to be shocked that so may kids have returned to school with incorrect uniform?

[PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice]

Why? Why buy your kids what can only be termed "fashion" blouses and trousers rather than school uniform ones (and this is primary we are talking about). Why allow them to even say they wont wear the normal polo shirts like everyone else? why buy girls black trousers when the rule is grey - why a grey cardi when it should be green?

obviously if someone has moved into area, or has lost items towards the end of the year, things get a little lax and anything goes, but why buy a whole set of new stuff, that IS NOT the uniform - and its not as if its because its cheaper, its not

the trouble is the kids get used to this and parents pandering to them, but the local secondaries will not tolerate it - I await the annual series of front page stories about how petty schools are for sending kids home for having the wrong trousers, or wearing trainers

I can imagine some of these mums marching in and having a word with their DCs eventual employer about their "right" to be late once in a while, or to not want to wear the provided uniform!

Staff should wear uniform also then, to help the ethos along.

My DC's school is very anal about uniform and getting more so each year. They have to have navy trousers or skirts, and pale blue polos, and logo'd sweatshirts. The worst of it is that last school year they had one specific slogan underneath, which dates it, and this school year the logo has a DIFFERENT slogan underneath. Which is a bit bloody much, my boys are only 18 months apart in age, and before now, I've always just handed down the logo'd stuff, but now I can't, as they get teased by the other dc for having 'scaffy' uniform. sigh. It also means that the sweatshirts of DD's that I kept for DS1 to grow into have gone in the bin despite being perfectly wearable. Double sigh. I wouldn't mind, but the sweatshirts are £8.50 each for my almost 7yo, and £10.50 for my almost 9yo, as they are both tall for their age, and my DS1 is in 11-12yo clothes, and my DS2 is in 8-9yo clothes, and the price increases by size.

Bing - my sister's a nurse in a MH trust. New bosses have just brought in a new uniform. Black tunics and trousers - she looks like a beautician. (Nowt wrong with beauticians but when you are ill, you want a nurse, not a facial.) They aren't allowed to wear their NHS badges so there's no way of knowing they are nurses. And I suspect if you are having an acute episode of mental illness and are an inpatient, it's not exactly conducive to your recovery to be surrounded by people dressed all in black...

DinahRod - PLEASE insist to your child's school that the right supportive footwear must take precedence over uniform protocol!

(DS has a talipes-like complication, so i know what you are dealing with.)

Everyone at DD's school sticks to the regulations colours (blue, white and grey), but I love to see all the variations of items people come up with. They all look neat and match colour-wise, but have very different styles. I think it's great. Like blue gingham blouses and grey skirts/tunics, or white shirts and blue gingham skirts. Fantastic!

We had very, very strict uniforms in South Africa, right down to dresses specific and different for every school (boys were lucky, grey shorts and white shirts for everyone, though they needed specific school socks) and identical school shoes from one manufacturer only. It was stifling, boring and cost a fortune.

So I fully encourage everyone to be as creative as they can within their school's guidelines.

Dinahrod - my DS school is like this and he has a biomechanical apt with podietry Thursday about his 'deformed toes'. Cannot wait to see what the school say about this if he has to have some special support or something especially AFTER the secretary (who abv moonlights as a GP) told me there was nothing wrong with my DS and wouldn't give allergy meds just because I say so (they're presribed btw)

I hate strict and inflexible uniform rules. It's all about control. I went to a Grammar that was very strict about uniform at the time however schools today are even stricter. It's ridiculous.

Edam, you are exactly right - imagine you are have acute paranoia and you are surrounded by unidentified people all in homogenous black uniforms!!! That is a terrible idea, plus it reinforces the whole them and us power trip which is not helpful in forming helping relationships with people.

I shall cling onto my jeans and name card with a vengence!

I can't actually believe people get so het up about what other people's children are wearing to school! I agree with Bintata that there are SO many more important things to worry about.

Also, individuality, anyone?

Sorry Bingtata!

my dcs won't be in the 'correct' school uniform - I have deliberately ignored the uniform becasue the regulation clothes are polyester, teflon coated etc which my dcs, havng eczema, cannot wear.

Ging 100% cotton is extremely difficult and in some cases I may have to resort to what others might call 'trendy' items

The same will apply when they get to secondary - I will not compromise their health for schools that cannot be bothered to think about all their pupils needs and provide a cotton alternative.

Blu thanks for your comment, I think you are right and shall speak to his class-teacher.

Because physio has corrected the talipes I've never thought to mention it to school, just sent him in appropriately supportive shoes as advised, but now combined with the other plimsoll fitting issues, it's a concern. In hindsight, a note to the teacher was in order but didn't realise it was an issue, having seen some of his classmates in trainers at sports day, but should have okayed it myself.

How is your ds doing, Blu?

And thanks too Mumbar, missed your post. Your school sounds far more pedantic than mine though, surely they can't argue against medical advice?! Ds was discharged long ago, just with the proviso about footwear whilst he's growing. Ds' toes are bent and nails are horrible, even though feet now point and angle in the right direction! But some of that is also genetic, dh has ugly feet.

Dinah - DS has much more complicated issues and has had bone lengthning and all sorts - and is doing FANTASTICALLY well, thank you! But he can't walk without a splint and his Piedros, and we used to have problems at soft play areas - some would make a fuss and try and insist that he remove his shoes. At other times he could go in in a splint, but I would refuse to leave his shoes in the communal 'swap your shoes for your ticket' entrance system as I wouldn't let them out of my sight (not when it took 8 weeks of orthotics appointments to get a new pair!).
Now it is making sure, for example, that the freelance teacher of the new capoeira club at school knows that he needs to keep his shoes on, whatever the ancient Brazilian tradition may be, because the schools SENCO will not be on the case!

I'm pleased that your DS's talipes has been corrected, and it shouldn;t take too much to let the school know that supportive footwear is a necessity, not a uniform transgression - good luck!

Oh, I equipped DS with a few handy phrases to use to explain succunctly and assertively his needs, because otherwise I would find that he was outfaced by a teacher's expectations on the spur of the moment.

Here in Brisbane, almost all the schools have uniform. And what uniform! Like something from the 1950s! And the posher the school the more hideous the uniform. Imagine 17 year old lads in grey flannel shorts and knee socks....and girls in drop waist plaid dresses with teapot hats on their heads!

At least the state primaries tend to have practical polos, shorts and plaid dresses. They tend to be strict about following the rules but usually only the polos have to have the school logo.

My son (daughter goes next year) goes to the only state high school with no uniform. It is a brilliant school with innovative programs and tops the state in exam results. (One of the three living Nobel Laureates went to this school and visits regularly) But because they have no uniform (have a dress code and a school polo) some parents think it is a den of iniquity filled with drug addicts etc. However, the posh private schools have the drug problems...

OP, I get what you are saying but some parents do not follow rules.

Oh I used to be soooo envious of the little dresses they wore in Home and Away. They were so short and cool-looking and looked sweet with little cardigans over.

Compared to my school-uniform skirt of thick Navy-blue material. It had to be below the knee and A-line too Deeply unsexy.

So odd, I used to be really quite pro-uniform. Now that I have a child at a non-uniform school, I am so happy; he wears proper decent comfortable clothes that are the best quality I can afford, and that suit him; and the school don't have to spend any time policing it.

Having said that, I do think that if you have a policy, you SHOULD police it, so they should work out a dress code that they can enforce.

I always thought the main point of uniform at secondary age was to give teenagers something safe to rebel against. If you are busy adapting your regulation shirt, skirt and blazer, you might not need to rebel in any more challenging areas...

That's great Blu, glad he is doing so fanjtastically well, you must be very proud of him {smile] And can understand about Piedro shoes, was a bit stunned at how much they cost!

Mists...sweet when in grade one or two...not so when in high school . Quite scary to see big hairy manboys well over 6 ft tall in shorts and knee socks...

And the teacher sounds like an idiot on a pwer trip. Rules and more bloody rules just for the sake of it. Schools drip and ooze rules from every pore how on earth do they ever keep track?
Focus on the stuff that matters! What other children are wearing to school is not anyone's business except their parents - get a life and butt out of other peoples, I'm sure there are more important things to get worked up about that other people breaking daft rules.
What's wrong with this country is that we blindly follow silly rules without questioning the need for them - it's no bloody wonder that we are awash with red tape - when people idiotically say it's the school rules we should follow them - if the school told your kids to dance around naked would you agree - use your heads!!! here is no need to be a sheep, follow without question, it's not a good thing to teach your children either.

Simply because my DD wears the correct uniform each day to school does not mean she is a crowd following sheep with no mind of her own.
She gets stacks of time to be creative and do her own thing, wear what she wants to wear, but at school, she wears the uniform as it is practical, appropriate and saves on the 'who's wearing what' competitons which would surely happen if it were a free for all.

This is hilarious and so petty.

Plenty of countries don't have school uniforms at all and life goes on. Children become doctors, lawyers and all round pleasant citizens regardless. Well, maybe not the lawyers...

"This is what's wrong with the country" is hysterical.

But then I home school so we work in pyjamas half the time

I'm sure my children will end up being crazed anarchists, vandalising streets and terrorising senior citizens. That'll be entertaining.

This is a massive bug bear of mine. You know the uniform, bloody use it!!

DS started secondary school yesterday. The uniform was clearly stated in the welcome pack - they were reminded of it on the induction days and then we received a letter stating each item clearly during the summer - along with consequences of not wearing it - CLEARLY stated throughout is the "no trainers, black school shoes only" rule.

So one lad yesterday decided to turn up in brand new, bright white trainers!!! Honestly, what the hell are the parents thinking??