Shall I be cross with Next, school or myself? or all 3?

[boschy]

DD2 is very nearly 13, incredibly tall for her age and skinny as a rake. Getting clothes, and particularly school clothes, to fit is a nightmare.

So, she found some black trousers in Next Schoolwear department online which we agreed would do - plain, no logos, specifically marketed as 'school wear'.

They finally arrived on Weds, and are surprisingly attractive for schoolwear (so much so that I was a bit taken aback). She wore them to school on Thurs, no problems. This morning she has been pulled out of assembly and told they are not suitable.

Now, admittedly they are 'skinny fit' - they fit her perfectly, but they are a bit drainpipe-y (is that a word?). At a distance you could think they were jeans, except they dont have jeans style pockets or studs, and are not made of denim but some kind of (actually quite nice) polyester or something.

So, are Next wrong to sell 'schoolwear' which is too 'trendy' for want of a better word, are school wrong in challenging something which IS actually schoolwear, or should I have taken one look and sent them straight back??

(I shall be annoyed if it's the last one, as it has taken nearly 8 weeks to get these bloody ones delivered - and of course she's taken all the labels off as they fit so well...)

I'd blame Next

They could claim a dog was a hamster but it wouldn't make it true would it?

Could you ask the school very nicely for a list of approved retailers. Then look up sizes online. If none would fit your daughter. Go back to the school and ask for their suggestions.

I was the skinny rake in school and if my mam used the internet she'd be telling you all about how my body was the bane of her life when it came to school clothes.

Next haven't done anything wrong- the trousers would be allowed at a different school.

I'd be annoyed with the school for having a uniform code where you as a parent can't tell whether or not an item is ok or not.

Next can't be expected to know the uniform regulations of every school in the country. In many schools girls get away with these drain pipey trousers no problem.

Before you bought the trousers had the school given you (or your DD) a clear statement of their rules are on trousers?

Why were they not suitable did the school give a reason.

Hmmmm...

I think that if you look at your school's uniform policy and it specifically says "no skinny-fit trousers" then YABU. If it just says "black school trousers, no jeans/sportswear" then what I would do is take the page from the Next book in, show the school that you bought them from a schoolwear section and explain the difficulty your DD has in buying well-fitting trousers. If they still won't relent, ask them what their alternative is and if they are going to reimburse you for the Next trousers. I don't think that Next are at fault here and I think the school are being nit-picky.

I'd tell the school to stop being so bloody silly. If her arse isn't on display and they're the right colour, I don't see how they can complain.

Pupils at my DS's school aren't allowed any tight, figure hugging trousers...I thought what was pretty standard?

Are these the ones? Because, TBH I don't think they look particularly appropriate.

I find secondary schools very heavy handed about uniforms, at my kids school they have two members of staff wearing high vis jackets in the foyer, checking all the uniforms, shoes, make up, hair, jewellery etc. Any not meeting the criteria are pulled aside, they radio for "assistance" and the student is taken to the exclusion room.

I was sitting in the foyer waiting to see a teacher on my weekly trip regarding Kevin the teen about my DS's latest misdemeanour. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!

I would say the school are being unreasonable, look up their uniform policy, it should be on their website, and see if it specifies no skinny trousers.

Yep, I'd agree that if they were the ones, they wouldn't be a suitable choice for schoolwear, especially if you know the school are quite strict.

Why on earth aren't those appropriate? They are perfectly decent and plain!

No real info as yet, just a text from DD2 saying "I've been pulled out for my trousers". I've told her to get whoever it was to call me (I'm sure they've nothing better to do than talk to mummies about trousers after all :o )

Rules say no jeans/sportswear. So I shall maintain they ARE schoolwear and email the link if necessary.

To be honest these trousers are much more modest than the incredibly short tight skirts she has been wearing while we waited for the trousers to arrive and while we negotiate the stand-off about the skirts I would like her to wear (and therefore buy) as opposed to the ones she wants.

"I find secondary schools very heavy handed about uniforms, at my kids school they have two members of staff wearing high vis jackets in the foyer, checking all the uniforms, shoes, make up, hair, jewellery etc. Any not meeting the criteria are pulled aside, they radio for "assistance" and the student is taken to the exclusion room."

Whaaaaaaaat?!

pipra why are these not appropriate?? Our school has a strict policy but I have bought Next straight leg petite for my 11 year old -not denim but like a cotton and they been fine.

Yes piprabbit those are they...

Because they look like something Russell Brand would wear. Skintight, shiny fabric in cut in a jeans-style.

There is nothing wrong with those trousers! They look smart. School need to take stick from arse.

I find secondary schools very heavy handed about uniforms, at my kids school they have two members of staff wearing high vis jackets in the foyer, checking all the uniforms, shoes, make up, hair, jewellery etc. Any not meeting the criteria are pulled aside, they radio for "assistance" and the student is taken to the exclusion room

See I think that's fair enough because if you choose to send your child to a certain school, then you by default agree to their rules and policies on these things.

Until my DS's school had a recent clamp down, you would have been forgiven for thinking most of them were off to a nightclub rather than a day at school.

Why would a 13yr old girl be wearing 'incredibly short, tight skirts' to school?

Or anywhere for that matter?

Boys aren't allowed to wear school wear trousers from Next at ds's school - apparently they are too like jeans in style.

They look ok to me, it may be the jeans style the school object to. As you say, some of the girls skirts are so short surely trousers are preferable?

I think the school would say that the style of them is too much like jeans. There were other trousers that Next had in a slimmer fitting, such as these ones
www.next.co.uk/x494712s2
which look more like smart trousers rather than a jeans style that is made out of a different fabric.

In many schools, those trousers would be absolutely fine and the least of the school's uniform worries! This school seems to have too much time on their hands if it's ok to display your legs due to mini skirt but the same legs with tight-ish trousers covering them are seen as a problem.

I think they ok perhaps the shiny material would be picked up on at our school though depends on their reason they gave you. They have to give a reason ??