Is anyone else’s school attempting to get past new uniform guidance by labelling items “optional”?

[Newschool3]

For example, it is optional for children to wear a pullover in winter, but should they choose to, it needs to have a logo. Some PE items do not have logos, but school specifies specific colours with particular stripes (which I can only find at school supplier shop).

Yes. The very expensive school skirts are optional because you can wear trousers. The pe socks are optional but you have to wear football socks… think you need the pe top but possibly not shorts. Other than the school skirts they are not too expensive tbf

That’s not getting round the guidance, because the guidance states “If a school offers optional branded uniform items, it should also ensure that wearing an equivalent unbranded version of that item is also permitted. For example, if it permits an optional branded woollen hat in winter, it should ensure it sets out any requirements for unbranded woollen hats that would also be acceptable, such as that they should be plain and black.”

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms

So I’d be buying the unbranded jumper.

For your PE kit issue, that would probably count as branded as well (from the same link)
“Branded items also include any item that, due to its colour, design, fabric or other distinctive characteristic, is only available from the school’s or trust’s appointed uniform supplier(s) – for example, a blazer with a logo embroidered or sewn onto it, a sweatshirt with a specific-coloured trim, or trousers with a unique style that are only available from a specific supplier.”

Schools need to get a fucking grip over uniform.

The school branded stuff is supplied by someone. If you can find the name of the manufacturer you can find the unbranded version of many items for slightly cheaper.

Maybe they are relying on parents of the new cohort not wanting their kid to stand out or being that parent. I too wish that schools would get a fucking grip on uniform.

How much is a branded jumper?

I think its parents that need to get a grip. The PE top at our school is a specific brand and colour, but with optional school logo, so within the definition of an optional branded item. Without the logo it can be bought from dozens of places online for about £15 and second hand on Ebay, FB Marketplace, etc for about £6 or from school sales for about £4. It's good quality so still looks pretty new after several owners, and the kids look smart in it so are proud to wear it.

Re: the pullover I referred to as one of the examples, it’s not that the logo is optional, it’s that if they want to wear a pullover to school, it has to be the one with the logo. That’s not really optional is it?

It is against the guidance. They must also provide an option for an unbranded pullover.

One of my DC goes to a school that has made zero changes and they have gone down this route of labelling most items as optional. The uniform is quite distinctive so even the three items which aren’t branded - two of them ( patterned shirt and pullover) are a specific design which can’t be bought at usual high street shops.

The other school has been great and actually changed their uniform a couple of years ago to minimise the branded items.

The guidance uses 'should' rather than 'must'. Use of must / should / could is deliberate. I would expect a school to be able to provide their reasoning for holding a position which is not the one they 'should' hold. I would also expect that most schools asked to provide their reasoning for holding a position contrary to one they 'should' hold will capitulate fairly quickly if queried on this.

If a school offers optional branded uniform items, it should also ensure that wearing an equivalent unbranded version of that item is also permitted. For example, if it permits an optional branded woollen hat in winter, it should ensure it sets out any requirements for unbranded woollen hats that would also be acceptable, such as that they should be plain and black.

Schools can require that generic items meet standards of modesty and are fit for purpose. Any such requirements should form part of the published uniform policy.

Same here, the school jumper is ‘optional’ but if you want to wear a jumper it has to be that one - so the the option is branded jumper or no jumper.

Does anyone know if Free Schools are exempt from this new guidance?
Our school has many branded items which are compulsory (especially PE kit) and I’ve heard nothing about any changes coming in

It applies to all schools. But "branded" means school branding, not a specific brand. E.g. if they require students to wear Trutex trousers or Falcon PE kit they don't count as branded, but if they have to have a school logo then they do count as branded.

If they want an extra layer of warmth they can presumably wear a base layer or vest.

Sorry, wrong thread - deleted.

Ours has always had optional stuff. I just don’t buy it. They don’t need an extra PE fleece or waterproof coat. They can just wear their normal waterproof coat.

Our school is a weird mix of very sensible day to day uniform - just a jumper and a tie are branded - but the PE kit is a bonanza of school logos. Cost far more for far less wear!

Can they get round this by offering a branded skirt but also offering unbranded trousers to wear? Or do they have to offer an unbranded skirt?

DC's school has had an optional jumper for years. The vast majority of students simply do not wear one. So, "optional" is the correct word as it's not a compulsory part of uniform in the way that other items are.

@JLbaby If a school offers optional branded uniform items, it should also ensure that wearing an equivalent unbranded version of that item is also permitted. For example, if it permits an optional branded woollen hat in winter, it should ensure it sets out any requirements for unbranded woollen hats that would also be acceptable, such as that they should be plain and black.

The school suggesting 'trousers' are the unbranded equivalent of a 'branded skirt' are taking the piss should be directed to examine the guidance for themselves and, should they need any support in identifying what the unbranded equivalent of a branded skirt would be, it could helpfully be suggested to them that an acceptable equivalent should probably be the same type of garment, i.e. a skirt.

Dd is moving up to secondary. There are 4 branded items that are not optional. Unique designed kilt, logo polo for summer, lolo pe top, logo blazer, logo jumper. Skirt is £36. The school will put you in detention for 24 hours if uniform is wrong.

I don't see the changes re saying kids don't need logo stuff applied toʻ our school at all. Also it's all been rebranded recently so very little available to buy second hand

@RedStripeLeaf Thanks. Thought so. I don’t fancy paying £35 a skirt so am going to ask about the unbranded option. The current uniform list on the school website is from 2021 so quite out of date.

Ref @Newschool3's example, if they want to wear a pullover to school, it has to be the one with the logo

Under the guidance this should also come with an unbranded equivalent. The pullover here is clearly an optional branded uniform item. The guidance is clear that optional branded uniform items 'should' have permitted equivalent unbranded versions. Schools holding an 'optional item must be branded' position could be politely referred to the guidance and asked why they think it is appropriate for them to deviate from it.

The school are breaking the rules then, which are there for good reason. I would politely point this out in a letter to the headteacher and chair of governors and ask them to urgently reissue the uniform policy to parents having ensured its full compliance.

A state school?

Hasn't anyone (politely) asked them whether they are able to count and/or read? And if so, why they think the rules on no more than 3 branded items don’t apply to them?

I’d be asking them to clarify which 3 are compulsory, and if I didn’t hear back, I’d choose the cheapest 3, and everything else would be unbranded. Why would parents put up with it? £36 for a school skirt!