriced, uncomfortable and outdated.