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I’ve cocked up on uniform

45 replies

Rigbyp · 31/08/2026 17:45

DD going into Y7. There was a uniform sale at the school in early July. A letter was sent out a couple of weeks later at the end of term stating they had reduced the compulsory items to three with a link to school uniform policy. A couple of days later I went onto the school uniform page on the school website - it seems some things had been updated on there such as pullovers for the school day or leggings for PE being optional, but needing to be purchased from the school supplier if wanted. Some other compulsory items (such as PE top and shorts) had to adhere to a very specific specification, which wouldn’t really be available outside of the school supplier, but weren’t mandated to be from school supplier. I thought we’d been organised and all we had left to buy was a coat and bag. When I cross checked everything with the uniform list, I’d made a small stupid error by just buying long white socks as that’s what’s shown in the uniform picture, rather than cross checking the uniform page. We were away in England so that was easy enough to sort. We are back now and getting uniforms ready for school. I’ve gone onto the school website and have the wrong stuff for PE. The uniform listed on the school website uniform policy document is different to what’s listed on the website’s uniform document. I’ve been trekking to different supermarkets today and there’s nothing left.

OP posts:
DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 31/08/2026 17:47

Is there a local town FB page or for the school? Do you know anyone with kids already at the school? There must be ppl in your town with this stuff that they might not need anymore?
Worth a try.

How stressful 😔

Halfblindbunny · 31/08/2026 17:48

You've lost me. But if you haven't got it you haven't got it. If she needs PE kit on the first day (unlikely) just send the best match you have in her current clothes and send a note to explain you will be getting the uniform as soon as possible.

Needmorelego · 31/08/2026 17:51

If you've bought based on what was on the letter that they sent - then surely you can't be the only parents who have done the same.
They can't send a letter with a uniform list and then afterwards change what they actually want.
I think you need to wait until you can speak to someone at the school and point out you used the list that THEY sent you.

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rosa24 · 31/08/2026 17:56

Last year we spent £12 on school branded PE socks that my DD has not been required to wear once and she has since, much to my annoyance, cut up to make arm warmers out of them! I'm not replacing them! You've been given two sets of information from what I can gather so if you've got the wrong socks, that's not your fault! Just send DD in with a note 🙂

itsgettingweird · 31/08/2026 17:57

How can you have bought the wrong stuff if it’s from a uniform supplier?

And hkw can you know what to buy when links don’t match policy or match the supplier?

Contact the school and ask for clarification. But make the paragraphs much more concise than your OP so it’s easier for them to follow - I’m a little confused beyond you’ve been fed different info!

Bitzee · 31/08/2026 18:05

Sorry I’m struggling to follow your post but if you’ve bought what was on the letter and/or the school uniform supplier website are you sure it isn’t acceptable and won’t a lot of people have done the same? Is it not an either/or type thing like they can wear joggers or a skort with skins underneath or something similar? Can you ask anyone with kids already at the school?

MellowSubmarine · 31/08/2026 18:13

Some other compulsory items had to adhere to a very specific specification, which wouldn’t really be available outside of the school supplier

They're taking the piss. This sort of thing is specifically mentioned in the stat guidance about having only 3 branded items. Items that are so specific they are not widely available outside of the school supplier count as branded.

Are you saying you’ve bought long white socks as pictured. But in the specific policy wording, it lists some other criteria these socks need to meet?
I’d send the socks you have, and quote the guidance about branded items at them if anyone bothers to look that closely at what are presumably broadly acceptable school socks.

MiceSpiders · 31/08/2026 18:17

M&S still have a lot available online and my local store you can click and collect for Wednesday night be worth checking if yours is the same

Justploddingonandon · 31/08/2026 19:20

I’m a bit confused but is it a case that you brought the old branded stuff but it’s now generic. If so, most schools will allow either for a few years to allow for growing out/buying second hand/passing down to siblings.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/08/2026 19:23

Your OP is a bit confusing, is there nothing hon can order from next, m&s, Asda? I don’t think you said what country you are in though. I think missing a few PE bits in the first week won’t be big deal.

Rigbyp · 31/08/2026 19:52

Sorry it’s garbled.

Start of July - induction session for parents. I’d seen on the news that schools were going to be limiting branded items to three, pls a tie. I’d wanted to ask at the meeting was if the school would be updating its uniform policy and if they had a uniform sale. They did talk a lot about uniform, how important it was to adhere to both on the journey and in school, uniform checks in form, sanctions if seen not wearing a blazer on the journey etc, but in all that, they didn’t mention the uniform would be changing. There was no verbal q and a, but parents were allowed to submit written questions and the school would send answers out to all parents. Later that week, an email was sent out saying that there would be a second hand uniform sale the following day. I managed to rejig plans so I could attend and got some PE kit there.

End of term - a letter was sent to parents saying they were now limiting compulsory branded items to three, plus a tie. There was a link to the school uniform policy.

The school website has a link to a school uniform policy AND a link to school uniform. These do not match. The letter sent out linked to the school uniform policy. When I was buying uniform, I just googled the school and uniform instead of navigating the school site directly. The link took me to their school uniform page. When I was buying the uniform at the supplier, I didn’t ask about PE items as I thought I had them from the school sale and they still match the school uniform link on the school website.

As for the socks, I’ve since realised I’ve cocked up again. The photo on the school supplier site shows white socks, knee length, so I’d just picked some up at the supermarket and didn’t think more of it. A couple of weeks ago when I was double checking we didn’t need to order anything else for DCs, I went back to the school uniform link and noticed that white socks were not stated. I’m not sure if they ever were or not or how old the photo is, so my mistake. The uniform link said socks had to be over the knee or ankle length in a choice of colours. Looking through the uniform policy link today (different to the uniform link), these now have to be under the knee ffs. I think I can pick these up easily enough and have a couple of ankle pairs in an appropriate colour myself as a stop gap this week.

I’m not sure when the government’s stance on limiting uniform became policy, so maybe the school were hoping it wouldn’t become mandatory or didn’t have time to update everything in time. PITA though. The primary school took the guidance on board really early on, but I saw a recent thread on here with schools trying to find ways around it. I’d assumed the secondary school were just one of those as uniform seems one of their highest priorities…and I’ve cocked it up already.

OP posts:
MellowSubmarine · 31/08/2026 19:55

The school website has a link to a school uniform policy and a link to school uniform. These do not match

The uniform policy says under the knee, the uniform link says over the knee? This really feels like a them problem. And absolutely not something I’d be stressing about fixing.

Arbourimage · 31/08/2026 19:56

I still don’t really understand what you’ve sorted and what you haven’t, but they can only have 3 branded items, or 4 including a tie. Those will generally be the main uniform, blazer, logo jumper etc.
It’s non branded items you were trying to get from supermarkets? You can buy everything online year round, just order now from somewhere with quick delivery.

Favouritefruits · 31/08/2026 19:58

They won’t need kit on the first day anyway, just next day delivery what you need !

Ifeeltheneedtheneedforcoffee · 31/08/2026 19:58

Try not to worry too much. Make a list of exactly which items you have that match and then highlight which are different on each bit of information - policy and ?? Website??.
This will help you see what exactly needs changing and its small amongst all the other stuff you have
Any that are different and you cant exchange in time then email head of year to explain so that your dd doesn't get into trouble
It sounds like a school issue but an email to explain will help you
Good luck to your dd starting

ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/08/2026 19:59

Even more confused now because in the OP you said you’d sorted socks but now you haven’t, but the PE kit is ok now? Or is it still not sorted?

I don’t think the full length back story is necessary, if you are in the Uk you can probably get what you need through click and collect though. When does she start school?

Morepositivemum · 31/08/2026 20:00

A number of people have been asking on our school WhatsApp for items of uniform and everyone’s pitching in. Aldi they may not have pe for a few days?🤞🤞🤞

Halfblindbunny · 31/08/2026 20:01

Kindly and as a fellow overthinker I think you need to just park this. She's got what she's got tell her to let you know if she needs anything else or needs to change anything. Also welcome to the world of awful communication from the school and not knowing what's going on the majority of the time.

elaeocarpus · 31/08/2026 20:13

I still don’t understand what you have got/not got. As best I can work out the school has different information about uniform and you have followed one set of info and not the other; and you think you have the wrong PE items
how do you know which info is or isn’t correct? You may have followed the right guidance

in my experience

  1. They wont do PE day 1
  2. They wont get in trouble if its wrong/forgotten first time in yr 7. They might get a warning
3.the only PE item they care about is the PE top being being branded/correct, and bottoms being vaguely in colour and socks they don’t care at all. I have twice bought the ‘special’ PE socks for mine and each time worn once, ever. I have bought the ‘special’ bottoms which were worn a bit more but over time they gravitate to neutral or any generic shorts/ leggings/nike pro bottom and school do not care as long as its vaguely in colour and appropriate. the only exception is if your child makes a school sports teams and is playing against other schools, but that’s not happening anytime soon .

so relax, you have time to work out what is correct, and needed. You could let school know their info is inconsistent; and get on your local school facebook parents site as that will help with last minute questions

Nottinghillrose · 31/08/2026 20:34

I’d be very surprised if they specify over the knee socks - are you sure you weren’t looking at the ‘not permitted’ section by mistake.
tights, knee socks or ankle socks are more usual.

Fieldday26 · 31/08/2026 20:47

I’m still not really following. Is the only problem the length of PE socks?

VanillaIceIceBaby · 31/08/2026 20:50

Fieldday26 · 31/08/2026 20:47

I’m still not really following. Is the only problem the length of PE socks?

Yes,what is the actual problem. I still can’t tell. Without telling us about July and all the extra stuff.

Jeska7 · 31/08/2026 21:02

I’m a bit confused too. If they’ve changed their policy then that’s on them. I would contact the school. My son’s school’s reception is open during school holidays. Maybe it’s the same for your son’s school. If so you might be able to contact them tomorrow. If they have changed their policy then it’s likely that they’ll run both in parallel. Some children with siblings (who have uniform passed down) or have bought uniform early will have the old stuff and some might have new stuff. Some things might be online too. It is stressful getting school uniform (and everything else ready). It’s often the case that parents of Year 7 children are a bit clueless as it seems to me that schools seem to change things or not clear about what is allowed or simply make mistakes. They did for me! Are there any parents with older children who you can ask? Is there a Facebook “Uniform sales site” for your school. If there is, can you join that. There could be stuff on sale there. Good luck.

SleeplessRoads · 31/08/2026 21:09

I'm also confused.

You bought the PE kit at the school sale but you now think it's wrong? Because they've changed the PE kit this year? And you bought the old one? How different is it?

Socks are an easy solve - just order some on Amazon, they'll be here tomorrow. If that's too late, don't pull the over knee ones all the way up.

PinkJ · 31/08/2026 21:14

You seem to be making this harder than it needs to be!