To think that if the school uniform states black shoes the kids should be wearing black shoes?

Wow, isn't it amazing how places like Germany and the Netherlands manage to produce functioning and well adjusted adults who cope in the real world? They don't have uniform.

Honestly, this is the most pathetic argument for uniform ever.

Frankly a school that appoints a head boy and head girl who do not wear correct uniform is not one I’d be sending my DC to. All schools should have strict uniforms which are properly enforced and there should be daily checks.

You seriously believe that kids in previous generations didn’t question school uniform? 🤣🤣🤣

We definitely had kids in my secondary school who’d stretch the uniform rules and turn up to class wearing non-uniform items, or wearing the correct uniform clothes incorrectly. It’s not a new thing!

Lol I had one of these also. Most expensive bit of uniform and coat more than blazer. By the time he got to year 10 I passed it onto a friend with one going into year 7. It then proceeded to be unworn by her child also. Total waste of money

If the school doesn't care, I wouldn't have the battle.

Whatever the rules you always get arrogant kids/parents that break it.

My secondary school has a black footwear policy (not black shoes) so the kids can wear plain black trainers but the kids then wear other trainers.

Give and inch and they'll take a mile...

I have to phone parents when their kids are in the wrong uniform and the amount of parents that say "other kids wear them" as their excuse.

The gods?

And on top of everything else, kids these days show no respect for the gods.

Don’t be ridiculous, of course previous generations stretched the rules on uniforms. I even remember my Mum saying who’s 80 saying she tried to wear non-regulation shoes to school because the other girls were, until her Mum stopped her.

No uniform where we live.
No more discipline issues than average.
They're people, not minions to control.

Nobody takes any notice at Primary. I can find pictures from my son's yr 6 of the Head Boy and Girl not wearing the plain black shoes or trainers that they were supposed to wear.

Senior School is also hopeless at enforcing uniform, even though they introduced expensive pleated skirts that couldn't be rolled up to bum grazing levels.
Apparently, some children will only wear white socks ( from a parent on the school chat group) the school clearly state that it's supposed to be black socks only.

if the school aren’t enforcing their uniform rules, then I don’t see why you are so keen to. It’s overbearing and an unnecessary battle to pick.

It’s about instilling discipline from an early age. Secondary schools are preparing children for becoming reasonably adjusted adults the real world. In the real world adults without any sense of discipline refusing to abide by simple rules and regulations is what leads to a gradual breakdown of respect in workplaces. Questioning school uniform wasn’t even a thing for previous generations because they weren’t entitled children being raised by entitled parents..

YANBU. I wouldn't let my dc wear the wrong shoes just because the school is a bit shit at enforcing their own uniform rules. I'm not actually in favour of school uniforms, but if a child goes to a school with uniform, they should wear it. Properly.

Surely not every single parent voted for it. Votes are never 100% all in favour. The ones getting snooty letters about something they didn’t vote for are going to feel a little aggrieved.

At my primary school the uniform was optional, at secondary school it was compulsory but relaxed compared with today. This was in the 1980s and 1990s. I would personally count your lucky stars that you don't have a school that has a pole up its arse about it like most of them now.

I agree with you OP, but have learnt to pick my many battles with teenage daughters.
An excellent compromise is black Nike Air Force 1. They're fully black, leather, comfortable, and a sort of a cross between structured shoe and trainer.
I'd highly recommend.

Pardon?

Yes, I’m sure all the other kids wear different colored shoes for confidential medical reasons. Or alternately, you could calm down.

One thing I’m never entirely convinced by is the causal link; that strict uniform is actually responsible for a lack of bullying.

Is there real evidence for this connection, or could it just be that schools with the time, energy, and will to be strict on uniforms also tend to be strict on serious issues like bullying?

The simple solution here is for UK schools to abolish uniform and just get on with it. Honestly, the world won't end.

Life is short, I really couldn't imagine giving a fuck about school children wearing the wrong coloured shoes. Seriously.

blazer only removed with permission in hot weather etc)

I object to this. They should be able to remove their blazer in class if they wish to because every person feels the external temperature differently. It might be too hot for some children and too cold for others. There is no reason whatsoever for insisting on blazers being worn unless given permission. They could insist on blazers being worn to walk to and from classes and I think that's ok, but not when sitting in class and they are supposed to be learning.

Yes, both my girls have school shoes from Sainsbury's, after getting Clarks ones and them falling apart in a few weeks, I thought would try cheaper ones so could get 2-3 pairs for same price as 1 Clarks pair. And they actually lasted much better, 1 oldest wore them for about 9 months and now youngest is 6 months into wearing her older sisters pairs. Neither of them are particularly 'light' on their shoes, they both never stop running. They are a bit scuffed on the front but otherwise still perfect after 15 months of wear

That's not a thing