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Original poster

Are you buying school uniform?

121 replies

UsernameNotValid · 22/07/2020 14:54

We're in Scotland so our schools go back in 3 weeks.

I'm normally organised for their return but I'm hesitant to buy DC's anything until we have a confirmed return schedule.

I realise it's planned to be full time but I'm not convinced and I don't know anyone who is!

OP posts:
ThisBear · 22/07/2020 21:30

We've been told essentially, try your best to wear correct uniform but nobody will be pulled up for wearing a reasonable effort (plain grey PE joggers from Tesco if your uniform skirt's in the wash, for example). Ours is a mix of couple of specialist supplier logo items and supermarket standard ones. They're usually quite strict but conscious about family budgets. So have got the basic specialist bits, and then the plain stuff that can go to use as everyday clothes if schools shut again.

LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 21:43

Just to try and gauge mood, those of you with kids in secondary school, are you content to have your children go in every day in the same blazer and tie even though workplace guidance (and yes I know it's only guidance) states that clothes should be worn once then washed? Especially even if you perceive no risk to your own children, are you content with your children doing this in an environment with clinically vulnerable young people like my ds?

dementedpixie · 22/07/2020 21:48

Ours has said no ties/blazers. Dh isn't wearing a tie at work either

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LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 21:53

That sounds so much more sensible.

I find it quite incredible that when I return to the office which I will do soon on an intermittent basis I will be required to wear fresh clothes every day even though we have stringent measures in place in terms of distancing and hygiene etc, but schools which by necessity have no social distancing tell pupils to wear the same clothes every day for a week.

LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 21:54

And I know that other countries have successfully restarted schools but they don't make students wear uniform.

2pinkginsplease · 22/07/2020 21:57

I’ve be bought new shirts, tights, shoes and blazer.

Skirts and cardigans from last year are fine.

Crunchymum · 22/07/2020 22:05

Yes but mine are primary and we are allowed "school colours" (doesn't have to be logo)

As it happens DC1 logo stuff still fits from last year and DC2 now fits into the smaller logo stuff (hand me downs from DC1) so I've saved £100 there

The rest (polo shirts, trousers and skirts) have been purchased already.

Can't be arsed trying to source it all in late August. Both have shoes that will be fine. They weren't long bought before lockdown as both kids feet had grown.

Crunchymum · 22/07/2020 22:06

My school confirmed that uniform is required.

IndieTara · 22/07/2020 22:25

Yes DD has her fitting on Friday. She's starting Yr7 so a brand new school and uniform which has to be embroidered with the school badge. Plus she lives between mine and XH's house so we can't just buy 3 blouses etc. It will be horrendously expensive

Calibrachoa · 22/07/2020 22:50

We've been told that the guidance schools have been given (England) is that uniform doesn't need to be washed any more than normal, so i assumed this must be because wearing a blazer 2+ days in a row wouldnt spread covid more than wearing it for a day?

LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 23:32

Maybe uniform really does have magical powers then, because people working in factories/shops/offices etc are advised not to wear the same clothes every day and to wash their clothes when they come home in order that their workplace is covid secure.

SarahTancredi · 22/07/2020 23:39

Maybe uniform really does have magical powers then

The special power is that its cheap crap sold at massively inflated prices and it won't stand up to daily washing so its preferable to have parents wash as normal and pretebd its safe, than risk natiomal uproar cos even the grammar school 50 quid blazer will look like shit in a fortnight.

Calibrachoa · 22/07/2020 23:47

I'd be able to send dd in new every day as we've got dd2's old knackered blazer, dd1's hand me down and i could buy next size up. How long does covid stay infectious on clothes for? so i know whether to wash or quarantine clothes

Calibrachoa · 22/07/2020 23:51

people working in factories/shops/offices etc are advised not to wear the same clothes every day and to wash their clothes when they come home in order that their workplace is covid secure How would washing clothes when they come home make their workplace covid secure? If someone gets covid on their clothes they won't only pass it on if they wear them the next day. They can pass it on the same day.

LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 23:56

It's what is advised under the government guidelines for risk assessments that employers carry out re health and safety requirements.

LinemanForTheCounty · 22/07/2020 23:57

Covid stays on surfaces for 72 hours.

labyrinthloafer · 22/07/2020 23:59

@Calibrachoa

people working in factories/shops/offices etc are advised not to wear the same clothes every day and to wash their clothes when they come home in order that their workplace is covid secure How would washing clothes when they come home make their workplace covid secure? If someone gets covid on their clothes they won't only pass it on if they wear them the next day. They can pass it on the same day.
I assume the logic is a fresh start each day.

To be honest, most of it is rollocks, what you need to do is distance, masks, cleaning. None of which will happen in school.

I can't see the point of washing the uniform given they are doing nothing else to limit spread, apart from asking them to congregate outside the gates instead of inside the gates, as they wait for 'staggered start times" haven't Ng all got off the same bus Hmm

Calibrachoa · 23/07/2020 00:03

The guidelines our school have given is to try and avoid public transport, which isn't a problem for a lot of kids at the school including mine, who can walk, but will be a nightmare for some places. Eg. The sixth form college has 1250 per year group who come from all over on packed public transport. Nightmare

RoseMartha · 23/07/2020 00:17

No because apart from shirts which are very off white and looking a tad grey after being worn for over a school year and possibly shoes as feet always grow during the summer everything else will have to do as money tight.

MrsTidyHouse · 23/07/2020 07:22

TheCanyon
Thanks for replying, which is a different situation from cuntyclub's reply. it looks as though different schools do different things. I'll just have to wait and see. School doesn't reply to emails over summer.

Our school is boiling hot, with a great deal of glass but windows that open only a couple of inches. I imagine a hoodie will spend a lot of time over the back of a chair or on the floor or in the bottom of a bag. I plan to put their uniform in the wash every day, because DH and I are both vulnerable on several issues. It could be an expensive year.

icebearforpresident · 23/07/2020 08:04

The only thing I haven’t bought are shoes. Kids school have said they will be back in uniform regardless of whether or not they are full time as planned or part time so I’ve had to get new polo shirts and skirts/pinafores. I’m in Scotland so school back in a couple of weeks so will get shoes ordered over the weekend although we’ve been told kids will be outside as much as possible and I’m struggling to find any decent girls shoes that aren’t open at the top.

For those of you stressing about getting feet measured, Clark’s sell foot gauges! I got one a few weeks ago and will check the measurements before ordering. Never again am I doing the mad rush for school shoes!

dementedpixie · 23/07/2020 08:08

I ordered dd shoes last night from Clarks. She is 16 and has had size 5 feet for years so I just ordered the same shoes as last year - Hamble Oak leather brogues

Hercwasonaroll · 23/07/2020 08:08

Bit hard to justify 33 quid on a blazer for 2 days a week maybe...rip off

Is it though? Blazers last at least a year, in many cases two and I know some students have lasted 5 years on one blazer. Even 2 days a week for 39 weeks you are wearing it 78 times. That's less than 50p a wear based on minimum wear. Odds are you'll be back FT anyway.

I don't understand people's outrage at school uniform prices. I couldn't clothe my child daily much cheaper (apart from the branded jumpers). Caveat is I don't wash it every day.

Oblomov20 · 23/07/2020 08:17

Already bought all of ours ages ago. everyone I know has already bought as well.

never leave it till the last minute. One year, early on in August, all skinny trousers were sold out and Ds1 was worried he wouldn't get any. I learnt then!

all the shops say keep the labels on and if they have a massive growth spurt and you need to change it before September we will exchange.

So it seems sensible to get it all done as early as possible.

SarahTancredi · 23/07/2020 09:26

Is it though? Blazers last at least a year, in many cases two and I know some students have lasted 5 years on one blazer. Even 2 days a week for 39 weeks you are wearing it 78 times. That's less than 50p a wear based on minimum wear. Odds are you'll be back FT anyway

5 years on one blazer? Really ? Dds gone through 3 sizes in 2 years. Not one of the blazers has remained in tact either. The lining rips, buttons come off. The quality is utter utter shit.