How 'usual' is this?

ha! I once got yelled at on MN for saying that a charity shop coat costing £4 for a young child wasn't too much for someone to buy as required replacement

(some thread about a damaged £35 coat a child had taken to school and the OP couldn't afford to replace, woe was her, I should appreciate £4 was a lot for a skint person, how they didn't know they were skint when they paid the £35 wasn't fair game to discuss).

There are MN threads about secondary uniform expensively and with poor consultation changing when schools become academies, as part of the academy 'branding' for each chain. Arggghhhh.....

£12/£15 is not expensive though, is it?

Dds summer dress (state primary) are £18.95 each and she needs 3 to get through the week, and that's just the summer term...

My child is still a toddler, but news like this pushes me closer and closer to home education every day...

My old school asked parents if they would like a £25 kilt or a £13 logoed skirt last year. Obviously they chose the latter. I don't really understand how a uniform covered in logos can look smart.

In the case of my school it's not really fair that only girls have to have regulation bottom uniform. They said outright the logo is to stop skirt rolling!

Any old grey trousers for boys here, but have to be MID grey, not near black or skinny type. Girls have just changed from a pencil navy skirt (rolled up to form a belt, didn't we all do that??) to a checked, pleated version which is from the school shop I suppose.

After the first year of buying a ££ blazer for DS at the School Shop I found discounters on Ebay, for brand new blazers. Had to sew on the badge which ever way I bought it.

DD had regulation skirt and trousers. Saves the school complaining about skirts which are too tight, or trousers with skinny fit, etc. Everyone wears the same, there's no fashion show between the kids, just all the same. It was expensive initially, but I only had to buy twice from y7-y11.

I think if we do have school uniforms at all, it should be stuff they can move in and feel comfortable, like Brownie uniform. Most countries, with better education systems and outcomes than ours, manage without it.

Sometimes it feels like government education policy here is moving towards a North Korean model. You must not be an individual. You must start formal schooling at 4. You must be tested and scrutinised every five minutes. Teachers must not be allowed any individual professional flair but must simply tick all the boxes.

DDs school has compulsory skirt with embroidered logo, must be worn knee length, can only be bought from 2 places and costs £27 a pop. Then blazer, jumper, yellow blouses(!), 60 denier tights, all sorts of things for PE. September was seriously expensive for us!

But children don't come in uniform shapes and colours. So frankly, wearing one type of black trousers rather than another is going to make bugger-all difference.

I am happy to fork out £££ for clothes branded or otherwise my children want to wear. Clothes that look good on them, wash well and are practical. Their school uniform is none of those things so yes I begrudge every penny I spend on it.

Really?? Their education isn't important? And yes, wearing the correct uniform (and the message you send about that to them) is part of their education.

I consider the correct school uniform the same as buying say, the correct outfit for karate/football/gymnastics. It's being part of a team. School uniform is to 'be uniform'. That's the point, surely?

Uniform shop is totally standard here. But it was a breath of fresh air to find out they didn't need a regulation colour of coat; the only stipulation is that it must have a hood.

£15 is a bargain. DD's current school trousers from the high street were £40ish.

I bet all of those parents complaining about £15 a pair of trousers are happily buying branded £££ clothing for their kids.
I am happy to fork out £££ for clothes branded or otherwise my children want to wear. Clothes that look good on them, wash well and are practical. Their school uniform is none of those things so yes I begrudge every penny I spend on it.

Having kids is expensive!

I don't see the issue with this personally. Much better that they're all wearing the same.

I bet all of those parents complaining about £15 a pair of trousers are happily buying branded £££ clothing for their kids. Come on. Priorities!

£15? Seriously. That's a cheap pair of trousers. (and I'm skint)

Our school doesn't have logoed trousers but does have an official uniform pair 'available in 30 different length and waist combinations to fit any pupil.'

We tried them. They don't fit DD. Sainsbury's it is then.

I have got dds price list out. £12 a skirt. It's quite cheap really. Costs about the same as her normal jeans that she wears.

Tbh I would prefer that to them being in no uniform because it then becomes 'who is wearing what'.

As op said primary uniforms are really cheap. Ds got 2 pairs of school trousers for £8 in asda. But now dd is getting quite tall, you can't pick up the same sort of bargains as easily.

Dd is really tall for his age, by the time he goes to secondary he could quite easily be in mid teen sizes, which is around the same price as the uniform.

to be honest, have you looked at the price of teenage sized trousers and skirts?

ds can wear any plain black trousers. We looked at Asda, M%S, Tesco and BHS, (because he is ridiculously fussy about them being comfortable, while at the same time wearing them too low, so them don't fit)

Anyway, primary aged trousers were cheap, tow pairs for £12, but the teenaged sized weren't. They were pretty much £12 a pair across the board.

Ds uniform is pretty good in terms of cost, (blazer £35) and minimum logo (plain black trousers form anywhere, plain white shirts from anywhere etc) but with tie, pe kit, shoes, trainers, football boots etc etc , starting secondary cost us £200-£300.
dd starts in September, they have specific shirts and specific trousers, so it will be more expensive.

The good thing is he is year 8 and we haven't needed to buy any replacements due to growth.

Don't buy 2 jumpers, ds never wears his, because he has blazer and coat, and so doesn't need it.

The new free school here has very expensive uniform. It's not meant to be a selective school, but this is being used as a cyncial way to ensure poorer families deselect themselves IMO.

"I don't really think 12 squid for a pair of trousers is very much!"

Maybe it's not to you, but plenty of people are feeling the pinch right now. If you can't imagine that £12 per pair of trousers is hard to find for some families, please just take it from me - it is, especially as we have to buy DS at least two pairs at once when he goes up a size.

Have never heard of that here. (Non-academy, South East)

Trousers / skirts are bought wherever you like. They all look the same, what's the problem with that?

I'd be signing that petition if it was me!