an interesting twist on the school uniform debate

[Blandmum]

I work in a local comp. Nothing post about it, but we have always had quite a formal uniform, blazer and shirt and tie, skirt or trousers. All available from BHS etc. Nothing post, but formal.

For the first time ever we have relaxed the uniform. They kids have been allowed to wear their sports polo shirts and their sports sweat shirts if they wish.

I would estimate that 75%-60% of the kids are still in the formal outfit. The 'new' outfir is already owned by the kids for sports so there are few finiacial constraints on families.

Last night there was a parents consultation evening, overwhelmigly they have asked for a return to 'formal only' uniform

[roisin]

Our kids hate the shirts and ties, and it's always a constant battle to try and persuade them to wear them in a "tidy and smart" manner.

In the summer term if they wish they can wear a school coloured polo shirt. Almost all do, and they look much smarter in the polos than in the white shirts.

Our school uniform all has to have logos on, including the shirts and the trousers! It's very expensive - c.£200 to kit out a new yr7 pupil
And we don't have a blazer and that's not including footwear! I don't know how they get away with it.

[Blandmum]

I know that battle so well! And also hate it. Given that the kids obviously don't want to waer a collar and tie I thought that they would all take to this new more relaxed uniform. But they don't seem to.....I suppose their parents could be putting pressure on them, but I somehow doubt it.

[Blandmum]

FWIW I also prefert the polo option with the seatshirt if worn properly. Thing is kids are now pusing further, coming in hoodies, wearing trainers etc.

[Blandmum]

sweatshirt. Shheesh!

[tallulah]

One of our local high schools went from poloshirt and sweatshirt to blazer shirt and tie. Did wonders for their discipline problems....

[Blandmum]

It tends to, which is why I was surprised at our change in uniform for the summer. It is also nteresting that most ofthe kids have not changed and that many of those who have are now pressing the uniform limits still further!

[glassofwine]

Our school has shirt & tie as part of winter uniform, polo shirts for boys and summer dresses for girls in the summer. The winter uniform is hated by kids and parents alike, mostly due to time spent in the morning. I wish we'd go for something simpler, but interesting about discipline.

[MerlinsBeard]

was about to post that the change from polo shirt back to shirt/tie/.blazer has turned around my old high school. had a bad reputaion but now is very good and behaviour of the children is massivly improved

[GeorginaA]

I wonder how much of it, mb, is people's inherent dislike of change - even if it's for the better.

I've noticed our local school (which is known for taking on new initiatives with verve and enthusiasm, so surely parents signing up for it must know this - has excellent ofsteds as a result) does ANYTHING different to try and improve things and there's always mutterings in the playground.

[Blandmum]

I'm just amazed that the kids haven't taken to it.

[mrsbang]

Interesting about the discipline issue. The school with the worst reputation in our local area is the one that allows poloshirts and sweatshirts.

FWIW my Yr 7 ds likes the shirt/tie and blazer (even irons his own shirts lol).

His former primary school uniform was poloshirt and sweatshirt (discipline is very good at this school) but once the children are in Y6 they wear shirt and tie and the children love the difference.

[jampots]

i prefer the shirt/tie combo. Ds's previous school had polo/sweat uniform and none of them looked smart. Also fair share of trouble children. His new school is shirt/tie and it would appear from this first year (year 4) that the children are incredibly well behaved and wear their uniform with pride.

Interesting though that your children dont seem to want the relaxed uniform though

[brimfull]

My dd school (local comp) has a fairly strict unifrom,blazer,shirt and tie (boys only),black skirt or trousers .They are making it even stricter next yr by insisting on a particular style of trouser/skirt and blazer.It is to combat the girls who wear hipster trousers ,skinny jumpers and shirts that ride up to expose their midriff.
I heartily approve of the changes,dd thinks it stinks of course.

[scienceteacher]

What do they wear for PE if they are wearing their polo shirts for regular classes?

[Blandmum]

a clean polo shirt.

This has been an issue with some kids

[Twiglett]

uniform - good
no uniform - bad

there, that's that sorted then

[Blandmum]

Ah, but it would seem that for the kids an the parents it is also Formal uniform Better!

I'm not surprised that the parents think this, but I am surprised that the kids are not pussing their parents to get into the more relaxrd uniform

[mixed]

"sure, that is why the disicpline in schools in my country is so bad" says is very anti school uniform mum who is quickly leaving MN (to have a lay-down...)

[tigermoth]

mb, very odd, I agree. Could it be that children have created a 'cool' way of wearing the tie and shirt? If the cool brigade hasn't yet given a thumbs up to polo shirts the rest of the children are playing safe. In our school, boys wear their ties short with a loose knot, so they look more like cravats - this is the way to look cool apparently :)#


Also, could it be anything to do with the weather? Compared to polo shirts, ties and collars are uncomfortable in hot weather - wonder what will happen when the temperature rises?

[Blandmum]

but the polo shirt can be worn with the school sweatshirt if it gets cooler.

I am at a loss to understand it. I'm sort of assuming the parents, prefering the formal rig are insisting on it.....but these are teenagers and I'm not sure how well that would work

[SaintGeorge]

Same thing happens with adults too.

DH has to wear collar and tie for work. In spring the are allowed to lose the tie and have open collars on a Friday. By summer they can ditch the ties all together.

Do they? - do they hell, everyone still turns up strangled by tight collars and ties and then complains about the heat. Including DH.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

The local secondary school could have a nice uniform if worn properly but in the main it just looks awful. Many of these children seem to take no real pride in wearing it. Many of the girls in particular look cheap and nasty; many of their black skirts barely cover their bum. Why the school let them wear skirts that short is beyond me tbh.

[wessexgirl]

Pupils at a comprehensive local to me have requested a more formal uniform. The other 3 local schools have blazers & ties and they claim to be taken less seriously in their polo shirts. The uniform thing will keep on going full circle until it's abandoned completely, I reckon.

[motherinferior]

Ah, you see they've been brainwashed and are moving robotically through the day now, incapable of thinking outside the strictures of jacket and tie

That's what uniform does to you. Be afraid, be very afraid

[Twiglett]

I refer you to my post of 8:12:05am