To think that switching to polo shirts makes the school uniform look low-rent?

If they’re white ones then they’re so easy to keep clean and stain free. Soak in napisan, wash, hang in the sun and and stains get bleached out! If all else fails soak in Milton or actual bleach and you’ll never have dull white polos

Polo shirts are so much more practical, and I don't think school children need to look 'smart'. They are little kids, let them be comfortable.

Our primary has polos and it is practical and sensible. I want my kids to be comfortable in the classroom and active at playtime.

This is a very good point, actually. Why do schools have a separate PE kit that's clearly much more practical for energetic activity - when, for younger children at least, ALL breaks and lunchtimes out in the playground (and not just set PE sessions) should be free time to run around, jump, hop, climb, kick a ball around and just have fun letting off steam in general?

I hate it how many people want to pointlessly restrict young kids from just enjoying being young kids.

In that case it's the secondary school uniform which is inappropriate. Not many people nowadays wear suit and tie or any really smart clothing to work. It baffles me that sixth forms so often have a dress code labelled 'smart office wear' that's more like what you see on The Apprentice than in the majority of modern workplaces.

All the primary schools near me use polo shirts. Easy to wash, less need to iron (I still did) and comfy to wear. Perfectly smart too esp with a nice school sweatshirt.

Genuinely not seeing the issue. Did they wear a collared buttoned shirt and tie before? I think that’s a lot for a 7yo tbh.

It’s far better for the kids to wear something comfortable. The obsession with dressing children up in weird work clothes that most adults with jobs don’t even wear any more is just strange imo

Polo shirts can look good if you opt for better quality and wash whites separately. If you buy them 5 for £2 in the bargain supermarket and wash them with dark they will look terrible.

Agree. I want DS to enjoy school. I don't give a shit if he looks "smart" as long as whatever it is washes ok and is comfortable. His school allows unbranded polos so if one gets stained I get another pack from M&S or Tu. Job done.

I hate to see kids in shirts and ties. Could never see the point of ties. Polo shirts are much better.

Vastly prefer polos at primary school. Who cares if they look smart? I'd rather they were comfortable. Even the uber middle class school round here wears polo shirts.

How does it make behaviour change?

All the corporates I work with have ditched the shirt and tie. I don't see why schools (especially primary) need to keep it. You can be smart and comfortable.

I remember being on a school trip as a parent helper when the class was about age 7 or 8.
It was an activity with several different school groups.
They were all wearing polos and sweatshirts except our school.
We had shirts, blazers and ties.
We looked like a group of Victorian urchins. It was embarrassing.
Polos are so much better.

Primary school kids don’t need to look like mini estate agents. They need to be comfortable to both learn and to run and play.

My DC’s secondary school has just made blazers optional, they still need to wear a shirt and tie but can wear a jumper or hoody over the top of they choose. Or a blazer, but i don’t think many will choose that! They can also now wear trainers instead of shoes. I expect it will change to PE polos for everyday at some point, which I fully support.

My Ds secondary school had polo shirts as summer uniform

they withdrew them after a few years. Behaviour of kids deteriorated when they switched to polos every spring.

It's a bit difficult if it's a uniform, though, as they look noticeably different - you do really have to go for one or the other.

Plus I could well imagine it becoming a social class distinguishing thing, whereby a shirt is seen as a marker of a 'decent, well-brought-up child from a good home'; whereas only the 'chavs' turn up in a polo shirt.

I can't remember the last time I worked in a school that still had shirts. The agony of trying to help little ones fasten buttons on stiff collars!

Polo shirts are far better but then I never cared if the school was "affluent!.

Our primary has polos and it is practical and sensible. I want my kids to be comfortable in the classroom and active at playtime.

Our school allows either white polos or the school colour (bottle green). The green ones don't stain.

I hate the British obsession with dressing small children up in a miniature version of old fashioned adult workwear (which few adults even wear nowadays). Then we wonder why active play is on the decline when kids are made to wear starched shirts and ties with restrictive blazers, and polished shoes they can't run and climb in!

Our previous primary wore navy blue (not white!) polos and it was best thing since sliced bread. No separation for washing, they never stained, it was the best.

I think it’s the way most schools are moving and it’s sensible. Our secondary is now polos (still white 😩) and cotton jumpers instead of blazers. I think they look nice and not as chaavy as the old uniform. Primary school can be dress shirts or polos, but with tie and cotton jumper instead of knit. It looks fine.

My dc’s secondary jus switched from blazers and ties to polos and jumpers. Honestly, they loll
less smart, but much more importantly the children are more comfortable, happier and warmer. They’ll
learn better because of it, so I don’t care. If you are more concerned about appearances, that’s a you thing.

Honestly I feel the opposite. When I was young it was polo shirts, stretchy trousers and nice warm jumpers all the way from primary to secondary.. the year after I left they swapped to shirts and ties and I was so glad I missed it.

Uniform should be about practicality and not getting in the way of learning. In my experience now in education, the more formal you make the uniforms the more potential for problems.

E.g. a tie does nothing to make a kid learn better, but now they get in trouble if they forget them. The blazers aren't as warm as jumpers.. shirts tucked in is another rule that causes hassle but does nothing to help their education.

It is simply a trickle down effect of state schools and academies copying private schools and trying to get a quick win by showing the parents how "smart and professional" their kids look, so that they may think the school is smart and professional too... A lot easier to do that than actually improve your education offering.

Functional uniforms over smart all day long.

(And considering the reduction in the number of workplaces requiring suits and ties, the argument that it is preparing them for their future is nonsense)