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Original poster

School changing to an Academy - Uniform costs!!

140 replies

CardyMow · 02/05/2012 13:17

My DD's Secondary is changing to an Academy in September. During the consultation process, I asked the HT at the meeting if there were any plans to change the uniform like they did at the other Secondary that has already changed to an Academy, and only gave out one free set.

The HT reassured me, in a public meeting in January (the minutes of which are available) that they would most definately NOT be changing the uniform.

Fast forward to this week - we get sent home a price list complete with pictures of the new uniform, that can ONLY be bought from the school, at eye-watering prices. Only one free set will be given out. And none of the new, school-logo'd PE kit will be given free.

Horiffic white knee length pleated school skirt with black plaid pattern - £25. School trousers with Logo on the waistband (visible when blouse tucked in) - £22 a pair. The school will only give girls a free SKIRT. My DD hasn't worn a skirt since she was approximately 18mo. She wears trousers that cost me £12 for two pairs from Sainsbury's. She gets through a minimum of 3 pairs a week. I don't have a tumble dryer, so everything has to be dried on the airer and can take 2-3 days to dry (crap spin on my washing machine), so overnight washing and drying is not an option. Logo'd embroidered shirts, £17 each. New blazer (though this would be included in the free set, as would the new tie). New PE jumper, new PE trousers with logo, new PE shirt with logo instead of the plain white tesco one she has currently , new PE socks (logo'd, natch). Nothing coming in at less than £9.50 - and that's for the PE socks. OH - Logo'd kit bag too.

I am VERY pissed off annoyed, as 1) DD is already IN adult sized clothes, goes into Y10 in September, and her uniform would have lasted her till she leaves, and 2) I am NOT paying that amount of money for a pair of trousers EVER, and 3) I don't even HAVE that sort of money to pay for uniform, as I am on benefits.

There's no grants for uniform in my LEA, hasn't been for years. There's no Social Fund to get a loan from any more. I can't get a loan from anywhere else - not even Provident or Greensward because my LL (Housing Association) has barred them from conducting business on their properties.

And to make things worse - there is a high chance that as my younger dc's primary school is in the process of conversion, for September, that I may ALSO be facing this issue with those 2 dc, and then be unable to hand down any of the uniform I had saved from DS1 to DS2.

There is not a hope in hell of me affording ONE child's full set of uniform come September at these prices - three will just be impossible.

Are they REALLY allowed to do this? Change the uniform, just giving one free set, and no free PE kit, despite reassuring the parents that the uniform wouldn't change, even for dc in Y10? They will let the current Y10 (next years Y11) wear the 'old' (current) uniform, but not my DD's year and below. IMO, that STINKS.

Do I have any way to challenge this?

OP posts:
NarkedPuffin · 02/05/2012 20:49

I don't know what you can do about the rest of it, but only offering girls a free skirt should be something you can deal with.

Boyonce · 02/05/2012 20:48

We had a similar issue in our town recently and the local paper went nuts about it and it did improve things, the school agreed that the old uniform could still be worn until parents naturally replaced it. So try that and the other suggestions on here.

YANBU, btw, schools charge extortionate prices for uniforms and expecting parents to cough up that much is ridiculous.

ClaireAll · 02/05/2012 20:44

/shrug

They could stipulate that the Tesco tart skirt is the only acceptable uniform if they like. Somehow they don't.

Kez100 · 02/05/2012 20:43

So, ClaireAll, children from families that can only afford supermarket purchases for the majority of the uniform (with some logo'd main items like jumper/blazer) shouldn't receive an education?

Because that is what you are saying: that uniforms should only be sourced from strict suppliers which the law of supply and demand dicates will be more costly.

PuppyMonkey · 02/05/2012 20:42

Tell your local paper, good story.

TalkinPeace2 · 02/05/2012 20:39

Claireall
Sorry?
DCs school has
set blazer
set tie
set PE shirts
BUT trousers, skirts, shirts, jumpers etc are allowed from anywhere
and they DO NOT look like arag tag bunch at all
else they'd not still have the Royal Crest on their blazers

ClaireAll · 02/05/2012 20:29

It's not a uniform though, when it comes from various supermarkets. They end up look like a rag-tag bunch.

prh47bridge · 02/05/2012 20:28

Amongst other things I would be reminding the governors that it is a breach of the Admissions Code to have a uniform so expensive that it puts some people off applying. I would also remind them that having a single supplier is an anti-competitive practise, particularly when the single supplier is the school.

I would also remind them that the guidance to schools from the DfE says that they should ensure that the uniform chosen is widely available from high street shops and that, although it is legitimate for the school to use its purchasing power to reduce costs for parents, they should not be trying to act as sole suppliers in order to raise funds for the school.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 02/05/2012 20:06

And dearer Claire than H&M, Matalan or Primark for mufti, or supermarkets for uniform.

I'd be fucked off too, op.

BeingFluffy · 02/05/2012 20:00

If you don't have money for the initial outlay it is an impossible amount...

ClaireAll · 02/05/2012 19:45

It doesn't sound that expensive for clothes that are worn five days a week for most of the year.

Cheaper than Jack Wills.

Fayrazzled · 02/05/2012 19:42

"Surely this will put people off applying to the school?"

And ensure admissions are limited to more well-off families? Surely not...

BeingFluffy · 02/05/2012 19:36

My DD's school which is a comp (becoming an academy) already has an arrangement where all the uniform is bespoke from one supplier - it seems quite common around here - and they are changing uniform again in September as well. I think it is ridiculous that if people can't afford it there is no subsidy. Surely this will put people off applying to the school. Perhaps approach the HT direct, say you can't afford it and ask his advice? I am sure they have some sort of subsidy for those in real need at my DD's school but keep it quiet.

Kez100 · 02/05/2012 17:57

When our school went through the process of changing uniform we canvassed parents and students for their view. The Governors also used the logo only on major items, so that trousers or skirts etc could be sourced to fit at normal retail outlets. I would be horrified at such a demanding requirement ( where it wasn't before- obviously independant schools and some Grammars already have this very strict requirement in

TalkinPeace2 · 02/05/2012 17:42

Get as many parents as you can to write to the Governors
cc all of the letters to Gove's department
cc all of the letters to the local paper

My DCs school changed NOTHING when they converted. Not even the school name !

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