Those schools that have rules like "you must not take your blazer off even if it is 30 degrees" - why?

THe point of stupid uniform rules is to exert control over children (this is why superstitions have so many stupid taboos,, too)and make them know their place ie subject to the whims of adults. The idea is that you get the kids used to obeying, no matter what and this is supposed to be 'good'.
TBH that level of petty stupidity around uniform rules would put me right off a school. It would suggest that the staff or at least the heads are inadequate control-freaky tossers.

I do agree that uniform can help behaviour. However it must be an enforced uniform for that to be achieved. Certainly that has been my experience.

However, I do not agree with the whole blazer on in hot weather, or no coats in the winter. That is just daft. And a rule that I would challenge as a aprent actually.

DD's school has a uniform with blazer, etc. But the blazer is a jacket only and is never worn in school at all, only on way to/from school, to sports centre, swimming, etc. They also have a winter coat, treated as above, and in wet weather than can weather a waterproof sport;'s jacket (school one) or a cagoul over instead.

I can't think of any justification for them not being allowed to ask if they may take their blazers off - as you say, the teacher may not always think to offer.

I'm in favour of the argument that enforcing uniform gives teenagers something safe to rebel against - I'd rather they were arguing about skirt length or shade of tights than anything more exciting.

But some headteachers/schools do take it to absurd levels. Clearly enjoy exercising power a little too much. Or have issues about gender stereotyping - there's always at least one story about some boy with long hair every year...

Yep, it's a control issue, HerBeatitude, at least in the places which don't allow them to take them off. I worked in one and also thought it stupid, along with the insistence on ties and how many stripes they had to have showing . The amount of time that can be wasted spent sorting it out with unco-operative 15 year olds just isn't worth it IMO.

DSs first headteacher spent an extraordinary amount of time issuing dictats about the colour of girls' hairbands, scrunchies etc. which he could well have spent on improving their education.

I'm now liberated from such nonsense - there is a blazer somewhere on the uniform list but I've seen about 2! - and they seem to behave just fine.

The whole thing comes down to using a bit of common sense.

What I don't understand is why students must wear strict uniform - but teachers do not have to wear a suit and tie. If uniform is so important then the teachers can wear suits and ties in the heat too. Not that's it's that hot often - but it does annoy me when it is and the teachers are not wearing ties.

I went to school in South Africa where obviously it's ridiculously hot - and we had to have our blazers on at all times, and the top bottons of our shirts permanently done up, as apparently it made the whole school 'look smart' Unsurprisingly, pupils used to faint from the heat on a daily basis!

They do say the worse the uniform the better the school

I'm just glad I didn't have to wear the culottes the girls had at dhs school

I think it's a control issue tbh, and it's crap. It shows no respect for the child, so how will the child learn to respect others?

I think if teachers spent a little less time fannying about with uniforms, and a little time more engaging with the children, a few kids might actually learn something!

Our school made blazers compulsary this year after saying that most parents voted for it which is something I don't believe for a minute.

Anyway they are struggling to enforce it. As long as my ds have their blazers with them in their bag and can show them when asked that is as far as its went.

So I have spent 60 quid on 2 blazers, they won't wear and spend their time crushed in the bottom of their bags.

I don't agree with them

They claim that strict uniform rules improve behaviour.

Our local secondary has a rule that pupils may not wear anything over their blazer, whatever the weather My friend's DD was threatened with suspension for wearing a coat (plain, navy, waterproof) in the snow last winter.

I think its wank myself. Its just something thats relatively easy to enforce to give the impression the kids are being kept in their place.

I went to a school where you had to have permission to take it off. Most of the teachers were pretty reasonable though