School uniform in sixth form

Tbh, imo, the better the school, the more strict the dress code

This is so not true. There is no link between achievement and uniform. In fact badly performing schools often overly focus on uniform.

I left teaching last year, but spent 25 years teaching in one of the country’s top state schools.

Uniform in KS3 and 4. No limit on hairstyles/makeup
KS5 could wear anything as long as not revealing it offensive.

Frequently beat both the local private schools in A level results.

Dd1 wore whatever she wanted bar a few rules on decency eg no crop tops and skirts/shorts not too short (state). Dd2 wore uniform (private)

We've not had school 6th forms for years here unless you're paying for private education or going out of area to grammar. Those places have uniform but the colleges don't. The only dress code is suitable for the subject and not offensive.

*JennyDune(
Tbh, imo, the better the school, the more strict the dress code

We do have a weird attachment to uniform in this country. Most others get by just fine and produce well educated young people without prescribing the minutiae of their clothing.

Fwiw for many years I taught in a top independent school which had no uniform or dress code in the sixth form, and the results and behaviour were/are outstanding. There are far better things to occupy your time with sixth formers than the colour of their jumpers.

My children's state school has uniform in 6th form but it's different to the rest of the school. It's the only school in our area with a uniform. All the rest have a "business dress" dress code. I prefer the uniform. It's smart and straightforward, relatively inexpensive and not open to interpretation. Virtually everyone I know who has children at other local schools have had to spend quite a lot on 6th form clothes as their children's normal clothes don't meet the dress code, and quite a few have have outfits rejected by the schools as being unsuitable. At least with uniform you know where you stand, and you don't need as much either as nobody is worrying about being seen in the same outfit twice in a week.
I think business dress is the worst of both worlds. It's still clothes teenagers don't really want to wear but it costs more than uniform and takes more effort. Either have a uniform or let them wear what they actually want!

[quote JennyDune]@Cattitudes

I meant generally. Obviously there will be some individuals who are the exception/s.[/quote]
I meant schools not individuals around here it is very much as Finknottlesnewt describes. It is the 'up and coming' schools who have the strictest dress codes, so your prejudice against certain schools would definitely be misplaced.

DS wears a suit/ tie or smart trousers/ waistcoat/ tie. The girls are meant to wear business dress but it seems much more loosely defined. It fits in with the whole school focus on uniform and presentation.

@Cattitudes

I meant generally. Obviously there will be some individuals who are the exception/s.

[quote Placido]@JennyDune do you really only judge a school on those limited criteria?[/quote]
I would disagree that what i said was a limited criteria. Imo, its the main purpose of school.

Other stuff, like life skills, DIY, cooking, social skills, behaviour need to be taught and reinforced at home

My children both went to single sex grammar schools. My son had basically full school uniform (suit, tie) though suit could be grey/dark blue/black. Daughter had no uniform and pretty much anything goes. On balance I prefer the latter, though it does cause some extra stress too.

I think the worst is "business dress". What on earth is that supposed to be? What a pain! And particularly crazy when University doesn't ask for anything like that.

[quote JennyDune]@Placido

I judge schools based on academic results and the proportion of pupils who go on to study good degrees (medicine, dentistry, etc) or good universities (red brick, etc).

And you can most definitely judge a school/cohort's behaviour on appearance. As someone who lives near several schools, the children/school who are well dressed usually behave more orderly.[/quote]
Ah well your prejudices would be misplaced near me then.

Most round here specify formal business attire (suits) or office wear (ie smartish casual, not denim or sportswear.).
DD travelled some distance to a more liberal college, where as a PP said, they emphasised turning up on time and doing the work over the students' appearance. I was fully supportive of this. I felt she needed to grow as a person and find out who she was rather than be squashed down.

@JennyDune also absolutely nonsense that smartly dressed children behave better. I have a DN at Eton and there is plenty of drugs and drinking and vandalism and bullying going on there I can tell you!

@JennyDune do you really only judge a school on those limited criteria?

My husband wore full uniform in sixth form - independent boys.

I went to a state sixth form college and had no uniform or dress code really.

Different for each school here..2 pretty much wear what you like with some limits 1 Different tie, 2 business smart, privates all suits for boys.the girls private is own clothes within a tight framework.

My ds changed from a suit school to a wear what u like.....which is fine but they also had to meet minimum standards as well...which we discussed beforehand so clothes couldn't be the only factor

Ds's sixth form is pretty strict. At the open evening the head laid it out that they have a dress code and it includes, no shorts, no sandals, no vest tops, no hoodies, no joggers and no ripped jeans. Cue loud sighs from lots of girls wearing ripped jeans some of which revealed entire thighs and looked more like chaps than jeans.

The head said quite frankly if you care more about being able to wear ripped jeans to college then we don't want you here as you do not have the right attitude. He said you have plenty of time outside of college to "express yourself" clothing wise and you can do it then. You come here to learn and progress, not walk a catwalk. Loads of parents were nodding in agreement.

Amazingly it is oversubscribed every year and there is plenty of choice locally. It has really good results and cares more about your attitude to learning, your engagement with college life including all the clubs and enrichment activities than it does about top grades. They focus on the individual and achieving their goals rather than being selective. I can't fault it. And before anyone says they must bake in summer, nope, it is a modern purpose built place with air con and a fucking branded coffee shop inside. Times have changed.

I have 2 kids at grammar school sixth form

Both have no uniform.
boys school asked for no hoodies ripped jeans.
girls school has no rules at all as far as I can see

Ds has "business wear" which is defined as a dark suit (for the boys), shirt and the school tie with proper shoes for boys. Ds calls it a uniform as he wouldn't dream of wearing any of it for any other occasion. (Dh goes to work in jeans and jumpers / anything he likes.....)

It's uniform (slightly different uniform to the rest of the school) at my kids secondary school. Its same for other schools in the area too. I also had to wear a uniform in 6th form so it seems totally normal to me.

There's no information on the website, which is annoying.

DS2 is in year 9, I'll have a look at their 6th form dress code. I'm interested now.

I've never know a sixth form to have a uniform. Round here it's office wear.

I had school uniform in sixth form at my comprehensive school back in the ‘80s. There’s still a uniform in sixth form now. Seems normal to me.