School polo shirt- What is happening!?!

[WineLover600]

So today yet another of the local State schools near me have Announced that they will be Retiring the school polo shirt (worn by pupils for 30 years) in favour of a blazer and tie. Why are so many schools all of a sudden banning polo shirts. Earlier this year at a school that only allows polo shirts as a privilege for year 11s have also said they will no longer be allowed and will be required to wear the same uniform as the rest of the school. Am I missing something? Does it effect the Ofsted rating or something?

The kids voted to have a blazer style uniform and 99% sure it was something to do with the private school about 10 mins away from them!

While I was in High school one of the other schools decided to re-launch their uniform. Had vote with kids etc. They changed the blazer colour and voted for Aussie dresses as an option for the girls.
Year or two later our school did the same thing

Kids will be kids and take their fashion from whatever is local or on TV at the time.

our primary school in Scotland switched to shirt and tie from polo shirts about 7 years ago. They have been told that when they go back in August his year that due to covid 19 they should wear a polo shirt instead and no tie due to infection control.

My kids secondary school have advised to wear the shirt but no tie or blazer for the same reason.

Kids should never be asked what uniform they want. Kids are dumb and aren't the ones who have to pay for it and wash it. As someone said they'd be influenced by too much Harry Potter/American dramas set in private Manhattan schools/Australian soaps to actually think sensibily about what they are choosing to wear.

I have never got the obsession with uniform especially tie and blazer, and the guff about 'practise for the workplace' is frankly risiculous. I have never worn school uniform and have no problem wearing specific workwear, even company polo's

In primary the head sent a very condescending letter explaining the importance of uniform getting the children 'used' to it for when they are in the workforce, being smart etc, though as we live in a military area it's not a strange concept.

I had to stop myself from replying...but they could become teachers...

NB..I only know of the teachers at DS's primary who almost all looked as though thye had been dragged through a hedge backwards. I'm still scarred from having to view fanny lips through too tight leggings daily

But what is really important is piping on the blazer - it guarantees an extra grade in exams .

Now so many schools are part of academies they are run like businesses. A smart uniform, with a blazer and tie, is part of the ‘marketing’ and is done to appeal to middle class parents. It’s nothing to do with what is best for the children or what is best for learning.

I much prefer a proper shirt over poloshirts. Most poloshirts are made of polyester, so are uncomfortable and sweaty. Kids are sporting the”dragged through a hedge backwards” look, and there is no way of cheap school poloshirts looking even remotely decent.
Our school has poloshirts in nursery, in reception kids can choose, and from year 1 its shirts. I haven’t seen a reception child in the poloshirt yet.

DD1's new secondary has sneaked in compulsory blazers for Year 7s from this September. They had a perfectly nice blouse and knitted jumper combo before and it seems like madness to switch to blazers in the middle of all this upheaval and financial hardship for many parents. Still no ties, thankfully.

[quote QuestionableMouse]@clipclop5

They're kids, for fuck's sake. Who cares if they look professional?![/quote]
I’m only speaking from experience. My DD would much prefer to look neat and tidy rather than the standard dragged through a bush polo look. Personally, I love more traditional, unique uniforms. Ties for girls or young kids in general are the only thing I don’t agree with. Completely unnecessary.

Don't mind what it is along as. It expensive and blazers always tend to be
At primary mine has a school polo and jumper but it was optional and you could wear plain polo and plain jumper so cheaper
Secondary now it's school jumper and tie no blazer so again affordable as jumpers are t too badly priced and last well, all the kids look smart

I went to three different primary schools (we moved a lot) and 2 out of 3 had blazers. The other one didnt have a blazer but still shirt and tie. Polo shirts started to come in for primaries sometime after that I suppose. I still had no idea secondary schools had them.

I loved full uniform. At my school when I started in 1990 boys had to wear a blazer all the way through, girls only years 7-9. There was a pupil vote when we were in year 9 and it went overwhelmingly in favour of extending the compulsory blazers for girls all the way through as well. They have an excellent number of pockets.

Changed school for 6th form and had no uniform at all. Hated it. Quite a lot of us said we wished when they opened that 6th form the year above us they had started it with uniform.

My daughter's primary school uniform is a white polo shirt but many parents (me included) send the children in a school coloured one instead. The school aren't particularly strict on uniform and have never complained.

@bookmum08 when I first started as a nurse 16 years ago. We used to wear polo shirts. We hated them. Everyone was much happier when we went back into proper uniform a couple of years later. I loved my school uniform
Of shirt, tie and blazer. The rules were very strict. But no one complained as that was the deal when you went to that school.

Not that it matters right now as I'm WFH for the foreseeable but I would happily have a uniform for my office job if there was one.

My pharmacist friend was changed from civvies to a tunic and trousers uniform by her hospital a few years ago and she was delighted to no longer need a work wardrobe.

When I worked in a school 10years ago, the GCSE children particularly hated the poloshirt and sweatshirt uniform because it was 'babyish'.

The shirt and pullover/cardigan uniform can look smarter than an oversized blazer.

Ties on primary school pupils are ridiculous. There is a junior school near with blazers as well.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves What’s wrong with a junior school having blazers?

It is stupid anyway as most places are now a lot more casual in dress and I haven't worked anywhere that has needed a tie for years. Even my very formal last job that did have a uniform didn't require a tie.

I am not in favour of school uniform at all, but if they must have it, at least make it affordable. I remember how worried my mother would be every August when we had to shop for uniform. We would eat a lot of beans on toast that month. She hates uniform, especially when it can only be purchased in one place

@clipclop5 because primary school children need to run around and play not look like car salespeople? Because they cost £50 in an area where lots of families are on FSM?

I also hate blazer and tie. And no it doesn't prepare them for the world of work. It's such a minority of people who wear this to work I'm sure those who have to can cope without 5 years practice!

I also think girls/woman shouldn't be forever to wear them. Girls and woman should have blouses - that are designed for their biological shape.

I think black trousers or skirt and then different coloured polo and t shirt for schools.

I think schools do it to keep up with the Jones's. Like it or not some prospective parents look at the uniform when judging a school, so if one school gets a fancy uniform others in the area do too.

I agree that's probably true.

But it also works the other way! I discounted a local school due to the well known obsession they have with uniform, make up, shade of tan, thickness of tights etc.

I didn't want my ds going to a school where uniform inspections featured as more important than teaching and learning.

It's a highly rated school (or was).

20 of ds year group had left by Christmas of year 7!

@Aroundtheworldin80moves They have no problem running around in blazers?? £50 for an entire year, possibly longer in my experience isn’t bad.

In a lot of offices you can wear what ever you want these days. Computers programmers uniform mostly consists of jeans and t-shirt! Girls only ever have to wear ties at school so never understood that rather odd rule.

I am sooooo glad that my dc school has no uniform.
only policies are midrif and shoulders covered and no slogans.

@BogRollBOGOF My dd hates school because of the uniform she also has asd and the uniform causes her sensory issues and they not allowed to take the blazer off in class. shes been sent home some many times for taking it off.

Hate polo shirts, scruffy horrible things. Much prefer a proper shirt and tie.