Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

When are you buying new school uniform for September ?

31 replies

caringdad66 · 01/06/2014 15:08

My DS starts secondary school this September.
I am getting different advice from relatives and friends ,regarding when to go out and buy his new uniform.
Some say leave it as late as possible (ie last week in August),because obviously hes permanently growing,whilst others say go in late June to beat the rush and ensure stockists have a good selection and plenty of sizes to choose from.
I can see the benefit of both and would welcome your advice and thoughts.
PS DS is growing an average of 4mm per month ( 2 inches in past 12 months )

OP posts:
CharlesRyder · 01/06/2014 17:11

If you have to go to a uniform shop don't leave it until a weekend in August. It will be hell on earth and there will be nothing left.

DS is starting Reception in September and I have an appointment at the uniform shop tomorrow. I will just err on the side of caution with sizes.

FourForksAche · 01/06/2014 17:05

john Lewis and m&s, sainsburys or tesco for polo shirts.

trying to leave it as late as possible as my 2 seem to always have a growth spurt in the summer holidays. (annoying!)

HolidayCriminal · 01/06/2014 16:59

Sort of trickled items in... anything with logos I ordered in early-mid July. Others when it was convenient. For full secondary school there's a lot to get & I wouldn't want to try to get it all at once. There maybe 2nd hand sales at the school, sellers will make selves known induction evening if not before, so I would wait until then if at all possible.

DS entering KS4 needed new blazer + jumpers for tomorrow; we've only got blazers & will wait until October for the jumpers.

I bought DS's KS3 blazer too big which he rather resents me for. Blush

creamteas · 01/06/2014 15:34

IMO It sort of depends on how specialist the uniform actually is!

So white shirts/grey trousers can pretty much be found everywhere into August but, for example, green jumpers might be more difficult to get later on.

At my DCs school, they gave out discount vouchers for local stockists at the new parents evening in July, so might be worth checking for that.

soddinghormones · 01/06/2014 15:28

Dd staring new school in September - we're getting her uniform next weekend - secondhand sale on sat and fitting session at uniform suppliers on Sunday

I really wouldn't leave it until August - there'll be nothing left in your ds' size ... Also don't buy it too big - I never grew into the blazer my mum bought me (and I'm 5'7" so it's not like I never grew Confused)

Picturesinthefirelight · 01/06/2014 15:26

Assuming its the standard secondary school everything has to have a particular logo/be a particular style uniform then as early as possible.

We bought dds uniform on induction day last June. We tried to swop a couple of items for bigger sizes (skirt/track suit bottoms) in August & wernt able to get them until middle ofvSrptember.

A skirt we ordered in January a few days befire she went back she lost one) came in stock in her size during the Easter holidays.