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Original poster

Wearing PE kit to school

202 replies

DappledThings · 17/12/2025 08:31

Our primary school (DC are 8 and 9 in years 3 and 5) have decided that from next term they will be doing what I know a lot of other schools do and spending all day in PE kit on PE days.

I hate this for multiple reasons so if you already do this and you don't hate it please can you explain why as I can't see past the extra hassle it is for me and I'm fairly pissed off with it.

1 - I have had to order extra kit. If they are wearing it all day they will get food down it and it will need to be washed every day so I now need duplicate kit for when one set is in the wash. Previously it just came home on Fridays so easy to wash at the weekend

2 - I have to remember every day who is wearing what and tell DC. Minor but just another thing to remember in the morning rush I could do without

3 - Both have a sports based after school club once a week on non-PE days. This used to not matter because they just changed into the kit that was already on their pegs. Now it's a day they have to go in uniform and remember their kit that I've had to give an additional wash to. So three different routines in one week.

4 - they will just look scruffy 2 days a week in a mishmash of blue and black joggers and hoodies and whatever else vaguely PE related people.chose to send their children in wearing.

It just seems like a massive hassle the school are putting on us to save themselves a few minutes of chivvying the class into changing quicker.

OP posts:
Countmeout · 17/12/2025 16:09

As an ex teacher I appreciate the time saving aspect. However as now a grandparent I find it makes them look less smart , in fact positively sloppy. They look like a rag taggle bunch coming out. This was a fairly smart primary in a naice area. It’s done nothing for their image.

NotTonightDeidre · 17/12/2025 16:12

You've got ot into your mind that it's going to be a faff, a hassle, an inconvenience....

Half of mumsnet tell you it's actually easier & more beneficial for the kids & yet you're still looking for problems.

WhatMe123 · 17/12/2025 16:13

I like it
Less missing clothes
No changing at school which for older ones must be stressful
I just write on the calendar the days showers what and give it 2/3 weeks I know the timetable
Less wear and tear on clothing items so a cardigan is only worn three times a week instead of 5 and then lasts all year before it's faded etc

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Original poster
DappledThings · 17/12/2025 16:18

NotTonightDeidre · 17/12/2025 16:12

You've got ot into your mind that it's going to be a faff, a hassle, an inconvenience....

Half of mumsnet tell you it's actually easier & more beneficial for the kids & yet you're still looking for problems.

I'm not looking for more problems, I'm just not convinced my annoyances aren't going to come to life once this kicks in in January and responded to specific questions.

It is, objectively, more hassle for me to have to have a new system for working out who needs to wear what on what day, ordering duplicate kit to cover the extra day of wearing it, getting it put away and available again more often etc.

Not a huge inconvenience but an inconvenience nonetheless. Which I am happy to continue to find annoying and complain about! And I will continue to find it less aesthetically pleasing. Which again is very far from a significant problem but will remain an irritation.

OP posts:
WhatMe123 · 17/12/2025 16:20

Less labelling clothes too as they don't take them off well apart from jumpers

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 17/12/2025 16:24

It is SO much easier!!!

Little kids dont get sweaty so unless they end up wearing their lunch down themselves (which at those ages they shouldnt) then a tshirt can be worn twice in a row and washed.

Its comfy, practical in summer, less expensive (a PE tshirt is well cheap from Asda) and much better for the kids to help maximise their learning rather than their day being wasted by a teacher trying to get 30 kids to get changed twice.

AquaShark · 17/12/2025 16:25

We have 1 day pe, 4 days uniform. We find it really easy to remember and no hassle at all. No lost uniform to worry about and must free up loads of time for the teachers.
If he does an after school sports club on a non pe day, he just needs sports kit, doesnt have to be school colours so he can just pack joggers and a t shirt.

Sounds like it will be a transistion initially but hopefully not too stressful once you all get used to it.

Mumofoneandone · 17/12/2025 16:40

I prefer my children in their proper school uniforms, as they do look 'smarter' .....they are both very active and can manage this even in uniform.
Whilst I struggle to get my head round the different pe days, it is easier overall, as there aren't so many bits of uniform going missing.....the white t-shirts, particularly with my son are a nightmare. The school does have a darker logo one, which might be an option but isn't cotton........

PloddingAlong21 · 17/12/2025 16:51

I much prefer it, way less hassle.

  1. they go in the kit so can’t lose the kit by not packing it away etc
  2. leas uniform is purchased - white polos we’re the worst design choice for primary kids. PE uniform hides stains etc better so don’t need replacing as frequently anyway
  3. comfier
  4. start of the week I put 5 piles of clothes out in sons bedroom so he knows what to dress into so I don’t get involved in the mornings - that’s on him

Only thing out school do is on non-PE days if that child has after school sports club, they can just wear PE kit all of the day too so they don’t change at 3pm.

we have PE two days per week so 2 days PE kit and 3 days normal. Some kids wear is 3/4 days per week though due to after school sports.

Autumnlassx · 17/12/2025 16:56

Our school decided to do this after the autumn term and it got me mad as he has pe twice a week and is a messy kid so I had to go out and buy another set. Had they decided this at the start of the school year I wouldn’t have bought as much of the actual uniform and would have ended up saving money

purplehearts21 · 17/12/2025 17:18

My dd has been doing this for 5 years, she has pe twice a week. She’s got two pairs of leggings, 2 pe tops, two hoodies, one pair of trainers. Why would you need anymore than that?

Original poster
DappledThings · 17/12/2025 17:24

purplehearts21 · 17/12/2025 17:18

My dd has been doing this for 5 years, she has pe twice a week. She’s got two pairs of leggings, 2 pe tops, two hoodies, one pair of trainers. Why would you need anymore than that?

I don't need more than that but that's twice as much as I need now! 🤣

OP posts:
user789543678885432111 · 17/12/2025 17:25

I used to hate this, and now I think it’s brilliant. Buying the extra kit is a one off, and once you are in the routine of it, it’s sooooo much easier. It’s not just a few minutes saved at school, it used to take most of the time allocated to PE. So your children will get loads more time for PE. As they get older, getting changed gets really awkward, and most primaries they have to get changed in the classroom. some girls start their period in year 5, so it’s much much easier for them to manage.
I was annoyed when our school made the change, but it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Bubble678910 · 17/12/2025 17:34

My children's school have done this for years and I much prefer it to be honest. It saves a lot of time and there's less lost property with them not changing at school!
I'm not sure how it's creating extra washing as surely you wash PE kit after every use anyway, plus their 'normal' uniform for that day?
The PE kit is a bit more scruffy I guess than their normal very smart uniform but the school have done quite a bit in recent years to streamline it and make it smarter.
Also, my eldest used to do a couple of sport clubs after school but they were always just 'own clothes' rather than PE kit.

Jijithecat · 17/12/2025 17:37

It becomes an issue in secondary school when they suddenly have to be changed for pe in three minutes and have no concept of getting dressed quickly or keeping their belongings in one place so they can get changed again after the lesson.

Wonderwall23 · 17/12/2025 17:50

I liked it. In fact it's the thing that springs to mind when I think of anything good to come out of covid.

DS's PE kit was just white t shirt and blue joggers though...he just wore his normal school sweatshirt on top.

I'd rather buy a spare white t shirt and a cheap pair of joggers than have to have a second pair of trainers (which is what I'd have had to do if he'd left his kit at school...either because that's the rule or by accident).

I'm not sure I see much difference between remembering to take your kit in on PE day versus remembering to put it on.

Original poster
DappledThings · 17/12/2025 17:52

I'm not sure I see much difference between remembering to take your kit in on PE day versus remembering to put it on.
It doesn’t need to be remembered at the moment. I have no idea which days they do PE. Kit goes in on a Monday and comes home on a Friday.

OP posts:
TurquoiseDress · 17/12/2025 17:56

Our primary moved over to this during Covid and lots of parents prefer including me!

Before the change PE kit would make it home at the end of each half term! They do PE on non consecutive days, I have 2 shirts (house colour) so can often get away with only washing it end of week

I much prefer it this way!

Lauzg90 · 17/12/2025 18:08

I think it’s a win!
It’s a shame they didn’t start it in September so you could shop accordingly.
But we have 5 uniforms. 3 full school uniforms, 2 PE kits and they all get washed once a week.
The kids are comfortable and I don’t have to remember another bag!
Also I did a placement in a primary school pre-covid. It took sooooo long to get the kids changed after PE. They then sat in a circle to see which had put their shoes on the wrong feet. It took longer than the lesson!
currently work in a high school and I still reckon at least 1/4 of each lesson is spent getting changed, such a waste of time.
As for the smartness, depends what your schools rules around PE kits are. I think it can look very smart.
Don’t send them with their school jumpers on PE days. You may think they look smarter but will likely just look different or be teased.
Also as others have said it is so much easier to wash than uniform.

jasminocereusbritannicus · 17/12/2025 18:23

Our school has been doing this since Covid. I’ve never heard any complaints about having to do it from parents. And there is far less lost PE kit. The class I work in has Pe on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Most people don’t have a complete change of uniform on ordinary days, so why should PE kit be any different? They wear it two days and then you’ve got 5 days to wash it !

Morrisdancer24 · 17/12/2025 18:24

I love it. You can buy 2 pack of joggers cheaply for around £10. This makes uniform far cheaper for us as our school jumpers are £20 each so I need multiples of those for 5x days. My kids are 10 and 11.

Nojudginghere · 17/12/2025 18:25

Re “It just seems like a massive hassle the school are putting on us to save themselves a few minutes of chivvying the class into changing quicker.”

The school are not intentionally putting a massive hassle on you to save a few minutes!

As a teacher, we have done this since Covid and we all wonder why we didn’t do it before.
it saves so much time (it takes way longer than you think to get a class of children changed.) Our PE lessons last an average 15 minutes longer now, so the children are getting an extra half an hour of exercise a week. We also get back the time that used to be spent sorting out the multiple (often unarmed) jumpers were mixed up / remained unclaimed after PE.

Many children didn’t take PE kits home regularly (however frequently they were reminded) so ended up doing PE in screwed up kits that had been festering in PE badges with sweaty trainers for weeks and those that did often forgot to bring them back. The kids learn very quickly which days are PE days. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I had a child in my class forget to wear the right clothes to school.

Re: your point about looking scruffy - they’re children, they’re still learning whether they’re in polo shirt and trousers or joggers. Most schools have a colour system for PE, so they all look relatively smart.

The smell of body odour isn’t overly affected by wearing PE kits all day. In UKS2, some children are not particularly fragrant, but this doesn’t seem to change whether it’s a PE day or not! (If anything, it’s better because at least the clothes are taken home and washed, rather being worn multiple times before going home.

I think you’re massively overthinking and imaging problems that aren’t actually an issue at all, instead of just accepting that your current routine will now alter slightly.

Original poster
DappledThings · 17/12/2025 18:28

Re “It just seems like a massive hassle the school are putting on us to save themselves a few minutes of chivvying the class into changing quicker.”

The school are not intentionally putting a massive hassle on you to save a few minutes!
You're right. I didn't mean they were intentionally wondering how to make my life a bit more difficult and this is what they came up with. Just that they they are saving themselves a bit of time and work and the net effect is hassle for me.

OP posts:
Canwejustnot · 17/12/2025 18:44

We have this situation too. PE kit on all day twice a week. We bought two sets of tracksuits and school-branded T shirts so we don't have a mad rush mid week with the laundry.

As the tracksuits are not regulated by the otherwise draconian uniform policy, you see a mishmash of styles and colours, whereas their regular day uniform is very smart. However the tracksuits we purchased come with cosy brushed cotton lining and I suspect the children are warmer and more relaxed as a result.

I don't like it but appreciate the bigger issues that it's easier for children and staff, results in less "lost property" as no-one is getting changed and means the school can repurpose changing areas for other activities.

Blessedbethefruitz · 17/12/2025 19:05

My ds is year 2 so ive never had pre covid school times. We had this since reception, 2 days of pe kit, 3 days of uniform. I don't care what they look like, just that they maximise learning/activity time. For my ds, it's been great, as he's sensory and even last year would panic getting changed if he got an arm stuck. I do find it funny that he, and his little sister, both got taught at nursery to change into pe kit once a week 🤣

I think it's great. Less to carry, less to lose, and with a hyperactive son, he is muddy everyday anyway so I wash it all daily. Ill probably feel different when stinky teenage sweat starts, I hope secondary is different!