School changing to an Academy - Uniform costs!!

Have you asked why are they changing uniform just because they are changing to academy status?

Our secondary school changed to academy status last year but treated it purely as a funding change - the name of the school and the uniform (very practical sweatshirt and black trousers or skirt) stayed exactly the same.

There's really no need for all this uniform bollocks - it just seems llike HTs and governors getting a bit giddy over their new found power.

Actually, I agree with you, bruffin. As long as the uniform is affordable for all the parents at the school. Which is why I think the description-of-type-but- no-specification-of-outlet is the ideal compromise.

As long as uniform regulations are stuck to, it doesn't matter what the uniform is. And IMO the cheaper and simpler the uniform is the more people that will stick to it. It's hard to get a jumper/shirt/trousers wrong but with the whole blazer/tie situation there are a lot more regulations to be broken. Surely that's simple enough for schools to understand?

The best uniform comprimise I've seen is a woolen v neck, school tie, white shirt and navy trousers. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive (only tie and jumper from school shop) and everyone looked smart.

It could be worse though. I remember at secondary there was the choice of two blazers, one considerably more expensive than the other. That left a lot of scope for bullying :(

"Though, bruffin, if you have non-uniform, there is always the possibility of explaining to your child how much they can spend on clothes and make sure they just don't get any more money"

I would much rather they look the same,and not have to worry how they look at school and who's wearing what. The only question is "have I a clean blouse/shirt" today, not spending ages deciding what outfit to wear.

I LOVE the idea that Uniform is essential to make a good independent school. Happygardening will chuckle when she reads that.

At my girls school the uniform was ESSENTIAL to reduce bullying.
And at my DCs school it levels the field between those who shop at Hollister or Primark.

And I agree that making existing pupils change uniform is wrong, no matter which sector its in.

Cory - I've just realised that I know some of your DHs current and ex colleagues!!

Imho the cheapest solution is neither non-uniform nor very formal uniform but a basic uniform of dark trousers/shirt/sweater that can be bought from any outlet: cheaper than the full works special school blazer but harder wearing than most clothes a child might want to wear.

(Though, bruffin, if you have non-uniform, there is always the possibility of explaining to your child how much they can spend on clothes and make sure they just don't get any more money)

DS's basic uniform was:

Prep - blazer, plain white shirt, plain grey trousers, jersey, tie.
Blazer was expensive, shirts and trousers M&S, Jersey - yes expensive. Sports kit - good grief. However, there were regular 2nd hand sales and when he joined the school I bought 1 blazer (full price), and shirts/trousers from M&S. The rest, including jersey, socks, sports kit was £27.00 at the 2nd hand sale.

Senior school - much the same. One blazer lasted for three years - £95. His trousers are the £12 ones from M&S.

Doesn't sound too bad does it. What I don't get is if one of the most exclusive schools in the UK can manage a reasonably priced school uniform and tidy(ish) pupils, why can't all schools.

Adds caveat that the sports kit is expensive and ds has a lot but only because he is very very sporty. The non sporty boys get away with the basics.

DD's independent school uniform (we moved her after two years at a comp) was slightly more expensive than the comp and the bill for kitting her out came to £400.00 .

All the schools my DC have ever attended (four in total, two state, two private) have had very well organised second hand sales. Overall I have spent far less on school uniform over the years than on their casual clothes or on my clothes.

£6.50 on ebay, finishes in a couple of days.

I'm being disingenuous, of course that's the best rationale for uniform, and of course it's harder to get the very latest on ebay (though realistically, anyone is going to wear their best stuff for a newspaper photo). I still think the amount of time and energy spent on uniform is a waste and that there are plenty of perfectly good schools without it. The uniform sweatshirt/jumper plus generics is a good compromise, which the OP's school is deliberately ignoring.

What the uniform is does not make a difference - changing from sweatshirt to blazer will do nothing to boost results. I am all for attention to small details - we are strict on uniform, bags etc, but the only item that has to be bought from us is the sweatshirt. Everything else can be got at Tesco.

Am shocked by your attitude therose - no insult from me because you sadden me that you can be so utterly high handed. Lots of us work hard too - sometimes for very little reward. Let's pray that you never have to find out just how hard life can be because I can tell you right now you will have one massive shock.

But it costs a lot more to outfit them in those clothes for every day wear, and fashions change and they will want the latest fashion for school so replacing a lot more often. One of those hoodies costs £50, a lot more than a blazer. It would be lot more noticeable if they only had one, if they are wearing it day in day out.

The quicker they all wear uniform the quicker the discipline will improve and with it results.

Haha. Joke right?

Ds has three pairs of shorts. I'm rather at the thought of them only being washed every two weeks.

Why do you need 3 pairs of trousers?? Even at a very good boarding school where laundry is done for them fortnightly they only need 2 pairs of trousers at most. And you don\t need a tumble drier to have them hang for a day or two at weekend.

The quicker they all wear uniform the quicker the discipline will improve and with it results.

Takver, he's an archaeologist.

theroseofwait Sun 06-May-12 20:06:44

"Nowhere have I called anyone a 'prole' (such a lovely turn of phrase) and I'm glad I'm found hilarious - I would find you good people that can't afford to feed and clothe your families properly hilarious if it wasn't so serious. . . ."

Why is it hilarious that some of the people who do the work that the rest of us depend on are paid so badly that they struggle to afford essentials? I don't find it funny at all.

Less depressing but still not hugely hilarious that some of us who are a bit better off would prefer to spend our surplus money on educational activities rather than on a posher uniform.

That's exactly my point. On mufty days at ds's school pretty much all of them are in designer surfing labels. Ds is usually dressed head to toe in Next and is pretty much unique in what he wears. I don't see the point in spending lots of money on stuff he'll grow out of in a few months. The only thing I do spend money on is good shoes.

with the difference, bruffin, that they can wear those clothes all day every day.

this article made me laugh The clothes in the photos must have cost the price of the whole set of DCs' uniform, and all they have done is swap one uniform for another.

At ds's school they wear shorts so even though ds has grown like a weed he is only in his second set of shorts since reception (they start out almost trouser length and gradually get shorter and shorter!). He is still in his tracksuit purchased in reception - now slightly too short but not enough to really need replacing yet.

I prefer a school to have a uniform as it stops all the label-competitions that otherwise seem to result. I also think it is odd that state schools don't seem to have secondhand uniform sales (at least not the ones that I know, which is several).

DD is about 5'5 now so has grown probably two or three inches since she started.
The skirts are supposed to be worn between two inches below and above the knee so if you buy them on the longer side gives room for at least 4 inches growing. Skirts are much more forgiven for growing children than trousers. I bought her blazer slightly big but still fits her fine. Blouse I bought for a 14 year old and still fit her. Bought one school jumper and she had her brothers, (boys never wear school jumpers at dcs school) and they still fit well. I don't think she will grow much more. Skirts are uniform shop only as none of the supermarkets sell that style, buts as tough as old boots and washes and washes.

DS yr 11 and has grown 10 inches has had two sets of school shirts and three blazers and a few sets of trousers. He has had uniform shop blazer and M&S blazers and bought the badge and sewn it on. One of the m&S blazers fell to bits which is why we had to replace it, but not for growing room.Even now he is in mans sizes he has m&S trousers that cost £10. I have also kept to short sleeve shirts as they grow

I tend to buy uniform when its cheap ie 3 for 2 in M&S etc and never buy new sets in one go after yr7.

It is illegal to deny a child a place of education because of school uniform.

Check with your education authority - uniform is NOT compulsory at any school!! My parents were told this a long time ago by our LEA when they needed a grant for me... it didn't happen. Hold your ground and politely tell them that you cannot afford and will not pay for such expensive items. The deputy head of a school near to me said that if a parent took such a matter to court then the parents would win as there is no legal stature to wear a school uniform anywhere.

It's not often posters get to me but two people on here tonight have got me fuming over their narrow-mindedness and ignorance! Shame on you!

And uniforms have fuck all to do with how good a school is. I really hope this academy status/new uniform combo isn't turning into another back-door selection process and putting traditional catchment areas off applying because of cost.

(Getdown, that's a bit odd - we don't have wardrobes either but ds has hooks on the back of his door, he does at least know what a coathanger is.)

The amount of time and money spent in this country on school uniform is just scary. I would happily see the whole lot gone. And I used to be pro-uniform, until ds started at a school that didn't have one.