Changes to uniform- how much notice?

[mantaray]

How much notice should a school (primary) give of changing the uniform.

Last week we received a letter explaining that the school uniform will be changing, we have until January to buy all the new stuff.
I am a little cross as the week before the letter arrived, I went out and bought all the old style uniform- 4 special school blouses (£10 each), tights in old colours etc. I also bought 2 sweatshirts in the old colours in the summer term.

So, is a term adequate for the school to give the parents time to re-buy everything? Some parents seem to think a school needs to give more notice. There was nothing in the summer term that mentioned a change in uniform.

[trickerg]

They should allow a transition period then. Lots of people will have bought the old style. Is it very different?

[LadyPinkofPinkerton]

It seems a bit crap that they didn't tell you before the summer hols. Surely most people will have bought uniform by now.

[bran]

We were told a fortnight before the end of summer term what the new uniform would be for this September, but we were given plenty of warning that it would change. I think we were told well before Easter holidays, and then there was a survey to find out the type of new uniform parents wanted.

I think it's a bit off to change the uniform in January, it's bloody hard to buy school uniform after September. DS changed school last year in October and it was quite a struggle to get some of it.

[roisin]

I think it's pretty outrageous that the uniform supplier is selling the old-style blouses that are about to become obsolete.

Most people buy uniform before the final week of the hols, so will have just bought a complete set that they expect to last all year.

In those circumstances I think the school should allow children to wear the old style for the whole year.

Is it a complete major change, or just a tweak?

If it's a complete change (therefore marking out children whose parents can't easily afford to splash out on a complete new set), then they should delay the new uniform for a whole 12 months IMO.

I would be writing to the Chair of Govs immediately.

[roisin]

If a school is changing uniform for 1 September, I think they should tell parents by Easter hols at the latest.

[NoahFence]

hi roisin
its ME
ds starts on wed!

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[mantaray]

Thank you all for the replies. I have a letter drafted and I just wanted to check that I wasn't being unreasonable in my thoughts that more time was needed.

Nothing had been mentioned previously about the impending change. I even bought new sweatshirts in June last term.

The uniform is a complete change. Some of the change makes it more financially feasable, one can now go to Tescos etc to get shirts/blouses eyc. Other stuff needs to be bought from the school which is fair enough. I don't mind that. It was obvious when we went to the school suppliers that thye had no idea, a fellow mum had been in the day before and also purchased the old style stuff. A week or so later we get the 'all change' letter.

I'm most disgruntled that I bought the old stuff before we went on holiday and attempting to avoid the last minute rush. I then washed it all, ironed and put the lables in so no chance of taking it back- 40 quid on 4 shirts!!

Thanks again.

[faraday]

There was a huge hoohah at the private Lutheran College near where I lived in Oz: They changed their uniform more often than Man Utd- and it was a COMPLETE change, nothing interchangeable and all only purchasable from the school- and a term in which to do the change! The school were ALMOST open about it being a money making exercise for them until finally enough parental pressure caused them to make the tiny concession of a year's grace in the old uniform, though of course that came with a destruction of the very reason we HAVE uniform- the avoid differentiating rich from poor, so the wealthier families could afford to change on cue, the poorer were stuck in the old uniform for a year...!

[roisin]

Hiya Noah! Is he nervous? Have you sewn in all his nametapes beautifully? (I got my mum to do ours, whilst I ironed, cos I'm so hopelessly slow!)

I can't believe how much ds1 grew up and matured in the first month or so. He's so independent now.

[mumoverseas]

We got a letter at the beginning of July to say the uniform was changing With regards to the changes of PE kit, we have a year to phase it in but with regards to the school skirt and a sweatshirt the new ones must be worn in September. I was very annoyed as I'd bought new uniform in June, just before they advised of the change.

[DesperateHousewifeToo]

We had a year whilst both options were acceptable - the old uniform and the new (logos added to sports kit and jumpers).
From this september, only the new kit will be acceptable.

I think this is a good way to do it.

[Smithagain]

That's outrageous!

Our uniform changed a few years ago, when three schools merged into one. They allowed a one year transition period and the basics (shirts, trousers, skirts etc) stayed the same. Most people did buy at least part of the new uniform, but there was no pressure.

I thought a year was pretty standard, if nothing else for the benefit of the Yr6s, who can't reasonably be expected to have a whole new kit for just three terms.