Changing the PE Kit

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

DS1's school has a newish Head of PE who has decided to change the PE Kit. DS1 isn't aware of why. We did have brief notification a while ago that the kit would be changing in September and that pupils will be allowed to phase in some items of the new kit.

Today, DS1 informs me that in September they have to have all the new kit (including logo'd items). If they're not in the new kit it will be immediate detention.

I'm not happy tbh. I can't see why they need to change the kit in the first place, and I'm not impressed that they've left it until the last week of term to inform us, via the pupils, of the requirements (no mention of it on the newsletter received yesterday), or of the use of detention for this, especially given that earlier in the year they were saying there would be a phasing in period.

DH will be ringing the school tomorrow for clarification, just wondered what other people think?

Why might the school be changing the PE Kit anyway?

[DangerousBeans]

It sounds like they've left it to the last minute to try and avoid the backlash.
Could you get together with other parents and complain en masse?

[Blandmum]

I would deffinatly check with the school. Most schools have a phasing in period where both uniforms are allowed.

My dd tried this line with me, when I checked with the school, I found that dd was spinning me a bit of a line, and the old uniform is still allowed

[DangerousBeans]

See, now MB has come on the thread and been all reasonable and sensible.
And made me look like a pitch-fork wielding harpie!

It hadn't occurred to me the the OP's DS may not quite have got the story straight.

[Blandmum]

You might well have to re-light the flaming brand yet!

But worth checking before you add to global warming

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

Yes I did wonder MB, and DH is going to ring tomorrow, but tbh I can imagine this teacher MAY say something like this to the pupils.

I don't really know many other parents DamgerousBeans. He was one of only three in his year to go to this school (he's Yr8) one of whom leaves tomorrow anyway, and the other parents won't bother and just buy what is required.

I'll try to catch a Yr 7 parent tomorrow at the school my other two attend and have a word.

Why change the kit though? I don't understand the need to do that.

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

lol.

I never rush in, like to get my facts straight first, lol.

[DangerousBeans]

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

Lol, I don't do pitchforks, but I'm not happy about having to fork out for new kit, even phasing it in.

(two younger brothers may have been able to use the current stuff, lol)

[islandofsodor]

Is it up to the Head of PE to change the kit. Surely school uniform is a matter for the governors.

I wouldn't be rushung out to buy any logoed items to be honest seeing as no-one knows which schools are going to survive and what they care going to be called in the future!!!!!

Seriously, if it is a major change there shouldbe a phasing in, parents should be properly informed in writing, not just via the children. What about new children starting September, they would surely already have been given a uniform list.

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

I don't know any background to the changes, IOS, other than we were informed a while ago that it would be happening later. Didn't follow it up at that point, as I assumed we'd have a letter explaining the reasons etc etc. Would assume it's gone via the governors given the original information came from the school.

Hadn't even thought about all the proposed changes in the schools - very good point, officially ours should just be moving, but who knows with our council/LEA??

Am guessing the new starters have been given the info about the new kit.

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

DS quite happy to continue to wear the current kit.

DH has spoken to the Head of PE.

Apparently, there is some confusion over the logo'd stuff so DS1 had misheard that bit and the reason is the new kit is supposedly cheaper, but I would dispute that tbh, especially given that DS1s kit still fits and some would have done for DS2 next year.

He states that he asked the school to send out a letter but because it was mentioned on a newsletter (once, months ago) they chose not to send one.

The phasing-in referred to the yr 11s buying new kit prior to leaving this year, rather than the younger children having kit that still fits.

It seems that it has been mentioned to the children during PE lessons previously, but DS1 has been missing for the last three PE lessons before yesterday (for legitimate reasonas I hasten to add - external sporting competition, school daytrip and school trip to Germany).

[DangerousBeans]

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

lol.

Me neither!

I rang the school later for clarification of what was required, as I was ringing about something else anyway, and the Head of PE rang me back and completely disarmed me, lol.

I did express my dismay at the way things have been done. He agreed that the wording on the earlier newsletter about the phasing-in was wrong, and that a letter should have been sent out, but informed me that it had been discussed several times in school with the pupils, which DS had mentioned, but not the detail iykwim (and I hadn't bothered too much as I was waiting for a letter, lol).

So miscommunication all round, I guess.

I still don't agree that it needed changing, but as luck would have it, he's got some of the kit from when a local supplier shut down and sold stuff off (see I was listening some of the time) and the rest is nothing too extravagant.


FOR SALE. 2nd hand PE kit, lol.

[REBELlatrixlestrange]

It seems that detentions will be given out to those who haven't got the kit.