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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School want to change uniform, I'm not happy....

103 replies

chubbleigh · 27/06/2011 11:45

I thought I would be in the majority by saying I don't want it to change but as it turns out I might not be. Proposal is to change from polo shirts and sweatshirts to shirts, ties, v-necks and blazers - this is for a primary school by the way. I can't imagine why anyone would want something that costs more and takes more time to look after - I just don't get it. The few opinions that I have heard so far are 'it looks cute' but to me that is not a good reason. Furthermore I have heard the school have the idea of subsidising the new uniform for a set period of time. That really gets me, I don't know where the cash would come from for this but object greatly if it is from within school money.
I have a many many reasons for not wanting it to change but the main ones are time and money.
Any experiences please.

OP posts:

Goodynuff · 27/06/2011 16:16

When they offered uniforms here, you could only get them through the school, and it worked out to be about 150$/ kid. You really hoped you child wouldn't grow too much during the school year too
Parents switched the kids to different schools to avoid having to buy uniforms.

Avantia · 27/06/2011 16:25

We have shirt /ties /v neck jumper in winter.

Polo shirts / shorts option in summer - they also tend to wear it up until Oct half term if weather decent.

I think blazers are a waste of time at primary - costly and yet another expensive item to get lost .

Really dont agree with school subsidising the uniform - money should be spent on teaching resources etc . If they feel that it should be subsidised then they already know that may be too expensive for some families and they really should reconsider it .

If they propose to change when do they hope to do it from ? this sept ? - if so I would tell them tough already brought stuff .

hocuspontas · 27/06/2011 16:33

I completely agree op. And all reasons on here that are pro blazers and shirts are just because they 'look smarter'. So what? That's no justification for extra cost, extra ironing and extra time spent dressing.

mycatoscar · 27/06/2011 16:43

havent read the whole thread but the school where i teach has proper shirts and ties from reception onwards and they do look really smart in most cases, my dd's school has polo shirts which i was dissapointed with to begin with because i thought she would look scruffy but actually she always looks smart and they must be easier for the little ones to put on after PE too.

Surely they will have to phase in any new uniform though? And blazers for primary really is ridiculous - smacks of trying to look like a private school IMO.

Vilt · 27/06/2011 16:53

YANBU

Blazers, shirts, ties etc on primary age children do not look 'cute', they look ridiculous. Polo shirts or similar are much more practical.

Why on earth is it so important for them to look smart anyway? I simply don't get that.

I would be very pissed off if I was you.

LetThereBeRock · 27/06/2011 16:56

YANBU. Polo shirts are much more practical and nicer for primary school children imho. They look so much more comfortable in them too.

As for polo shirts not being the norm in Scotland,I'm sure it varies by region,but I'm from Glasgow/East Dunbartonshire,and I see a lot of Primary school children in them,and don't think it looks at all 'chavvy'. Quite the opposite actually as they look like children and not miniature adults.

usualsuspect · 27/06/2011 17:04

I think that shirts and ties on primary school children are bloody ridiculous
but then I hate school uniform anyway
I never wanted my kids to look smart

I would be fuming if I were you OP

quirrelquarrel · 27/06/2011 17:19

My old school is completely changing their uniform and not letting new Y11s wear the old one. For barely over half a year they've got to buy about £100 worth of clothes!

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 27/06/2011 17:24

I do not think that smartness should be the priority for primary school uniform. As far as I can see, what matters most is that it is a sensible working outfit, that allows the children to get on with their school activities without having to worry about keeping ties out of the glue, ties that are too tight, collars that are stiff and uncomfortable and blazers that are too hot in summer and not warm enough in winter - not to mention the fact that shirts and ties are going to be much more hassle for the children (and the staff) when they are changing for PE.

Polo shirts and trousers/shorts/pinafores/skirts, with sweatshirts or jumpers look smart enough, in my opinion. Schools can have an option of a shirt and tie for special occasions.

I did like ds1 and ds2's senior school uniforms, both of which had blazers (they were at different schools - helpful, that was), and I thought they looked very smart - but ds1's blazer was dry-clean only - for boys as young as 11!! And both schools' blazers were a minimum of £36 - so I was really happy when dh helpfully sponged custard of ds2's blazer, and then unhelpfully tried to iron it dry, and left a massive iron mark right on the front - when it was less than a term old!!

When we moved to Scotland, the school they all ended up at does have a shirt and tie as part of its uniform (and it almost never looks smart because most teenage boys just don't do smart), but no blazer until final year. Instead they wear a black jumper, cardigan, zipped cardigan or zipped fleece or sweatshirt - no hoodies, and you are supposed to pull the zip down to show the tie - and I think this is a far more practical uniform. For one thing, when they grow out of the jumper or whatever, or ruin it, I can replace it for £15 - plus it goes through the washing machine and tumble drier, and if I catch it as soon as the drier finishes, it doesn't even need ironing.

I honestly cannot understand any parent wanting to add to their ironing load by replacing polo shirts with proper shirts. Senior school is plenty early enough for that. I have three boys in senior school and a dh with an office job - and that is 20 shirts a week!!

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 27/06/2011 17:25

Quirrelquarrel - that is ridiculous. Do they think you have money to burn - in this economic climate??

quirrelquarrel · 27/06/2011 17:32

It certainly is ridiculous. Luckily I escaped a year ago!
They also insisted on us buying fleecy thick PE jumpers at £25ish a go, which of course we never wore because of the making us run around the pitch like maniacs habit they had...

All the same, they're not completely stupid. They must have a reason.
Don't have a lot to say in sticking up for uniform. The main argument is so poncy- makes all kids equal, creates community spirit- not at all!

Pandemoniaa · 27/06/2011 17:32

I think the very idea of kitting out primary school children in blazers, shirts and ties is bonkers. Polo shirts, trousers/skirts/shorts and a school sweatshirt looks nicer and is sensible to buy and maintain. I'm inclined to think that anyone who wants their child to look as if they go to a private school should pay for them to do precisely that. I also wonder why it is that this country is so obsessed with these impractical school uniforms when most of mainland Europe has always managed to educate their children without making them wear a uniform and without the quality of their education suffering some sort of apocalyptic collapse.

Pandemoniaa · 27/06/2011 17:36

PS. I still recall the delight that ds1's Reception class teacher greeted his school's decision to move away from ties and blazers. She was heartily sick of spending a disproportionate amount of time dressing children rather than teaching them.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 27/06/2011 17:42

At ds1's senior school, the uniform tracksuit was only available from the school, at £60 a pop - but thankfully it was optional, so I opted for ds1 to be cold during PE (I did say I would get him one if he got really cold). I don't think anyone wore it, other than the kids who represented the school at sports.

Oh - and we also had to get a heavy white lab coat, craft apron, school kit bag and a huge amount of PE kit - almost all of which was only available from the school, and which cost a small fortune! The rugby socks alone were £4.50, fgs!

Pandemoniaa · 27/06/2011 17:44

The craft apron! I recall the craft apron. The smallest size went down to ds1's ankles but fortunately, the bloke in the uniform shop admitted that no child had ever knowingly worn one at the school in question.

TheHumanCatapult · 27/06/2011 17:47

have they thought just how long getting dressed after Pe will take

cordyblue · 27/06/2011 18:14

DD1 (Y 4) needs a jacket, shirt, proper shirt, tie, school coat, school bag and a truly extensive PE kit.

DD2 (Nursery) needs a pinafore, proper shirt, sweatshirt and full PE kit. Plus waterproofs, extra wellies and a painting apron. She gets a blazer and tie in Reception year and the children currently at nursery now going up to Reception are so very excited about it :-)

I can understand the cost issue (I estimate mine will be ludicrous this summer, including shoes and trainers and gum guard and... bugger the fact the uniform has changed for the first time in 10 years and so I can't buy second hand! I love second hand, and now I can't even sell DD2's to make some back).

BUT, BUT, BUT, if your school does not dictate it all has to be branded and all bought from the one appointed company. M&S have very smart blazers from £17 as far as I can see, and generally have great 3 4 2 offers on. Blazers look so much smarter than sweatshirts.

I think wearing something smart gives the right frame of mind. And it makes a massive difference. My eldest daughter's school did three music festivals this year with several other schools, a roughly 50/50 mix of state and independent schools. Without exception, the independent school children looked immaculate in matching branded uniform, shirts all tucked in, hair for girls all tied back with matching hair scrunchies, socks all pulled up, etc. And they all trooped up and stood nicely at the front of the stage. What a contrast between a mix of polo shirts, some tucked in, some not, different coloured hair bands or hair about their faces, some trousers, some leggings, some skirts, trainers rather than shoes. And of course it should have gone on how well they sang solely and purely but they are standing there infront of a music festival judge in her 60s who is actually wearing a hat for the occasion, which school do you think came first?

Fifis25StottieCakes · 27/06/2011 18:33

Forgot to say, my friend found a local company who sew the school logo on cheap jumpers for £3.50 each for the senior school. This means you dont have to buy the expensive jumpers and blazers through the school.

cordyblue · 27/06/2011 18:36

I wish I could find it, but I read a fabulous article last month about an academy in London (hackney maybe?) which has incredible strict uniform rules. Tells of how when all the pupils walked through the market in their blazers and ties, all the market stall holders clapped them as it symbolised everything to do with what they were trying to achieve. Maybe someone else read that too and can link to it?

Jellykat · 27/06/2011 18:38

YANBU - My DS2s acting headmistress want to change the uniform back to shirts, ties, v neck jumpers, and Blazers for 6th formers. Stating that Acrylic jumpers will be warmer then the current fleece (?), the pupils will feel more comfortable (?) and the behaviour and standard of work within the school will improve (???)

This change will be compulsory for new yr 7s from September, and phased in over the following year for the rest.

So basically the new pupils will stand out like a sore thumb, in their brand new unfamiliar school, and any hand me downs (essential in the present climate, and in our particular area) will be void..plus i now have 3 years of shirt collar scrubbing and ironing to look forward to.. yippee!

Wheres the logic??

usualsuspect · 27/06/2011 19:49

cordyblue I'd take the mismatched schoolkids anytime

cordyblue · 27/06/2011 20:03

"cordyblue I'd take the mismatched schoolkids anytime"

Okay, fair enough. But do you now as an adult employ people? Would you honestly not judge an interviewee partly on how they present themselves? Would you take the scruffy mismatched, shirt untucked adult over the well-presented candidate, all other things being equal? It depends on the career of course, but say an academic/professional job as the nearest equivalent?

usualsuspect · 27/06/2011 20:07

These are school children ,time enough to look smart when you are a grown up

Northernlurker · 27/06/2011 20:08

I loathe school uniform and would be livid in the op's place. My dd's primary doesn't have a uniform. Strangely enough the children don't appear to run feral. They are well behaved and generally delightful.

ScatterChasse · 27/06/2011 20:11

At my school the blazer was a summer coat, rather than 'inside' uniform if that makes sense, which I thought was good.

It does look smarter, and I would think it would be safer for school trips, so people would know a wandering child in a purple blazer probably belonged to the school group in blazers, and wasn't just a child lagging behind their family.

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