Just read the bloody uniform policy!!!

I thought the whole point of a school uniform was to make everyone equal. Bloody Vivienne Westwood shoes, really? And what happens to the kids whose parents cant afford to shell out for designer brand names?

I've just read an article about a school in Gateshead where lots of kids were sent home or out in isolation on day one of term because they were wearing the wrong shoes.

As someone from outside the UK, this boggles the mind. Isolation? Poor kids.

We didn't have much money growing up, and I can sometimes see the argument for a uniform, but they also seem like so much money, so what's the point? Also, I agree with this from PP: you can see the person who is wearing an outgrown and bobbled jumper compared with the one who is wearing a brand new one that fits.

I'm fully expecting my Y9 DS to come home and say he's been in trouble for wearing the exact same shoes he wore all last year. They are Clarks, sold as school shoes, polishable leather, but don't look like "wedding shoes" which is what they seem to want the children to wear, which are entirely uncomfortable and impractical for walking 35 mins each way to and from school. If so I will have to kick off.

Overly strict uniform policy makes literally no-one happy. Why on earth do they persist? What a bloody waste of precious time, money, energy and good will.

The schools uniform policy clearly states no logos. They have a bloody great big Nike tick on them.

But theres no reason kiddo couldn't walk to school in his hiking boots if he is indeed climbing bloody Snowdon to get there, and then stick them in a bag until hometime and wear proper shoes at school.

I found that schools uniform policy in under three seconds. The parents have zero excuse here.

My son has orthotics you can easily take the sole out of clarks shoes and startrite the thing we didn't know at first was you need to measure his feet with the insoles

Following instructions and attention to detail are important life skills. Parents should be encouraging their children to learn these skills, by working with the schools and getting appropriate shoes for their child.

When it says "no logos" that means everyone.

Conforming to school rules is good practice for children, in life there are loads of things that there are rules about - driving on the left (in UK), showing ID when buying alcohol, returning library books on time, wearing swimwear at pool.

I thought you were going to complain about having to wear blazers in this heat and I was going to agree!

I agree. If you have a specific health related reason to go against the rules just talk to the school. You just look like an obstructive dick otherwise.

For example, at our school kids have a polo shirt and a jumper over the top. My daughters eczema was being aggravated by the jumper against her skin, but a quick call with head of year and she has permission for a plain black long sleeve top under her polo shirt when she wears a jumper. There’s a note on her record that she has dispensation.

if your request is reasonable I’m sure the school will be reasonable.

But it doesn't actually work because you can see the person who is wearing an outgrown and bobbled jumper compared with the one who is wearing a brand new one that fits.

Totally agree.

I don't think uniform violations actually affect learning. DD is at a girl's grammar which outperforms every other school in the city. The things they get away with...skirts around their bums, shirts hanging out, too much makeup and jewellery which goes against the official rules. One girl in DD's class had bright pink PE trainers last year apparently. And they never get pulled up for it - when most of them get 8s and 9s in their GCSEs and overall they behave I guess the teachers figure it doesn't matter. It's just used as a form of control in schools where it's the one thing they have any control over.

What’s wrong with the Nike hiking boots?

I totally agree. Some uniform policies are very clear, others change at a moment's notice.

The government could actually do something useful before it leaves office and ban schools from requiring anything other than standard issue uniform from supermarkets and at a push a logo'd badge. School specific sportswear could be an optional extra.

otherwise there is zero need for any of it.

However sensible shoes should be a given. You don't send the kids home though, you just email all the parents concerned. Shoes comes under health and safety, like not wearing earrings for PE etc.

Kids aren't thick. They know who has what. Dehumanising the lot of them is too high a price to pay for having them tease each other about something other than shoes, imo. But I think the factory-farming ethos of UK secondary education is completely outdated and toxic, and am that it is getting worse, not better.

The logo thing is also about preventing competition and comparison between kids as to who are the haves and the have nots.

I’m all for school uniforms but also appreciate the expense of them. It cost us hundreds and not just once a year. Lost kits, trainers etc.
I do think schools should allow the purchase of cheaper/plain options and just insist/sell/provide sew on badges for the blazers and jumpers for example. It is encouraging that a lot of schools and community charity organisations are offering very cheap if not free second hand uniforms.

They will need to replace the expensive ones twice as fast with twice as much wear.

There are plenty of cheaper shoes of reasonable quality. Nobody believes Nikes and Westwoods are the only sensible shoe available.

Totally agree, no child of mine would ever wear ballet flats - I'm a podiatrist and don't want my child to grow up with hammer toes and worse from wearing these shoes.

It's also always the Vivienne Westwood flats parents that are up in arms. They always quote CoL crisis too. Those shoes are so expensive and completely unsuitable for growing feet.

Unfortunately, it’s all we could afford for dd this year. Luckily they only cost £6, come with a strap to keep the shoe on, and don’t go against school policy

The all-black Nike ones were deemed acceptable by our kids' school, so lots of parents of fashion-victim teenage boys bought them. The school then changed the rule midway through term, gave parents no notice and started isolating kids whose parents couldn't or wouldn't replace the bloody things overnight.

Of course the VW ballet flats are preposterous. But schools aren't helping with the crazy pettiness, us-and-them attitude and utter lack of regard for families' financial reality. Uniform has become another pointless battleground and another reason for kids and parents to loathe the years their children spend in school.

Don't see the issue with either pairs of shoes tbh. Ballet pumps are so simple cheap & comfy.
Walking boots well kids learn better if their feet are warm and dry.
Just schools not doing what they are paid to do. Teach!

I agree with this. Plus my kids have sensory issues, which makes the whole thing doubly complicated.

@SocialistSally aw jeez! The world's gone crazy!

I find the whole thing ridiculous. As long as they are safe, any shoe should be worn IMO. There are enough news articles right now about kids not attending school. Making this worse over something silly is stupid.

My son isn’t at school yet, but he has to wear orthotic insoles which means I have to find him shoes where I can easily take the existing insole out. The rules out all of Clarks. So he will be sent in whatever I can find and what’s comfortable, and the school will suck it up.