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Insane school uniform rules

153 replies

Incredulousme · 19/04/2018 09:35

I have two DC's at secondary school. My DD is year 10 and DS year 8. It's a great school all round (outstanding Ofsted) apart from their insane rules regarding school uniform.

Uniform for girls

White short sleeved shirt with tie, scotch plaid pleated skirt (only allowed slightly above knee) and jumper. Thick black tights (must be plain and not see-through) Girls have the option to wear grey trousers.

Uniform for boys

White short sleeved shirt with tie, grey trousers and jumper.

My argument is this, two complaints if you like. Girls are not allowed to wear ankle socks or indeed any kind of socks with the skirts and have to wear ridiculously thick tights (thick because thin are see-through which is against rules) all year round. Great in winter but on very hot days you can only imagine how horrible this is and how sweaty and sore they can get.

My second gripe is that neither boys or girls are allowed to take their jumpers off when walking around (inside) school. They are to be kept on at all times when moving between lessons, queuing for lunch and in the dining hall. They are also to be worn in the library. If they are too hot in class they must ask permission to remove it but must put it back on before leaving that particular classroom. They are allowed to remove them outside at break.

AIBU to think this is insane? With regards to the 'tights rule' for girls I have asked on several occasions about the possibility of socks with skirts but told that this is out of the question as sometimes the children are required to sit on the floor. I agree my DD could wear the trousers but why should she have to?

They both came home yesterday melting (yes I know it's lovely sunshine) having worn jumpers most of the day. It's a very busy school and the corridors are packed at lesson change times yet they are forced to wear jumpers!!!! It's mad surely???

The library is a great place for revision but I'm sure having to sit in a jumper on hot days does not make it a very comfortable experience. And yes, I do believe in rules and more than happy to adhere to most but sometimes a little common sense is needed.

OP posts:
Incredulousme · 19/04/2018 09:36

BTW I fully agree that skirts should be only just above the knee, my DD's is just below as she is small and they only come in two lengths.

OP posts:
Aprilmightbemynewname · 19/04/2018 09:37

My dd's friend got an hours detention yesterday as her hair bobble was red not black. .
Nothing surprises me regarding far fetched school rules tbh.

FrLukeDuke · 19/04/2018 09:42

I agree those rules are ridiculous. Dd can wear ankle socks and doesn't have to wear the jumper in the summer term.

Slievenamon · 19/04/2018 09:44

I don't think there that bad. My secondary the girls are not allowed to wear tights or trousers, you have the option of either.

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 19/04/2018 09:45

it's a joke.
Just think how well they could do if they put as much effort into behaviour management and pastoral care as they did into policing what socks girls wear,
The waste of staff time is startling.

katand2kits · 19/04/2018 10:27

Tights in summer is insane. Thrush and cystitis recipe.

SpartacusTheCat · 19/04/2018 10:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

upsideup · 19/04/2018 10:33

I dont think the tights rule is insane, she can wear trousers like the boys if she wants, they dont get the option to have bare legs in the summer.
Keeping the jumper on in summer though is.

ScattyCharly · 19/04/2018 10:38

www.figleaves.com/uk/figleaves-50-denier-2-pack-velvet-opaques-hold-ups/627294.html?c=ppc&src=gguk_feed&PRODUCT+GROUP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg5jQ8YTG2gIV8hbTCh1o4g3LEAQYASADEgJ28PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMum5vWExtoCFZQj0wod99kPmA

What about some pull ups like these
Then her thighs and underwear area can breathe but it won’t be visible that they aren’t proper tights

Aussiebean · 19/04/2018 10:43

Most schools have a parent forum and a school council with a parent representative.

Go along to that, and reach out to the council rep.

I would word it that a strict uniform policy is a good idea, but the actual uniform needs to be addressed. The uniform in winter is fine, but that adjustments should be made for summer terms.

Maybe even get some examples of local schools in the area whose uniform does that. Particularly focus on the schools main competition.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 19/04/2018 10:44

I wonder how many pupils have passed out from the heat.

JessieMcJessie · 19/04/2018 10:47

Is there no aircon inside the school buildings?

Piggywaspushed · 19/04/2018 10:50

LOL Jessie, have you ever been inside a school?? Air con!!??

JessieMcJessie · 19/04/2018 10:51

Yes. Mine. State como in the 1989s. Hmm

JessieMcJessie · 19/04/2018 10:51

State comp in the 1980s that should say.

TheFaerieQueene · 19/04/2018 10:52

Are the teaching staff wearing jumpers and thick tights all year round? I doubt it!

Tamingoftheglue · 19/04/2018 10:53

Air conditioning in school?! What is this witchcraft?!

My very old fashioned school barely had windows that opened more than an inch!

Tamingoftheglue · 19/04/2018 10:54

Btw, I think those rules are ridiculous OP.

AnnieOH1 · 19/04/2018 10:57

Tesco do a thick looking tight that is both warm in winter but cool in summer. I wear them myself but I'll be eyed if I can remember what they're called. Either way I'm sure others are on the market.

All that said I fully agree it's ridiculous and is generating cohorts of school leavers who seem (in my experience) to vacillate between almighty fear of anyone they perceive in authority (meaning crap employers get away with treating them poorly/illegally) and wearing wholly inappropriate clothes because they now can.

Just thinking too, the ponytail holder colour could be hidden just with hair and a kirby grip, but I don't really see it as any different to the school proscribing the colour of the children's pyjamas. (As in something completely irrelevant to them.)

ourkidmolly · 19/04/2018 10:59

Appalling sexism. I'd be writing to governors.

Piggywaspushed · 19/04/2018 11:00

Jessie I have never known a school to have aircon (except perhaps in a couple of computer rooms) so you were very lucky.

I am looking at naked legs and acres of fake tan at the mom so can see why schools impose the rule. However, if they have actually got the skirt length bit sorted (which it seems they have) then ankle socks would be more than reasonable. I don't think all schools do have parent forums but there will be parent governors and you could raise this via them. they would be obliged to follow it up for you.

Piggywaspushed · 19/04/2018 11:00

at the mo !

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Maursh · 19/04/2018 11:01

Just think how well they could do if they put as much effort into behaviour management and pastoral care as they did into policing what socks girls wear,

The two are linked: strict uniform policy leads to better behaviour in the classroom. However, the problem here is not a strict enforcement of uniform, but the uniform itself. This is normally set by the board of governors and you won't go wrong if you ask other parents to write separate letters about this to the BoG - it should force them to discuss the matter at their next meeting.

The jumper thing we used to have at my school more than 20 years ago and it was because they had removed blazers from the uniform and it was the only item with the school logo on: it is basically advertising. There needs to be a summer uniform: shorts or gingham dresses.

Piggywaspushed · 19/04/2018 11:01

I'm not sure it's sexism, as such. Girls are actually in many secondary schools the winners in summer where uniform is concerned. Boys have to stay in long trousers all year round.

It's just a bonkers rule; also the jumpers. Silly and unkind.

UnimaginativeUsername · 19/04/2018 11:02

I don’t understand why children can’t be allowed to decide whether they should wear their jumper (and/or blazer) depending on how hot/cold they are. Or why they can’t have bare legs when it’s hot - they’re wearing knee length skirts FGS.

DS1 went to a school where the PE teacher would line them all up at th start of every lesson, ask them to pull up their tracksuit bottoms and check they were wearing the regulation PE socks. He wouldn’t have known otherwise. What is the point in that? I doubt anyone goes into teaching so they can be petty about sock inspections.

I had s deputy HT when I was at secondary school who’d ask you to pull up your jumper so she could check your shirt was tucked in. What difference does it make if it’s under the jumper and therefore not visible? It was clearly just a petty power trip. Even more so as the uniform was not actually compulsory. I got out the school handbook to demonstrate this in a meeting with the DHT and my mum over my wearing a round necked rather than v necked jumper. You’d think they’d be pleased I’d read the handbook, but apparently pointing out the bit where it says the uniform is not compulsory is bad.

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