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

Ours has school jumper and polo shirt only

If they want to wear a skirt they have to wear a specific skirt too, I guess that will count?

There are branded PE items but they are totally optional

Yes, ours changed this academic year- blazer, skirt and PE T-shirt are the only branded items (they discontinued the PE zip top when the branded skirt was introduced).

Yes, the best state school near us has no uniform. Far outperforms the other anfhools and everyone is desperate to get their child in (only about half the kids in catchment get a place because it is so popular). Not having a uniform has definitely not impacted the children’s ability to learn.

There are and have always been schools like this regardless of the uniform.

I went to a school without any uniform at all and it wasn't like Lord of the Flies or in special measures. The behaviour was generally pretty good and teachers didn't have to waste any time policing uniform.

The school was in special measures and we all misbehaved constantly. It was like Lord of the Flies. It was a point of pride for most kids to be sent out of lesson, extra bonus points for isolation and mega for exclusion. We could sniff weak teachers out and we’d circle like vultures till they broke then dive in for the kill. Furniture would be regularly thrown around, kids were constantly fighting, the fire alarms were purposely set off so we could skive lessons etc etc.

The uniform was a small part of this but I think it definitely did play a part. We didn’t look particularly smart and I think the majority of workplaces do expect this as bare minimum. It’s just basic pride in your appearance. I don’t think it needs to be expensive but I do think a logo jumper or blazer should be bare minimum.

Yes my kids schools (secondary) have updated their policies however the problem is that although theyve reduced the number of branded items that are compulsory to blazer, skirt/trousers and pe tshirt, they still have other "optional" branded items and where these exist they wont allow any non--branded items to be worn instead.
E.g. it is not compulsory to buy or wear the branded hoodie for outdoor PE in the winter, however the kids can't wear a basic non-branded one instead ! So basically, if you cant afford it (and at around 40 quid many won't be able to) then your kid has to freeze! Great.
It's a ridiculous "loophole" that only widens the gaps the changes were supposed to be narrowing!

My DS' school is trying to do this, but there has been a petition raised by parents and students to stop it. They are changing the uniform from a functional and comfortable branded polo shirt / sweatshirt to a white button shirt, branded v neck jumper, tie and branded sports top. Which means everyone will need to buy new uniform, the secondhand shop won't have any stock and there will be an estimated 6-9,000 items of clothing from existing students, that can't be used again. Absolute lunacy.

Out of interest, could a UK state school just decide not to have a uniform?

You may all have looked a bit bonkers, but it doesn't sound as if there was actually anything wrong with what you were wearing, and if you were comfortable it probably improved your ability to learn. Why does looking "kind of smart" matter?

What’s the problem with kids looking ‘insane’ and being able to express themselves? Why is it better to have school children all looking alike? How does looking smart affect their education?

I think it’s because when I was at secondary (in a shit failing bogstandard Blairite comp), we didn’t have branded uniform but it left the uniform entirely up to interpretation. This meant girls were turning up in 3/4 black trousers, boys and girls in cardigans because it said black jumper but cardigans were in fashion in the 00s so we wore those… We all looked insane. Actual uniform makes everyone look the same, kind of smart? I don’t agree with the insane prices though and something like PE kit shouldn’t be branded.

Oh this is interesting- I didn’t know of this rule change but it sounds good.

Im in wales so it doesn’t apply to us but my kids have optional branded stuff for primary (or you can buy just plain red/white supermarket uniform) and for secondary it’s a branded blazer (which seems to be totally pointless and live its life in my child’s bag), branded tie and branded PE top and that’s it. Other items are optional. I absolutely do not see the point of the blazer. I’m amazed your school has branded skirts, OP, I’ve not seen them before! So expensive to have buy so much branded stuff.

Ours likely won’t change because currently the only branded items are school skirt, blazer, PE polo, shorts and zip-up hoodie/rugby shirt BUT the hoodie and rugby shirt are optional for winter (my DC haven’t worn them since year 8 as they’re apparently uncool!) and most girls wear trousers.

These branded uniforms actually make me so angry. They wheel out the excuse that enforcing uniforms reduces bullying for the children who can’t afford expensive branded clothing…and then they compel them to wear the schools expensive branded clothing. Even in the underprivileged areas that I grew up in…I mean, wtf are they thinking?

I’ve also heard the reasoning that uniforms “prepare” them for the workplace, but that doesn’t stack up either because not all places of work have uniforms (not that you need to prepare in any way for wearing a uniform). It would be much more beneficial to give them a dress code so they get used to putting appropriate outfits together within guidelines, as well as giving families much more flexibility in regard to price range.

Ours updated the essential list last year, but they still have the non essential branded items that everyone has which singles people out if they don't have them.

Not yet, though I suspect the house colour branded PE tshirt will be switched for any t-shirt in that colour, which will take them down to the 3 items as a lot of the rest is optional anyway (i.e. any black jumper rather than the branded one).

Thanks for those who answered about it being England only.
I’m in Wales so it doesn’t apply, technically ours has 5 logo items. Blazer/jumper, tie, PE shirt, PE shorts or leggings and PE socks but nobody wears the socks, ever. There’s an optional long sleeved PE top too.
You also have to have course specific logo clothing if your child chooses a college course for GCSE, one of mine has and needs shorts and t-shirt and a long sleeved top.

I mean in Scotland.

My kids' primary school sold white t-shirts with the school logo for PE if you wanted them, alternatively you could just buy any supermarket white t-shirt. Shorts were navy and bought from anywhere.

Secondary rule was just any sports clothing - shorts and t-shirt for summer, leggings/joggers and hoodie for winter. No football shirts, nothing advertising gambling, alcohol or with offensive slogans.

Ours updated theirs last year, ties are not included in the new regulations for some reason. Sons school had blazer, PE top and PE hoodie, although the hoodie isn't compulsory uniform as in they don't have to have it, but DS does and they really need it for outdoor PE in winter.

This is a big improvement from when DD was at the school when, all PE kit was branded except socks and so where the trousers and skirts. Although we managed to get away with generic school trousers as the logo was so small and covered by blazer. As long as they where the same style and colour the teachers didn't notice.

I imagine they will have to do away with the skirts being logos.

Problem is that no one wants their child to stand out.

I would rather just scrap the most expensive item; the blazer.

Ours has updated and dropped a couple of branded requirements.

There's still a compulsory blazer, skirt with logo (although trousers can be plain black) and tie. The logo requirement on the jumper has been dropped.

PE kit is now 2 items with logo. The trouser option is now more flexible. There are still specific long socks. I think they're just choosing to ignore that they are still a required item you can only buy in 1 place.

Can the girls wear plain trousers? If so, i believe it makes the skirt optional, so not a required item.