Clothing

[Sofabitch]

So I'm about to start my teacher training (secondary science). I'm going to need to go shopping as I've always had jobs where I can wear jeans and trainers and have never had to dress to any code.

What sorts of things do people recommend I get as a starter capsual type wardrobe to add to?

[ReservoirDogs]

I am really resisting the urge to correct the spelling error!

I would go for some decent black and navy trousers and a number of shirts. Also a couple of jackets and cardigans.

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

Couple of pairs of black smart trousers, comfortable shoes, 6/7 interchangeable tops and cardigans. Nothing too expensive, I find I need to throw out tops and replace so quickly (secondary maths). Lots of standing/walking/talking means getting very hot!
I’m a big fan of an £8 matalan/Tesco top.
Always check that boobs don’t show when you lean forwards, and that you can crouch down without ripping your trousers.

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

And one or two suit jackets for parents evening.
If you look young then dress more formal. Suits all the way until the profession gives you a lovely ‘aged’ glow and you can go more casual.

[Sofabitch]

Sorry ! Typing too fast on my phone! ;)

[student26]

Same as others have said. A couple of pairs of black smart trousers, smart casual blouses/tops and a few coloured cardigans. I also bought a few pairs of short heels too, just so I was a bit taller than my students, haha. (And I teach primary!)

[MaisyPops]

Depends on the sector and school.

I'm secondary

Some schools are increasingly businesslike and expect suits and jackets.
Others are more business casual (not to be confused with smart casual)

Typical outfits for me are:

• pencil skirt, blouse and blazer
  
• jersey dress, cardigan and heels
  
• 3/4 trousers and a blouse
  

General rule would be to over dress rather than under dress.

[Mrspotter12]

No spaghetti straps prob obvious but I was very new to teaching and my class was very hot!

[GreenTulips]

Matalan have some great stretchy black trousers that do a good job! They don't look stretchy

Most teachers wear leggings and tunics - doesn't have to be over smart

[Sofabitch]

I'm the wrong side of 35 so no looking young and fresh faced here!

I hate being too hot. Could not wear heels for very long so would need flats.

Wonders if open toe shoes are a big no in school science labs too. I'm guessing that's most likely universal health and safety regs

[Sofabitch]

As I will need to go shopping before I know my placements I'll need something that will cover all schools.

[elephantoverthehill]

A lot of my teacher clothes are from Sainsbury's. I always wear trousers and jersey cotton tops, or M&S type thin jumpers with either a cardi or a jacket. Trousers tend to be black, navy and brown with corresponding shoes and cardies. A lot of my tops are shades of red and sometimes, if I am feeling really wild I will wear patterned tops!

[Sofabitch]

I definitely didn't see any leggings and tunics at the observation days!

I think I need a big balance of comfort and smart as smart is way out my comfort zone

[MaisyPops]

green
Leggings and tunics would be too casual in a few schools I know.

Even in schools where some staff may get away with more casual dress, trainees should be smart and our ITT providers make that very clear to trainees

[Roseandharry]

If you're not used to wearing heels for ling periods I would avoid them abd invest in good quality flats. The only day I wore heels to school for as my first day in teaching practice - my feet ended up ripped to shreds !!!

[rillette]

I highly recommend these! I have three pairs in different colours because they're super comfy but also really smart - they make a lot of my clothes look like a more formal outfit.

www.clarks.co.uk/c/Orabella-Fern/p/26128238

[Olivo]

I work in secondary. In cooler temps, black/navy / grey m and s trousers with s top/blouse, cardi and chunky heeled boots (am small!) and in summer, flats or wedges with knee ish length skater style or wrap dress, or cropped trousers and nice top. It gets hot where I work. Jackets only for parents eve etc!

[sashh]

Different schools have different dress codes. In my two placements the first didn't allow short skirts or dresses without sleeves but you could wear heels. You were allowed a cardigan/jumper. You were not allowed cropped trousers cropped above the ankle.

At my second you had to wear a jacket you were not allowed to wear heels and maxi length skirts were banned, no cardigans or jumpers. As I was going through the menopause at the time I struggled with heat, it was actually in my individual health plan that I could remove my jacket, but it was still frowned on.

I have a 'uniform' of black linen trousers and the same blouse in 6 different materials. I also have a couple of black jackets.

[Olivo]

I am moving, and dreading my new school being like your second Sashh! I get too hot too soon, and feel restricted by jackets!

[MaisyPops]

sashh One near me is quite corporate. Excessively so in my opinion.

Then again, I can also recall a colleague who used to wear hareen pants, tutu material knee length skirts and leggings, big scarf bows etc to work and I always felt they looked like one of the 6th formers about to go on a gap year.

It doesn't take much to have a more toned down look for work.

[GreenTulips]

LOL at too casual

Local school HT wears jeans, teachers have spaghetti straps and shorts and flip flops - totally unprofessional in my opinion.

[MaisyPops]

I agree on that green. That school sounds too casual though.

Primary seem to do the leggings and tunic style well. Seen it with some secondaries too.

Sometimes I do leggings, long shirts and blazers but previous schools that would have been a faux pax. Women loved power dressing there. It was like the Apprentice in places.

[Apple23]

You'll need a decent warm coat if you are going to have to do outside break duties.

The ge renal rule when considering an outfit is to make sure it is not possible to see up it, down it or through it - even when stretching up or bending over.

Aim for layers as classrooms can quickly change from cool to unbearably hot once they are full of children.

[BingTheButterflySlayer]

Pockets (more so in primary admittedly - handy as hell to have pens and a whiteboard pen chucked in pockets as you're moving around a room). Pockets and making sure not to reveal a hint of boobage (especially factoring in the snirking teenager factor). School heating generally has two temperatures - Siberia or Sahara and you can go from one to the other just walking down the corridor between classrooms sometimes. Also assume there'll be tables with rough edges and chewing gum and blu tack attached to surfaces it shouldn't be attached to - so don't wear anything too precious (think supermarket tier).

Our school's nursery teacher does the leggings and tunics thing complete with a market trader apron to chuck everything into - possibly a bit excessive!

I'd not recommend my teaching practice fun of a pair of trousers splitting right up the arse middle of the school day. School had a zero tolerance rule on jumpers tied around waists so I had to go explaining to the head why I had a strategically positioned cardigan tied around mine hiding the arse split!

[seven201]

Tunics and leggings aren't allowed in my school. In science you will indeed have to have your toes covered, probably meant to have whole foot covered but that's probably not strictly followed. Some academies insist on suits/jackets. Where I work I wear a dress or occasionally a skirt and top with a cardigan. I don't own any work trousers. I wear black ballet pumps or ankle boots if wearing black tights. Might sound obvious but nothing's too short. There are a couple of teachers in my school who nearly flash their knickers! A couple of inches above the knee is the shortest you should go.

[LockedOutOfMN]

My school (secondary)'s dress code for female staff is no open toed shoes (also no backless ones), no leggings or jeans, no cropped trousers, no sleeveless tops, no denim, nothing ripped or transparent, nothing crumpled or stained, and no piercings other than earrings and no visible tattoos.

I wear a skirt with a shirt or smart top with sleeves or a smartish dress with sleeves and then I have a jacket if I'm feeling cold (never...with windows open all year round and fan on full blast my classroom seems to be boiling at all times). I wear opaque tights in winter and bare legs in summer.

My preferred shoes are totally plain black Skechers Go Walk with black soles as I have PF and I find these really comfortable for running around school in all day, standing up on duty, in assembly, etc. I have smarter loafers and pumps if I need to be slightly more dressed up.