I love a good illogical school rule!

[TheNightingalesStarling]

The email has come out. They don't need to wear blazers today due to weather.. on buses, in corridors, in lessons etc

However... they must carry it at all times. No leaving it home or in their lockers!

I know it doubles as a pencil case for many of them but would the world implode if they safely left them at home?

But that is only "democratic" for the years that voted.

it's not democratic for the new intake in the next year (unless it's an annual vote ?)

Now whilst this is of course only a simulacrum of the real world it is a loss of innocence.

I guess for a real taste of reality, the outcome should have been 52/48 😀

We did too. Blazers won by a landslide!
Student thoughts were they look smarter, needed less washing (so would discolour less), and actually worked out cheaper, as most people would just have one. Also bonus of it being an extra layer (as no one wore coats previously over the shirt, tie and jumper previous uniform), and having pockets to carry stuff.

We had a sew on badge, and most of the uniform could come from any supermarket - black blazer, white shirts, back trousers (or skirts, but most didn't wear them, as rules on length, tightness etc was an issue), black smart shoes.
Optional jumper with school logo, mandatory tie and mandatory sew on badge had to be bought from the proper supplier, and the school shop also held some - tie was £5 and badge was £3.
Pe kit was a polo from the school supplier, plus black trackies or joggers, and trainers.
It was costed up before it was brought in, and you could get a years worth of uniform (1 blazer, 2 jumpers, 5 shirts, 2 trousers, tie, pe top, and joggers) for about £100 from most supermarkets. I get this doesn't include bags or shoes, but realistically, nearly every parent would have spent more buying non-uniform stuff.

School uniforms are fab, but need to be implemented sensibly - no excessive amounts of branded and logo'd items, sensible rules for extreme weathers and sports, a bit of chill on exactly how it's worn, and support for those who genuinely need it.

We did too. Blazers won by a landslide!

What did they vote for the next year ?

Teenagers of course being well known for their well-considered, far-sighted and well-rounded views on things like clothing practicality, laundering processes, and being well-prepared for extreme weather eventualities 😆😂😂

Sounds like your children and mine went to the same secondary school @LoafofSellotape

I could never get my head around why a school thought they could dictate a child's internal temperature and punish them for daring to remove a jumper without permission.

They weren't even allowed to take them off on the walk/bus home.

DD was so proud of her rebellion. She and her friends often used to go to the beach straight after school.

And. They. Removed. Their. Jumpers. 😳😳😳🤣

They were some of the things that come up in the consultation process - we were the first school in our area to switch to Blazers, and we re-vamped the whole uniform, including colours and logo, so we had lots of in depth discussion on the school council about it, as well as getting thoughts from classmates through various means.

I've been involved in several things about changing uniform as an adult (Girlguiding uniform consultations, 2 lots of uniform consults at a job, plus on sports teams), and the one when we were at school basically was exactly the same and considered all the same points as those I've done as an adult. No idea why you'd think teenagers wouldn't consider stuff like the practicality of the clothes they wear day in and day out!

Good grief, lost property will be full on Monday! What a stupid rule. Glad mine have all finished school now.....

I could never get my head around why a school thought they could dictate a child's internal temperature and punish them for daring to remove a jumper without permission.

<slightly glazed look in eyes> "This is how we've always done things."

My favourite one is no earrings for P.E but can do (sports based) after school clubs wearing them, as well as (sports based) classes during the school day AND doing whatever they like on the playground during break times. Mental.

Crikey, if you’ve been involved in the Girlguiding uniforms in recent years, I hardly know what to say!

The last couple of Guide uniform iterations have been some of the ugliest, least practical, least hard wearing and least liked sets of clothing I’ve ever come across.

with our unit, and district. most units have had chance to do activities in consultation around the new uniform that's launching next year. The 7 year olds in our Brownie unit bring up some of the same things the 35 year olds on my sports teams bring up about uniform - affordability, looking nice, being practical, being suitable for the weather, and whether they're able to move properly in it. They were also keen on pockets!

FWIW, I absolutely was NOT involved in the creation of the current Guide uniform, and particularly dislike the dress and skirt!

Yes, DDs school has the same rule. You don’t need to wear your blazer this week but it must be with you at all times!

So DD’s blazer is stuffed in the bottom of her bag like a rag. In Year 7, we didn’t realise blazers must be taken to school in a heatwave (email had come out saying no need to wear them) and she had an after school detention for not being able to produce hers at form time!

Our instruction that blazers need not be worn came out a few weeks ago but it was only today that DS1 informed DS2 and myself that blazers must be taken with them (i.e. crumpled in their bag) at all times. Maybe our DC are at the same school 😂

You'd rather they didn't look smart?
Ok

I think strict uniform rules are totally mad tbh.

Primary schools have a better clue - generic grey trousers, white or blue polo and navy jumper or sweatshirt. Ideally no logos. Far easier, and as generic very cheap.

I'm a lawyer. I haven't once worn what would traditionally be called 'business wear' to work in my entire 15yrs+ of practicing! In fact, I don't think I've worn any shoes other than converse (summer) or biker boots (winter) since well before Covid. It's really hot today, and if I wasn't WFH for the day I'd probably have worn a summer dress and Birkenstocks to the office! Even when we have external counsel come in, they are just wearing chinos and a open neck shirt or smart t-shirt.

When our school voted for a new style of uniform, they retained blazers. They also chose to allow girls to wear.either a skirt or trousers
Actually they did consider well and take account of appropriate factors. Teen intelligence and sense of.responsibility.are often underrated.

I remember being SO excited when Jeff Banks launched the new Guiding uniform on The Clothes Show.

And then the massive disappointment from my entire family who were heavily involved in Guiding at the time.

The one that replaced that one was even worse!

Define smart.

Not looking like they were just about to go potato picking or to unblock a drain somewhere.

Sorry, I was rather looking for a more practical definition ....

I'm bewildered as to why anyone would possibly care.

@TheNightingalesStarling Has the school emptied a classroom to make it a lost property office for all the lost blazers???

I’ve had a similar email from my son’s school today. I thought it was going to say they could wear their PE kit as it’s forecast to be 30 here on Friday but no. They must carry their blazer around. It’s ludicrous. Apparently PE kits are only allowed when it’s 40 out. Barbaric.

We had one the other week…primary school. No hoodies allowed on PE days (as in as part of PE kit, they attend school all day in PE kit) due to health and safety. Leaver hoodies are allowed to be worn though. Go figure