Expensive School Uniform

redhat

at school not facilitating 2nd hand sales, DC's Private School do, it is promoted in the newsletter and run from school by parent volunteers every Thursday morning. Parents either get a cut of final sale price with the rest going to the PTA or can elect for PTA to get the whole amount.

Why not set up a Parents Facebook Group for Uniform sales?

15 years ago almost all the non-church schools in north London were uniform-free : haverstock, Hampstead, APS, highgate wood, islington green. But they've all succumbed, one by one. I think it's only the three you mention plus fortismere that are still holding out.

Yes 404 that borough..I had thought it was more than 3 but I guess you are right. They are succumbing. Let's hope AB, PHS and CSG never!

My sister has just had to do it for her daughter. The cost is ridiculous.
Was nowhere this expensive when I was at school (I even asked my Mum!!)

No second hand sales oh . Parents have raised it few times but that would of course divert money from the school shop and so school won't run one...

I have no shame and so I have approached some parents directly when I know they might have stuff they don't need anymore and might want to sell second hand. DS2 though is still wearing his year 2 rugby kit even though he's going into Year 5 in September . Fortunately he is by no means the only boy on the pitch in decidedly skimpy shorts!

Which borough is no uniform?

I think fork is in the same area as me. Though it's only three out of a total of 10 secondaries that are still no-uniform - the rest have all succumbed to drinking the uniform kool-aid at some point in the past 10-15 years.

I would say it's definitely easier and probably cheaper to not have a uniform, as they just wear random jeans, tops and hoodies every day. My oldest two were in uniform schools, the first one a state VA school with really expensive uniform (£400+ if you bought everything new), the second at a state VA school with mainly generic items apart from a few bits of sports kit. Youngest dc's school just has a PE T-shirt as the sole required item.

Redhat we got a lot of the pe stuff in the second hand sales to begin with. Fortunately ds's school was quite relaxed and we got our moneys worth because he was in the main teams. Wait till he needs a cricket bat!!!! I put DH in charge of that

Mine are always wearing uniform that is either too big or a bit too small since I make them keep it for as long as possible. I might have to stop feeding DS2 since the plan had been that he would wear DS1's cast offs but they're almost the same height now.

Its always been the way though hasn't it? I was at senior school (state comprehensive) in the 80s and we had to wear school uniform.

I agree though, yours is very cheap. Mine are at an independent and need:

rugby shirt x 2 different styles
rugby shorts
rugby socks
rugby skins (top and bottom)
opro mouthguard (compulsory brand)
rugby boots
tracksuit bottoms
hoodie
hockey shorts
hockey socks
cricket trousers
cricket top
cricket jumper
cricket cap
cricket pads
cricket gloves
pe/athletics top
pe/athletic shorts
pe/athletics socks
swimming trunks
swimming towel
swimming top
swimming cap
sports bag
p/e bag
swimming bag

and that is just the sports stuff - only available through the school and all branded. It averages about 25/30 per item. Then you need black trainers and white trainers (although these aren't branded). That's before you've even started on the non sports stuff....

Agreed re sixth form. DDs has a "smart office attire policy" which is going to cost far more than her school uniform as I am not likely to be able to persuade her to wear the same outfit every day. I would much prefer the uniform for another two years.

I never understand the horror about school uniform and its cost. It's an expense easily budgeted for and key items last a very long time. DD changed schools after Y8 and we had to do it all again.

They have to have clothes anyway and I'm pretty sure 6th form in mufti costs more. In fact it does cost more I've one through it and one doing it.

Academy in a quite deprived area. I've just bought DD a blazer,
2 jumpers, one skirt, one tie and a sports polo: £92.00

I still have to get (unbranded) trousers, 2nd skirt, shirts, shoes, PE skort, tracksuit, trainers, Astro trainers and plain rucksack.

Bloody kid is costing me a fortune.

I seem to remember the bill for the complete kit out in Yr 7 was £134, including track suit, PE stuff, the jumpers at this state comp are logo-d cotton.

It didn't all have to be replaced every year. I am
Not a fan of uniforms but if you were kitting them out for all day every day wear for 9 months it would cost more, wouldn't it?

Am I imagining it or do parents on low incomes / FSM get uniform vouchers?

Our local food bank distributes second hand uniform.

DD state comp 2009
Blazer 92.50

Which borough is no uniform?

DD state comp 2009

Blazer 92.50
Blouses £60 for 4
Skirt £27
Jumper £27
Sweatshirt £27
Embroidered PE hoodie 32.50
Socks, shorts, aertex £20
Leotard £20

Plus of course shoes, trainers, plain coat, bag.

Is it compulsory? Ours are similar, but the items that are only actually compulsory are blazer and tie. Everything else can come for tesco or asda.

OP, I agree with you - parents shouldn't be expected to spend a lot on school uniforms. I think that logos that you can sew on yourself should be available.

Then hand on your uniform when your dc have finished with it to someone less rich than yourself.

Your bill isn't unreasonable at all.

That is why I love our liberal London no uniform borough.

That's really cheAp.

All the schools in my area (I've got nephews & neices at different schools to my children) require one specific skirt or trousers with a logo on the wAistband. They cost about £20 each.

Blazers are about £30-35. Then there are logo PE skirt/shorts & tracksuit & polo shirt.

This is in a fAirly deprived city.

OP, can you buy the school logo and sew it onto unbranded items from another, less expensive shop?

Our school sells the logos separately so we can sew them onto plain polo shirts, jumpers and blazers (as well as selling eye-wateringly pricey ones with the logos on already). This means we just need to buy the - also pricey - skirt for girls, plus the P.E. kit, from the uniform shop. Boys' trousers, shoes, trainers and socks can come from cheaper shops.