Has your High School updated its branded uniform rules yet as per the new Government policy applicable from Sept26?

Hopefully ours stays the same as it currently is (but they've just appointed a new Head and we know new Heads like to make their mark):

Must have blazer (same for the whole academy trust = more available second hand and a couple of local suppliers do them)
Must have tie - differentiates between the secondaries in the trust
The rest we get told "get from wherever's got the best sale on" - jumpers have a logo option if you want them, or knitted style (not hoodie material) from the supermarkets are OK.

They ask for one logoed piece of PE kit - either the short sleeve top or long sleeve one, and no sportswear logos bigger than a credit card on any other items. DD2 managed to lose her PE kit and they're just like "wear something black till you find it again" - plus lots of reasonable adjustments in terms of kids being allowed to wear theirs all day on PE days (for those ADHD kids like DD2 who could lose their head if it wasn't screwed on).

Shoes - anything black and sensible is allowed.

Fairly chill for a secondary school. One of the reasons we chose it was the relationship between the kids and staff, the warmth of the place and the fact that they focus on the stuff that tends to matter rather than trying to make kids have identical logoed knickers.

But I don’t see the need to all look exactly the same. Looking exactly the same isn’t a life skill, or something they need to prepare for. And they can still look smart with a dress code.

And if there was an issue with children not following the dress code in an inappropriate way, why couldn’t they just enforce the dress code the way they enforce a uniform?

(I hope this post doesn’t sound like I’m being argumentative with you in particular 😅 I’m just wondering about these things aloud)

Yes ours has

i went to school in the 90s in a liberal city and our school didn’t have uniform. The ones that did were often simple (green sweater and black trousers)

when I moved to the Home Counties I realised how old fashioned it is in some places (kilts for girls?!?)

Yes you’re right
blazers are expensive

Also, when I was at school, it was a grey skirt that you could buy from anywhere, and now all of a sudden the schools round here have opted for these horrible school kilts that are about £25-30 each, only available from the uniform supplier. You obviously need a spare one too and so it soon adds up!!

currently I have one in secondary and the branded are

blazer
skirts for girls but plain trousers for boys
shirts with logo
v-neck jumper with logo
ties
PE top rugby/hockey style zip up
PE t-shirt
branded shorts
branded joggers

So guessing they will have to be reviewing this. It’s very expensive buying it all when you can buy uniform at Asda!

I don’t get why they can’t just sell iron on patches.

It’s not in line with the intent of the policy and divides DC if they say ‘branded jumper or no jumper’. Disappointing if the guidance isn’t explicit about that.

DC school is already compliant, and thankfully one that recognises that children are human with different tolerances for heat so they are allowed to take their jumpers off whenever they like.

However, I don't think the guidance goes far enough. It should be two branded items max.

Nothing can convince me that my son's learning in PE is enhanced by him having the school logo on his white polo shirt which costs twice as much as a plain white polo shirt.

Schools should have a supply of kit for teams that are playing matches against other schools.

Think ours is the same. You don't have to buy the jumper to wear under the blazer in winter but you're also not allowed to wear any other jumper.

Also not allowed to take blazer off without permission. (Archaic) In MFL the first phrase they teach 11 year olds is 'can I take my blazer off' so useful for everyday life!!!!

The deliberate reliance by schools and their suppliers on teens not wanting to be different and risk peer comments, for monetary reasons, is awful.

Just checked ours, state grammar school. Blazer, tie for boys, optional jumper, skirt can only be bought from uniform shop. Logo PE tshirt, shorts, rugby top, hoody. Plus optional logo leggings, tracksuit trousers.

I make that 6 compulsory logo items plus the expensive specific skirt.

Technically it's not 'boys' and 'girls'. It just says button up shirt plus tie or revere collar blouse no tie. Navy or black trousers. But realistically 90% the girls wear the skirt and revere blouse, a few navy trousers and all boys the black trousers, button shirt and tie.

DS is leaving after exams so not my fight to take up but they're not sticking to the guidelines, are they?

Our school made the change very early. I applaud it- but it’s a grammar which does do a lot to widen access to those from more economically challenged backgrounds, so it’s in line with that approach.

I dont find DDs uniform too expensive (but understand privilege, so whats cheap fir me is expensive for soneobe else)

Blazer... £27.
Skirt (kilt)... £26
Tie £5
PE top £10

(Then £10 on pe skort, about £20 on shirts over the year, and similar on tights. £40 on shoes)

Compared amount I spend on leggings, hoodies and trainers out of school...and shes not even into brands!

I’ve just checked our school and it’s not changed since dd started in 2019. PE tops must be logo’d. The jumper is optional anyway. Blazer can have the badge sewn on instead of buying the specific blazer. PE bottoms no longer have to be logo’d and they dropped the Under Armour school logo kit the year after it was introduced and said plain bottoms were ok although I think the skort is still with the school logo. Two suppliers are advised for the uniform.

My DD school was already compliant - blazer is the only item of regular wear (and we got a badge and sewed it on an M&S reject from eBay blazer), plus tie and one PE top. Everything else is optional and they only have one further branded rugby shirt that's even available. No branded trousers, PE shorts, skirts even sold.

That’s clearly out of line with the guidance @Endoadnowarrior Would challenge it (and bring the example to the attention of the DfE by email, since they should state it explicitly in the guidance.)

I am quite surprised so many schools still have ties and blazers!

Surely it's better to be comfortable while you learn

I am wondering if my sons' school will get around it by saying that the young people can wear a plain white t shirt for PE and only the PE jumper has to be branded. In theory the PE jumper is optional. However, in practise, they will need a PE jumper if they are playing rugby/football etc outside on the field in January.

They also say the PE trousers do not have to be branded. However they do have to be made from a particular kind of material. I have struggled to find trousers made of this material anywhere other than the school uniform shop. A pair of black jogging bottoms is not allowed. The girls have to wear a branded skirt but the boys can have black trousers from anywhere.

I agree. The pressure for endless pricey and fashionable outfits would be huge without school uniform

Ours is down to two now - tie and PE top. if they choose to, kids can wear a a school blazer, a school jumper, branded PE hoody and PE shorts.
They stopped blazers being mandated a few months ago in order to make the uniform more affordable. In summer last year the head was still insisting on blazers in the height of summer so it shows how arbitrary it all is, really.

That's late notice, ours issued a letter last July-ish so that incoming year 7s for 2025/26 didn't need to get everything previously agreed for as rules would be changing a year later

Ours is blazer, tie, pe shirt and annoyingly branded rucksack. Whilst the bag is fairly decent it cost like £35 it has a small hole a year later on outer waterbottle pocket and crucially isn't waterproof, I energy I will buy a couple throughout time on secondary. For my older son I bought a super dry bag before he started year 7 which was fully waterproof so booked were protected and he had now left school and it's still good his go to day out bag as wipr clean so no stains.

I hope they don’t reduce it. I’ve voiced my opinion to the secondary school against it. I like my daughter to look smart.

DS1 is in year 5, our first choice secondary school has branded jumper or hoody, polo shirt and PE top as compulsory items, but then lots of extra optional sports items which I imagine DS (who is sporty) will want.

I think DM has kept one or two of our old jumpers :😀 and there's always lots of spare uniforms from friends with older kids getting offered (fingers crossed!)

Ours has always been compliant, but then has an eminently sensible head. Jumper, PE t shirt and PE jumper branded. Tie. The rest is a free swim.

Personally I think state school uniforms should have price caps instead of abolishing them. I like uniforms as it means less stains on other clothing, they’re easy for me to keep track of, no begging for specific clothes to wear for school and no bullying for what’s being worn. Price caps, or just limiting branding to blazers/jumpers for primary/ties would help.

Yes. They've gone from poloshirt, sweatshirt ( branded) and skirt or trousers ( unbranded) to shirt, tie( unbranded) and jumper (branded)
Pe kit no change with shorts a t-shirt branded.

My dc are so glad it didn't happen when they were there.