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Original poster

School Uniform Policy In Scotland

36 replies

aedcur · 22/08/2024 13:16

Hi everyone, I'm new here.

Because of my husbands work commitments we've had to move from Ireland to Scotland recently. Our daughter (17yo) started at her new school last week and is in S6. Thing seem to be going ok with her so far but I had a major shock over her new uniform and was wondering if anyone could help me rationalize it.

Back in Ireland her uniform skirt was an ankle length tartan kilt with jumper and shirt. Imagine my amazement when I saw her on the morning of the first day. Tiny, tight black micro skirt shorter than the blazer with long black socks pulled up over the knee (she says she will tights in winter), and tie hanging loose over a too tight blouse with doc martin boots. And a face full of makeup to boot. Apparently her new friends took her shopping the previous weekend and told her what to wear to school. It doesn't look like a proper school uniform! HELP!!

I dropped her off at school and noticed nearly every girl had a skirt on that could be described as bordering on indecent. A friend (a teacher in fact) of mine here says other schools in the district are the same, one in particular is actually worse which I can hardly take in. She says nearly all schools in Scotland are relaxed about uniform, as long as it's the school tie, white shirt and everything else in black then anything goes.

I don't want to contact the school as we're new here so I don't want to rock the boat but it looks awful to my conservative fashion eye (she thinks it's so cool and her friends in Ireland are so jealous it seems) but I can't understand how what are in some cases revealing fashion outfits are allowed in class. I want her to fit in but I suppose hoping the school might do the hard work for me is beyond hope I'd expect. If only for a quiet life!

Thanks in advance for any insights.

OP posts:
TickingAlongNicely · 26/08/2024 20:34

If my DDs ever complain about their English school skirts, I know have some pictures of Irish ones, as I was in a bit of disbelief about ankle length kilts!

SandyIrving · 26/08/2024 20:30

Sounds similar to our area too. I got used to the bum freezer skirts and makeup. If its any consolation now my DD is at uni her clothes have got more conservative and she only has her full face on for clubbing. Managed to get her to wear a skater skirt and opaque tights and loose the platform docs for a work placement in 4th year (finance).

Two of mine stay in areas where secondary schools have no uniform (Hyndland and Gillespie's and the kids are more casually dressed so wish there was a no uniform thing at all).

Glad your DD embraced the dress code in advance. Friend of DD who came from Ireland into S1 told everyone they were hooers and would go to hell. The nuns had done a good job on her.

DuckBee · 26/08/2024 20:27

Parents in England are quite jealous of the Scottish relaxed attitude!

dementedpixie · 26/08/2024 20:26

My dd wore a skater skirt rather than the tight pencil skirt. It was a bit longer and less indecent than the latter. She wore long black socks with it.

As long as they wore the tie and blazer and black skirts/trousers with a white shirt then they complied with the uniform policy.

Greenfinch7 · 26/08/2024 20:25

Don't worry about it-
I think it's good when schools don't get too involved in policing clothing. If it is a good school and she is settling in happily that is so so much more important.

(I went to an amazing school in the USA with no uniform policy, which is normal here. Going to school in punk clothes with a full mohawk, didn't stop my classmates from getting into Harvard and doing all sorts of amazing things in their lives...)

MontyVerdi · 26/08/2024 20:22

Has she missed Highers completely? (Off topic I know) Or is she doing Highers/advanced Highers.

My 15 year old started here at 5 and I've scared the bejaysus out of him talking about the Leaving Cert, Peig and mounds of homework...

MontyVerdi · 26/08/2024 20:19

Yep, am Irish and Scotland based. Uniform like that here.

Heatherbell1978 · 26/08/2024 20:18

My DS goes to a private school where they obvs have a different stricter uniform policy but ankle length skirts are extreme. DS can wear sports gear to school on PE/games days.

Heatherbell1978 · 26/08/2024 20:16

Yep. Where I am it's a black hoodie with the school logo and black leggings or tiny black skirts. High top converse too. Lots of make up. I went to a local high school with no uniform policy at all so it feels better than that to be honest as I hated the brand culture and bullying that caused. At least they can look the part on a budget I suppose.

StickChildNumberTwo · 26/08/2024 20:12

Yep, sounds about right for round here. Our school's logic seems to be they wanted a uniform policy people would actually comply with, so it's fairly relaxed. Complete contrast to my niece in England. But in England there seem to be actual consequences for non-compliance whereas the worst that will happen here is a phone call home, which only makes any difference if the parents want to force the issue.

Hope your daughter is settling in well.

Justwantosay · 22/08/2024 13:28

Its standard for my area, uniform rules are lax. Even some Primary school girls are wearing the short skirts. Your DD's previous school uniform does sound quite extreme in the opposite direction though.