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Original poster

To think this is mad for primary school uniform?

92 replies

AndyandTerrysMum · 22/08/2024 19:39

My sisters 3 kids go to an ordinary state primary school in an ex mining town- not a lot of money floating about.

The school changed its uniform last year from branded jumper/cardi and tie

to different branded jumper/cardi, branded pe top, branded tie and branded book bag.

Tie is £5 ish, but all other items are £14 ish each.

Its all shit quality, so last years is in holes now, and one child has to have all in a new colour anyway- so handing down isn’t possible. (Plus mix of girls and boys- boy won’t wear girls old skirts!)

It just seems like madness to me and got me thinking;

If a child is sent in the right colour and type of jumper or top for example, but a plain supermarket one, can primary schools isolate them/send them home like a high school would?

OP posts:
GedEye · 22/08/2024 20:20

Both primary and now secondary school had a lot of branded uniform. Both schools had loads of used uniform sales that were in no way seen as for ‘parents who can’t afford it’. Lots newly and great condition. Major fundraiser for the school, better sustainability, cheaper.

Was that an option?

justasmalltownmum · 22/08/2024 20:20

Everything is from Asda and one logo jumper for £14.

BranstonPickleAndNikNaks · 22/08/2024 20:19

I've never understood why schools don't just sell the logos as an iron on / sew on patch so that parents can do it themselves if they wish! £84 on each child's uniform (before factoring in shoes and coat!) is outrageous at primary IMO.

Original poster
AndyandTerrysMum · 22/08/2024 20:18

Bakingwithmyboys · 22/08/2024 20:14

It depends on the school but I find primary schools are generally more accepting of plain jumpers etc.
Definitely worth looking into the legalization of this as I didn't think schools were allowed to up the number of branded items.

Neither did I, but reading the policy and guidance I think the school has to keep it reasonable and consider whether the demographic of the intake, but there aren’t any specific rules about what is ‘reasonable’.

There was a fuss made last year but the head wasn’t interested. The need for branded pe tops was specifically challenged but the head claims it is for ‘safeguarding reasons’.

OP posts:
museumum · 22/08/2024 20:17

I’m in Scotland where schools cannot enforce but I was happy to buy logoed navy sweatshirts as they last well especially if you buy them huge but I refused the logo white polo cause they were stained in weeks. I bought plain white polis instead.

seagullsky · 22/08/2024 20:17

Wow! Our school just asks for a branded jumper (and in practice doesn’t care if you turn up in an unbranded supermarket one - or you can get for £1 at the secondhand uniform shop). Everything else can be supermarket.

Guavafish1 · 22/08/2024 20:17

Just ask them for the brand or emblem so you can sew it on the PE top and others stuff

outside1inside · 22/08/2024 20:15

DSs state primary has,
School tie £7
School jumper £14
School blazer £37.50
School pe top £8
School pe bag £5
School book bag £7
All compulsory
Everything else can be supermarket.
He is 4 it's ridiculous, but we knew about it when we applied so can't complain.

Bakingwithmyboys · 22/08/2024 20:14

It depends on the school but I find primary schools are generally more accepting of plain jumpers etc.
Definitely worth looking into the legalization of this as I didn't think schools were allowed to up the number of branded items.

Original poster
AndyandTerrysMum · 22/08/2024 20:14

JohnTheRevelator · 22/08/2024 20:11

My DGD's primary school did a similar thing, when she reached the end of year 5,one bloody year before she left. Her mum (my DD) was furious. She had to pay out for a load of new stuff for one year. Complete madness.

This place changes the colour for year 6 so all year 6 have to have new each year.

OP posts:
JohnTheRevelator · 22/08/2024 20:11

My DGD's primary school did a similar thing, when she reached the end of year 5,one bloody year before she left. Her mum (my DD) was furious. She had to pay out for a load of new stuff for one year. Complete madness.

Mozzarellaballs · 22/08/2024 20:08

I've just spent £24 on a cheap pe top including delivery, it's secondary school so needed a new bigger size with logo

Original poster
AndyandTerrysMum · 22/08/2024 20:02

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/08/2024 19:50

so the polos, trousers/skirts etc can be bought at the supermarket? I don’t think £14 is bad for a jumper although it should be good quality. Again £14 for a book bag sounds reasonable and should last multiple years.

so the polos, trousers/skirts etc can be bought at the supermarket?

Trousers/skirts can be- the pe polo is branded, then they can have any shirt but have to have a branded tie.

£14x3 =£42= one top per child- they are £5 for 2 in Asda.

+£27 for one pe top per child and £15 for the ties.

So £84 for one of each thing for each child.

(Plus a bag each possibly dont know if they are wrecked or not).

The quality is rubbish too, so they fell apart by Christmas last year because they get food/mud/paint etc on them every day so have to be washed all the time.

It seems utterly pointless to me, the same sweatshirt without the embroidery could be bought for £3!

OP posts:
LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 22/08/2024 19:50

so the polos, trousers/skirts etc can be bought at the supermarket? I don’t think £14 is bad for a jumper although it should be good quality. Again £14 for a book bag sounds reasonable and should last multiple years.

Greydogs123 · 22/08/2024 19:47

Could try approaching the school with This
(parliamentary report on uniform costs)
and this

Oldinjuryhelp111037 · 22/08/2024 19:44

It is madness. Our school has its faults but when it comes to uniform, they are great. Any yellow polo shirt or you can buy logo one. Any grey cardigan or jumper branded or unbranded. Black shoes. By the end of year they allow trainers so 0arents don't need to buy again. Pe kit Any top as long as its house colour. And grey trousers or skirt/dress. But I did send eldest in black as at the time grey had run out and they didn't say anything.

Primary school, I would expect them to be a bit flexible as they need to be running around and things gey holes in from football and falling over etc. Secondary I understand why it's stricter, but it's a bit extreme. Especially as most of the working world doesn't live in suits!

LlynTegid · 22/08/2024 19:43

I am sure you could tie them up in knots with questions given their duties under equalities legislation. Ask them about things like consultation, how considerate it is to teachers to ask them to enforce it. Or even whether they gave reasonable notice.

Unreasonable to have so much branded stuff.

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