Wearing PE kit to school

[DappledThings]

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.

We didn't but I am aware others did. So better for PE kit all day in addition to the other reasons given.

It’s much easier for the school and much better for the kids (not having to change in the classroom as well as losing pieces of clothing etc). Also more comfortable for the kids, mine loved it on pe days. You really are getting worked up over nothing.

I am completely the other end of this argument. I think primary school uniform should be pe kit every day. Why shouldnt kids wear temperature appropriate, flexible,comfotable clothes tgat allow free movement every day?

Most uniforms are so out-dated, wool jumper, blouse and skirt or pinafore with knee socks, or jumper shirt and trousers, no one dresses like that any more.

I'm another massive fan of them wearing PE kit all day. No changing, lighter bags, no lost clothes or shoes, comfort all day, no ironing....

On consecutive days it gets washed if needed and dried overnight either on the radiator or just worn again if it's not hideous and smelly. Easy peasy!!

If they could wear PE kit every day I would be here for it!

I'm in the minority here, but like the OP I'm not a fan. I have a big age gap between kids, so my youngest is my only post-Covid primary child, and I was surprised by the change. I think he looks scruffy in joggers and PE kit, and so lovely and smart in his uniform. And he even finds his normal uniform much more comfortable as he dislikes hoodies! It's not something I can be bothered to get upset by, but I definitely preferred the old way.

I also find this so annoying of the school. I have a foundation/ reception child and they refused to let him keep his PE kit on a peg at school- like they did in my time- instead they insist on child not being in uniform those days because they can’t be bothered

It's so much easier and practical for the kids. Presumably it also saves time at school as kids aren't getting changed before and after sports. It also cuts down on lost property (although mine will still loose 50% of what they wear each week but I see that as an improvement!).

I liked it when mine were in primary. Uniform 3 days, pe kit two days.

they managed to not throw food down themselves at that age, but if they had, it all just got washed at the weekend, just the same as if they lobbed stuff over themselves in normal uniform 🤷🏻‍♀️

I like it because the PE kit is easier to get on. I have girls. No tights no fiddly buttons 😂
Also PE days are monday and friday for DD2 so plenty of time to wash and dry. Only have one PE hoodie and the PE tops and trackies from asda george are cheap enough.

I much prefer it OP. Saves things being lost and having to think about kit. Mine has one kit because they don’t have it in consecutive days. But even if they did I think it’d be fine.

mine is old enough to not drop food (not enough to worry about) and any mud will brush off. Also don’t need a separate set of trainers which is handy. Used to have one for home and one for school. Now it’s just the home pair they wear in to school. Don’t need to worry about getting lost as he doesn’t take them off!

not old enough to be too sweaty/smelly.
I like that they don’t get changed in front of peers.
I think it’s better for school staff and quicker.
its flexible in that’s summer can be cool set and winter nice and warm.
more comfy than normal uniform.

im sure you can find space in a drawer/wardrobe for one one top/bottoms? If your washing them after one wear then ones in the wash anyway. PE kit can be quite lightweight.

my kids know their PE days and sort themselves out. Not younger than yours.

Hopefully you’ll get used to it!

Put out their school clothes the night before. So much less hassle.

Mine have done this since day 1 of year 1 but whatever they don’t wear to school they also have to pack and change into at some point during the day. With no way of knowing if they spent an hour or seven hours in their kit/uniform (they don’t seem to know themselves !) essentially most days I end up with double the amount of washing. Oh and some days they have to go in wearing their swim suit under PE kit or uniform! We have stuck daily schedules of what they need to bring or wear each day inside their wardrobes and downstairs for easy reference

I live in Ireland our school (most in our area) just wear active wear. No formal school uniform. It is a polo shirt, half zip top with school crest, tracksuit bottoms and trainers. SO much easier! Small kids don't need to be wearing stiff shorts and ties!

I loath this. At the school my DH teaches at many members of staff and parents lobbied for this to be changed back to arriving in uniform and I am pleased to say they have accepted for after Christmas.

I think it's great. Similar to others -

I would always wash clothes after wearing anyway; especially PE kit as it gets sweaty. So it doesn't have an impact on my laundry.
I buy fewer shirts / cardis at the start of the year and instead get an extra PE kit.

My kid has a sport after one of her PE days and it's easier for her to change at after school club when she's keeping her PE joggers on, than if she had to change out of her button up school shirt and tie.

She gets to wear trainers to school on PE day so her school shoes get less wear and trainers are much more practical anyway.

The most important bit is that they get more time doing actual PE rather than 1/3 of the lesson being wasted by clothes faffing!

I live in hope of this!

Our school have done this since before my two started (during covid). On the whole, I think it's great. Yes, you need to get into a routine of remembering who's wearing what on which day, but in the grand scheme of remembering things for school, this isn't much. Our school let them wear PE kit even if they're just doing an after school sport. So there's some sporty ones who might be in PE kit 4 days a week (mine are not that variety 😅) so you either have to be mega organised about your washing, or buy extra kit. Which is the only downside, as the PE kit is dearer than the uniform. It must save HOURS of time over the school year that they're not losing to everyone getting changed before and after. And they don't look scruffy. They're little kids. I hate them being in shirts and ties, the PE kit is much comfier.

To be fair it's a school attached to the city cathedral and one year group has an assembly in there most days. They didn't want pupils in the cathedral in their PE kit rather than uniform on a regular basis so that swung in favour.
Perhaps build a cathedral in the playground.

This is an excellent suggestion! I bet the school in the nearest town which is attached to the parish church and includes a beautifully old-fashioned hat requirement for all pupils isn't doing this PE kit instead of proper uniform business.

No they won't be.
Our church has whole school assemblies once a week and at least one class will have PE that day. None of them are in PE kit.
I am so glad to meet another person who thinks like this.

Ours goes in once a week in PE kit on PE day.

it’s far easier than sending uniform and PE kit on one day. Less washing really.

I haven't read the whole thread but ours do this and I share your frustration. We've also had a mid year change in policy and they can wear PE kit on days they have after school sports clubs. Next term my DS will wear PE kit 3 days each week (consecutive days - argh!). At the start of the year we bought 1 PE kit and 3 x school jumpers and polo shirts. I now need another PE kit and have too much uniform.

My DD's Primary School went back to this a couple of years ago. It's not been a massive issue for us, although I guess it will be yet another thing for kids to get used to when they move up to High School and have to go back to changing for PE.

I can see what you mean....but there are some up sides to this. My DD's school make her get changed back into her school uniform even if PE is the last lesson. Why bother?... especially when she feels sweaty after PE and then has to put her uniform back on. Yuk