School Uniforms?

Every time I read a school uniform thread, I’m so glad that DT’s went to a non uniform school

YANBU - why this is still be allowed is baffling

Hey don't diss the ukulele. Music really helps their brains.

I find this argument completely baffling. My daughter has several jumpers in her drawer. I've just had to spend £80 on 3 school labelled jumpers. I've had to buy a tie, school trousers, special
Pe kit, special shoes, and on and on. This is all alongside her non school clothes. If people really cared about poverty proofing the school experience, why have I spent over £200 on uniform? Oh yes, and she also needs a particular type of pencil case, a special type of calculator, sketch books, and a bloody ukelale!

Our primary is sensible- no logos required. The thing I always find interesting though is that while the private schools near me have extensive uniform lists, the children seem to be most often in tracksuits or their pe kits as presumably much more practical than blazers.

Id not be upset at abolishing uniform full stop. My children haven’t had issues wearing their own clothes to nursery, holiday camps etc so I don’t see why they’d suddenly have problems during term time. In the workplace, I have become more casual every year. It is anachronistic to make an 11yo wear a blazer when very few adults still wear suit jackets.

I quite like uniform but our schools are fairly relaxed about it . Kids can wear trainers rather than school shoes for example. Joggers, skirts, trousers, hoodie, cardigan etc are all fine and bought from anywhere so long as right colours.

I think schools with specific, expensive suppliers are unreasonable but grey bottoms and a navy top is fine.

I was 14 in 1993 when there was a vote in my school and the outcome was that the vast majority of us voted for the blazer to become compulsory for the girls. Before that it was only compulsory for the boys.

I loved wearing uniform and I'd be annoyed and sad if my DC didn't wear it.

We have huge issues with secondary uniform due to sensory processing issues. It really adversely affects my child. We really do need to have practical, inclusive uniforms if we have to have them at all.

I disagree that it's cheaper, it's an added expense as it doesn't replace the need for regular clothes.
I've had umpteen arguments over the years about uniform with my DC. I wouldn't say it looks particularly smart and as for being more appropriate most of the girls in my DC's secondary wear those tiny stretchy bum showing skirts...

You're lucky! I got through a fair bit as I was a fairly late developer

I was full height at 12…so only had one set of secondary uniform. I don’t know a boy who did the same. But yes, I don’t deny some girls still grow as fast as some boys!

I grew up and went to school in a country with no uniform (Spain) and now teach, and have school aged children in Scotland where most schools have a dress code but not a strictly enforced one. Like for example my kids wear black trousers and a white t-shirt. I refuse to buy special school shoes or hoodies because they have perfectly good trainers and hoodies and it seems wasteful to buy more just in a specific colour.

I never really understand the obsession with uniform. Surely people only like it because they're used to it. There's no real benefits otherwise how do you explain the fact that the UK doesn't have less bullying, better results etc than Europe/the US? Noone ever can on these type of threads.

daughters grow quickly too

@HauntedbyMagpies

Wear your own clothes day :) it used to be last day of term or charity day (children in need wear own clothes & say bring a £1 in.

Secondary school is black jumper, white shirt, school tie, black trousers, skirt or shorts and black trainers or school shoes. So really the only thing you have to buy from school supplier is the tie. So again that's not too bad. No blazer requirement unless you're a school prefect or similar.

@HauntedbyMagpies mufti means non uniform.
I don't know the origin of the word though.

Ours is cheap and simple

Black trousers or skirt
Black jumper or cardigan
White shirt
Tie
Black shoes

Everything can be bought in a supermarket

No rules about materials except no denim

The issues arise (in England) where jumped up schools start specify materials and place of purchase.

If you have daughters, maybe not. My DS (11) is currently growing about two inches a year, I’m lucky if his uniform lasts a year and I suspect I’ve got another four or five years to go.

This with bells on!!

Uniforms are basic and everyone is wearing it.

Can you imagine the fights every morning because said child wants to only wear Ralph Lauren/Nike/addidas like all the other kids??

Thankfully our primary is really sensible, which I think is more common here in Scotland anyway. Either a badged logo jumper or plain blue jumper or cardigan preferred and then dark bottoms, which can be leggings, joggers, trousers, a dress. So you could buy a set for very cheaply if needed. They also have free secondhand logo uniform in the foyer of the school you can take if you need.

Polo shirts are 7.50 for a pack of 5 in asda

A polo shirt and trousers really aren't that expensive. It's the logo stuff that adds up.

Your kid would have to wear something though so you do save a bit there. Though I guess they need something to wear outside school too in the evenings.

It's a tricky one I can understand why uniform exists. Not having it will only show up the haves and have nots more easily.

That's nice and easy to say when you can afford it! Uniform is more expensive than regular clothes. £12 for each sweater, £11 for a polo shirt in the summer etc. Regular clothes are so much cheaper

It should be generic, a universally sold colour (no bottle green or royal purple, thank you) and not require black shoes. What's wrong with polo shirts and a black/navy bottom half?

When I was at secondary years 10 and 11 could wear any black trousers or skirt, any white shirt and any black cardi or jumper with the school tie and we were still identifiable.

@Nottodaty What the heck is mufti day?