Now it’s warming up, it’s time for seasonally moan about secondary school uniforms

[Soubriquet]

Whhhhhhhy?! Why must they have a thick ass blazer that traps in all the smells of puberty? Why can they only take it off if they ask for permission?!

They know they are hot! They shouldn’t have to say it.

Christ. What’s wrong with a nice shirt and jumper that students can remove when needed and not these thick stuffy blazers.

Schools like to lecture and say it prepares you for the working world, but how many jobs actually require a worker to wear a blazer? Plus, as an adult you don’t need permission to take it off!

Is that not the same in a skirt or dress though? And realistically, how often do people actually fall over?

My suggestion is that anywhere that requires a uniform should be required to do some sort of equalities/health & safety assessment

This would include hot weather risks

I agree, it was shit when I was at school and it’s shit now. Can’t believe more parents don’t remember how shit and hot and pointless it is. I’m fully prepared to start a petition when my kids start secondary 😁 they can take their blazer off whenever as far as I’m concerned, literally who cares. Stupid rule.

My sisns school (secondary) is polo and jumper. The jumper HAS to be worn in corridors or for assembly. My son comes home literally melting in this weather. (Obviously he takes the jumper off as soon as he's in the playground, but he's still a bright red sticky mess!). I asked him how many teachers wear jumpers in the corridors in this weather. None.

It's so weird.

One of the biggest gripes I have with "no coats, only blazers" is that blazers are always navy or black, or at very most dark purple or dark green. Kids - well everyone but especially kids - should be encouraged to wear a bright jacket to be more easily seen by drivers.

Thankfully the HT at the new high school locally has a really sensible take of "if you're hot take off your coat, but make sure what you've got under it is a white shirt or polo shirt with a jumper or cardi if it's not roasting and without if it is"

@Mumsnet could consider a wider campaign around this...

I 100% support school uniform but I would love to see polo shirts and jumper or sweatshirts as the standard uniform for primary and secondary schools. Shirts, ties, blazers are wildly outdated (especially for girls, but boys too). As a boy mum I'd like to see shorts as an option too.

I think that schools feel like they can't 'break' from tradition as it will make them look bad in their local community or something. I certainly think that my DS school is like this. In reality I don't think parents care that much at all.

Yes my DS school has this rule about blazers must be worn in the corridors. What's that all about?

DD’s school have woollen blazers but taking them off isn’t an issue - they must bring their blazer with them every day but it’s no big deal if whilst at school/in class they just want to wear their jumper or shirt. It’s batshit to me that some schools make DC ask permission to take what is essentially a coat off!

I remember reading an article about this... how all the boys rebelled by identifying as girls (although you probably dont even need to do this!) and walked in wearing skirts and blouses.

It was all a joke to them, no shame, just took it for laughs. The school immediately changed its policy.

Yes my DS school has this rule about blazers must be worn in the corridors. What's that all about?

I don't know if it's the same everywhere but the local school here used to have that rule. They pointed out to parents that the rule meant there were basically no lost blazers because the kids remembered to lift them because of the sanctions. When it was voted on to lift the rule it came with a "do not be ringing us every time Mary or Billy lose their blazer" warning from the HT

I would 100% get behind a summer uniform option of shorts and polo and no blazer.

I think it’s borderline cruel to inflict them in this heat, one teacher on Tuesday told the class to put their blazers back on in class at 2pm in full heat.

Any headteachers or SLT on here who can explain why they are so obsessed with this strange rule…blazers on, tights, long suit style trousers??

Sorry didn’t mean to quote, thought I’d done a separate post!

I think HTs and SLTs are totally out of touch with the modern workplace, I’m a solicitor in a silver circle law firm. You rarely see anyone wearing a tie, let alone a full suit. You can wear trainers to the office if you’re not seeing clients.

You can usually tell the vac scheme students and new trainees as they wear a suit when no one else does! Nothing wrong with that, better to be too smart than too casual, but I hope they don’t spend too much on them as they won’t get much wear!

Kids uniform should be cheap, practical and comfortable. That means no blazers, tailored shorts allowed, polo shirts, no ties, black shoes of any kind (including trainers).

Ah yes I guess that makes sense to be fair!

I work in a secondary and would co-sign everything you said. It’s absolutely crazy. I know the idea is that if you hyper control the small stuff then when it comes to the big stuff you already have control, but dear god I don’t think it’s in anyone’s best interest to be forced to wear such restrictive clothes especially in warm weather.

It's very cruel. Blazers tend to be hot polyester.

Glad my kids are past school but I remember it well.

One of mine struggled with PE in winter as she felt the cold, I got her gloves to wear. The teacher who was also wearing gloves told her to take them off as not part of the PE uniform. I don't forget these things!!!!

I liked my blazer. There was a school-wide vote when I was 14 and we voted to keep it as compulsory throughout when previously it had only been compulsory up to year 9.

Yes you had to ask in every lesson but it was always agreed. Didn't have to have it on at breaktimes and when it was really hot the headteacher had a big chalkboard outside his office announcing "warm weather dress" which gave blanket permission to take it off all day.

Worked fine.

DD school has blazers but they can take them off and when it’s hot can take off ties. She wears short sleeved shirts all year round and whatever socks/tights in a neutral colour.

Personally I feel a smart and strict uniform sets the tone for behaviour and standards in a school. Polo shirts and tracksuits aren't appropriate at all for school.

It is no surprise that the vast majority of top schools have uniforms with blazers and ties.

Of course individual teachers should allow DC to remove blazers if a particular classroom is exceptionally warm. I don't believe any school would not allow that to happen.

@WatermelonLolly

Presumably the teacher felt the room was cool enough for blazers to stay on? What reason did they give?

I’m not a huge fan of blazers, but our school don’t have heavy wool ones - they’re fairly light, and easily washable. And I def wouldn’t prefer jumpers instead - they’re much warmer and also go manky much more quickly. Despite all the best efforts from the kids, the blazers always look really tidy.

Def think they should be allowed them off in class when it’s hot. Our school is pretty sensible and doesn’t tend to delay permissions in warm weather. If it’s really hot they can wear pe kit all day.

@Talipesmum

I agree. The default position at the DC's school is blazers on at all times.

However, if the temperature is over a certain level, the head will give permission for blazers to be taken off in class. It works well, as it is consistent and all DC are subject to the same expectations.

They didn’t give a reason just said blazers back on as every other class that day had let them take them off. Power trip?

I live near one of the ‘top’ public schools, where the boys wear suits. It was noticeable last year in hot weather that they were clearly being allowed to go without ties and their jackets. Meanwhile the pupils from the local comprehensives were looking hot and uncomfortable in blazers and ties.

I've mentioned earlier in the thread that when I was at school in the 80s, we weren't actually allowed to wear our blazers indoors - we had to take them off and leave them in the cloakroom.