Why does my DD's coat have to be Black or Navy?

[firsttimemama]

My DC's primary school has a Navy/Grey school uniform. I abide by the school uniform rules. In the past couple of years they have stated that coats's must also be Black or Navy. DD is Yr 6 I cannot see the sense in this. Given their expense I do not want to buy two winter coats I want to buy a coat that my DD will want to wear and therefore not look for every excuse under the sun not to wear it. I have bought a dark green winter coat for her. I am loathed to purchase another one for the last few winter months at this school. AIBU?

[MrsWooster]

Yanbu
There are debatable benefits to uniform but coats is going too far. Also a massive pita, adding to inevitable cloakroom mixups

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Because the person making the rule is a muppet.

[golfbuggy]

Assuming this is a state school, then yes I agree it is OTT, and wouldn't bother to buy another one, not least of which because your DD is likely to refuse to wear the one she has pretty soon if DD and her friends are anything to go buy.

[firsttimemama]

Yes, and I do not think it is the safest option in the dark evenings. The deputy head told her on Friday afternoon that she needed a new coat by Monday.

[BertieBotts]

It's stupidly unsafe. Though dark green doesn't have the visibility excuse!

[smellyboot]

Do they not have teaching to focus on and not get stupid about what DC wear too and from school? We get a lot of hand me down coats so mine wear what they have. No state school near us (there are tonsh has a policy on coats. Ignore them

[firsttimemama]

It is a state school. I went with the dark green option as I thought it was a least a nod to the dark request, and it is practical, and she chose it which helps with her wearing it. It's the overall dark rule that I think is a nonsense, there was a nice cream one that she liked but I did not choose that so as not to be deliberately provocative but yes the green does not help with visability. My DH thinks I should get her a Navy or Black coat.

[AuntieStella]

YABU.

It's not a 'nod' to anything, other than to a breach of the rules.

If you think the rule is wrong, then usually the most effective way to negotiate is via the PTA representing the parent body.

If she's happy with dark green, I really can't see why she's not OK with dark blue as well.

I agree with your DH and until the rule is changed she needs another coat. Plus reflective tabard, slap bands or whatever (for both school and mufti coat as each are dark)


PS: in year 6 she's nearly a teen and win my be wearing a coat anyhow. So it's better to have a school uniform compliant one for times when there is need, rather than a different one which will just never ever be worn

[Bloopbleep]

Can you not get a cheap black waterproof shell to put over the green coat?

[PotteringAlong]

Yabu - you knew the rules and chose to ignore them. If you'd just got a black or navy coat in the first place you wouldn't need to buy two

[smellyboot]

I really don't get where people think it's acceptable for state schools to dictate coat colour. We get given coats by people. Mine wear what we have.
Why should every one go out and buy a cheap one as well just for school?
So they all look the same in the playground??
It's a coat. It has no bearing on their education.
Do they insist on skirts for girls too?????

[firsttimemama]

auntie Stella she will wear a winter coat outside of school as we spend time on football sidelines and make a point of spending time outside. She needed a new coat this winter I bought her one that has growing room so will do her for next year too. I did not want to buy one that that was only worn on school days for a matter of months. I do not see why a school needs to have a policy on an outdoor coat. The school is spectacularly slow at responding to matters that are not high on their agenda.

[DirtyBlonde]

Ever been a parent volunteer on a school trip?

After doing that, you'll wish the school insisted on identical coats, not just any coat in either of two colours.

[firsttimemama]

I did not want to spend a not insignificant amount of money on a coat my daughter did not want or like.

[smellyboot]

School trips are occasional tho. Our school uses bibs for trips to bust places where KS1 DC need to be visible. By yr6 that doesn't apply.

[smellyboot]

Silly rules. I guess OP what will they do if you ignore them?

[firsttimemama]

Not sure smelly. My DH is thinking I will be in the national newspapers next week with another of those "exclusion" stories!

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

If it does end up there, make sure you do good sad faces

[ageingrunner]

I would ignore the school on this tbh

[Wolfiefan]

The school has uniform rules. Either work with other parents to see if the school will change it or get your kid to wear the uniform coat.
I personally think it's a daft rule but I wouldn't just go against it.

[ThatStewie]

Unless the school plans pnvbuying the coats, ignore them. And, frankly, a school that requires children inidentikit coats so as not to lose them on the occasional field trip has far bigger problems with their incompetence than children wearing coats that parents can AFFORD to buy.

[firsttimemama]

Yes I think the field trip thing is a non issue - they have just been away for a week on PGL and 86 of them managed to come home safely. I'm glad I have some other parents on my side that Uniform coats are just unnecessary.

[smellyboot]

We are blessed with a school with a flexible sensible uniform policy. Logo or non logo. Trousers for girls if they want. Any shoes are fine. Trainers are fine too esp on PE days. Boots are fine in winter. Any white tshirt and dark shorts or in fact any other is fine for PE. Got a child that refuses to wear x colour clothes? Never mind, not an issue.
Very high performing state school. Lots of high performing state schools don't have obsessive strict uniform.
Maybe that's why I don't get the total obsession with identikit kids by some schools.

[TooTweeOrNotTooTwee]

On the visibility issue, I would go for a coat that meets the colour requirements, but has reflector strips. Appreciate that doesn't address the cost point though.

[StillRabbit]

I'm assuming your child will be going to a secondary school with a uniform policy? All the secondaries around here have strict policies that include coats (and any hats, scarves, gloves etc.) so you will still have this 'problem' next year.

My children's primary insisted on black or navy coats so that is what my children had - hardly a hardship that their winter coat is navy or black (with reflective bits). My own main winter coat is also black - it's practical.