Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think boys in school uniform shorts at -3c is neglect.

364 replies

DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:13

Just returned from rural primary school in Lakes. Young lads in school uniform shorts - it's minus 3 here. I class this as neglect. Discuss.

Are people struggling to afford winter school uniform? Aldi sells school trousers for less than a coffee (1.75 gbp?) Or worse are they indifferent?

OP posts:
Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:25

at the secondary round here they aren't allowed anything but long trousers.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 06/12/2023 09:25

U less they are outside most of the day it's absolutely fine and ridiculous to call it neglect.

Katrinawaves · 06/12/2023 09:25

I was at school somewhere colder than the North West of England and the girl’s uniform was skirt and socks. No tights to be worn until sixth and upper sixth. We also had a regulation school coat which was a fairly thin mackintosh so there was no possibility of layering up really or wearing a thick coat in very cold weather. I don’t remember ever being really cold however strangely!

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:24

My late step dad preferred shorts. Flipping covid and cancer!

OP posts:
Paddleboarder · 06/12/2023 09:24

Depends on why they are wearing shorts - I know a few that happily insist on shorts no matter what the weather is like. It's only wrong if they are unhappy and freezing and it's not their choice.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:23

I do think the blazers at heat is dangerous. Not something we had at my top 10 state secondary. We were allowed to undo buttons and to wear just shirts. Also allowed short sleeve shirts.

OP posts:
Ginmonkeyagain · 06/12/2023 09:23

Mr Monkey, early 50s, works in a running shop and has just trotted off to work in a hoodie and shorts.

Saz12 · 06/12/2023 09:23

DD wears skirt with thick socks and boots (ie no tights). She understands the need to wear warm clothes, she just doesnt bother. Shes 13, so probably rolls her skirt up shorter as soon as shes out of my sight, too.

FrangipaniBlue · 06/12/2023 09:22

DS15 would happily wear shorts all day every day.

Only time he wears long trousers is for school and that's only because it's policy.

I must remember to tell him when he gets home that he is neglected.

LivingDeadGirlUK · 06/12/2023 09:22

Probably going to grow up to be postmen.

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 06/12/2023 09:21

I think it's more neglect to not allow kids to take off blazers in 30 degree heat tbh

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:21

Skirts usually worn with tights. I don't remember being cold in the 80s and my classroom for 2 years was a portacabin.

OP posts:
areyouhavinglaugh · 06/12/2023 09:21

All my boys wear shorts to school. They choose to wear them!

ginandtonicwithlimes · 06/12/2023 09:20

My daughter would take off her coat and cardigan and just walk home in the polo shirt in Yorkshire in January. I suspect I was judged!

PuttingDownRoots · 06/12/2023 09:20

DD has merrily trotted off in her blouse, tie and shorts, with warm boots. Not even a jumper. She wears a coat outside, her classroom is warm.

No sensory issues, she wears thermals at Rugby. Its just a rather hot classroom.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:20

I also went to school in 80s/90s. All the boys had long trousers unless it was very hot. It's def colder in North West!

OP posts:
LubaLuca · 06/12/2023 09:20

Yeah, some boys just prefer it and some think it's a badge of honour to keep shorts on even when their knees are blue. It's not going to feel so cold when they're running around.

One of my sons preferred shorts for school and I could insist on long socks when he was very young, but when he was older and refused? I couldn't do much about it. No harm came to him, and I had to replace fewer pairs of trousers with the knee gone through from playing football.

Sirzy · 06/12/2023 09:19

Do you think the same about skirts?

as long as they have the choice then it’s up to them what they wear

User2856948 · 06/12/2023 09:19

A lot of men wear shorts all year round, whatever the temperature

gotomomo · 06/12/2023 09:19

My dp wore shorts right through prep school except the final year aged 12, every one did then. In fact the state school next to mine wore shorts through age 11. As girls we had to wear skirts and white ankle socks, tights were banned as were trousers! We survived

Leafysuburb · 06/12/2023 09:19

The boys seem to prefer it at dd's school. I guess it means they don't end up with soggy knees and ankles after running about on a wet field.

Original poster
DragonMumE · 06/12/2023 09:19

I own 2 lads. They and I like to be toasty warm

OP posts:
x2boys · 06/12/2023 09:19

Obviously times have changed but this was my primary school back in the 70,s and 80,s boys were expected to wear shorts all.year round I did feel.sorry for them in winter.

LadyDanburysHat · 06/12/2023 09:19

My boys did not have any school trousers in primary school, They didn't like wearing them. Shorts all year round, we are in Scotland. So not neglect at all, just children choosing. My boys would happily wear shorts and snow boots, which is quite the look.

I would imagine many of the parents would prefer their DC to wear trousers but they don't want to.

SylvieLaufeydottir · 06/12/2023 09:18

Have you met young boys? The ones at my DC's school who wear them through the winter do so at their own insistence.

Swipe left for the next trending thread