To slightly ignore uniform policy?

[Vaginald]

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20350622

www.sportsdirect.com/lonsdale-leyton-v-childrens-035328

Along with most schools, ds's uniform policy states he can't wear trainers, so something from clarks like in first link is allowed.
I find it so frustrating when he already owns the (much cheaper) pair in the second link, and they are almost the same!
Aibu to send him to school in the trainers in the hope that noone notices?!

That almost makes more sense to me creamteas, because it removes the risk of double standards w/ similar styles. I'm torn between just giving in & buying some overpriced bloody shoes or just asking the teacher & risking drawing attention to the shoes presenting myself as an awkward parent!

Its the velcro on teenagers shoes that makes them look like trainers - if they are laced up then they look more shoe like if you see what I mean.

He's only 7, just has size 4 feet, which ups the price a lot too!

Lots of great suggestions here, thanks all!

I would definitely send him in the ones you already own. If they kick up a fuss you might have to suck it up and buy him the others (outrageous, really since they are 3 times the price :( )
And what the fuck is an "internal exclusion room???"

Black, safe & sensible should be enough to satisfy any state school uniform code, given the wide range of abilities and incomes state schools cover.

DS can't do up laces (dyspraxia - I pay for the private therapy that'll get him there in the end as the NHS/education system doesn't).

At a previous school I used to have to purchase new "school" shoes every month to satisfy the jobsworths as he wore them out so fast. Now he can wear hikers which last a term, that cash goes on therapy instead.

Just summat to think about for some of the less sympathetic teachers on here. Why should a parent have to humiliate themselves by giving you chapter and verse on their financial situation before you'll bend? Neither dyspraxia nor straightened financial circumstances are that unusual.

Embarrassing hard up parents, doesn't exactly foster good home school relations, & therefore learning. It just smacks of a power trip for patronising teachers. Frankly that's unfair to those in your profession that go the extra mile to TEACH every day.

As a result of therapy my DS can now cope with the special needs lace thingies like this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DYSPRAXIA-DISABLED-OAP-KIDS-ELASTIC-SHOE-LACES-FITS-ALL-/120791130524?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Mobility_Disability_Medical_ET&var=&hash=item1c1fb6619c. (No teen wants to wear velcro school shoes, so I'm posting the link to help others)

Again OP, sorry but at our dc school they would not be allowed. Even the clarks ones seem like they'd not be allowed.

bochead

"Just summat to think about for some of the less sympathetic teachers on here. Why should a parent have to humiliate themselves by giving you chapter and verse on their financial situation before you'll bend?"

Just FYI, you would be talking to the Headteacher, Assistant/deputy head, Head of house/community or Head of year. The Head sets the rules if you have a problem with them then go talk to them.

"Embarrassing hard up parents, doesn't exactly foster good home school relations, & therefore learning. It just smacks of a power trip for patronising teachers. Frankly that's unfair to those in your profession that go the extra mile to TEACH every day."

I can see that you have had/having issues at your school but having dealt with parents who think like this the problems are very rarely with the school.

boneybackjefferson - and you've just shown your utter lack of understanding.

A lot of the new academies in particular, are practicing subtle social selection in some areas at the moment, by deliberately introducing expensive uniforms -discouraging poorer parents from applying without being overtly obvious about it. It upsets both of DS's Grans (both retired teachers who themselves came from working class families).

Noone's suggesting kids roll into school in silver Nikes. The OP isn't trying to blatently abuse her particular uniform code, as the two shoes she shows are very similar to a non-fashionista/pedant. Personally I'd cover the Londis logo with black permanent marker in her shoes. They'll be outgrown by 1/2 term anyway if the child has had the shoes a while.

bochead

You are hyping a 30 second conversation up, to being something where you have to divulge your current finance details.

Any decent school that recieves a phonecall saying "can't afford shoes this month" will reply "thanks for letting us know, we will let the teachers know". Schools don't want to know about your finances they just want to help.

As i said upthread the cheaper shoes/trainers would be find where I work.

The new acadamies are being selective and they are using every trick in the book to do so but then this was what teachers warned parents about.

at the school I work at we don't allow trainers or pumps. however plain black leather look shoes with a solid sole r ok so the ones you have would be ok.

when parents ring to say they can't get shoes I offer to 'lend' pupil appropriate shoes for a long as they need them.

if parents say they can't afford them then we offer to buy them a pair. same with other uniform items.

I completely agree bochead. And bloody academies are making it much worse.

don't be silly.
if there is a uniform policy, follow it.
if you didn't like the policy, you should have chosen another school.
parents with attitudes like yours make it very difficult to run a school effectively - rules apply to everyone, not 'everyone except your child'.

Lovebunny. Whst other school? Nearly all schools have uniforms in the uk and we are meant to go by catchment areas So it isn't really a choice.

I thought primary svchools couldn't insist on a uniform, am I wrong in thinking that?

lovebunny I would see sense in your comment if I was asking to send him in bright trainers with loud logos, because I just had to express my individuality through my 7yo, but the ones he has are plain black leather with black velcro straps.
I would argue that it's parents who install no sense of manners into their children that cause problems. Parents who neglect their children cause problems. Parents who ring the teacher every day to complain about some aspect of teaching tht doesn't please them or their pfb cause problems. Parents who can't afford to buy two pairs of shoes that are almost identical, for the sake of one of them saying "Clarks" or similar isn't causing problems. I'm not sending him into school with a dyed blue Mohican & a nose ring.

instill

I had huge feet as a child and it was VERY difficult all them moons ago to get something which fitted the school shoe rule. My DM was a rule abider by nature but after a huge traipse about shopping for school shoes we could only find one pair in my size, flat and black - they had a buckle. A whole week of detention ensued for me. School sent me home every day saying I needed new shoes, DM said don't be daft they were the closest we could get. School gave up in the end but it was an annoying time.

Just stick to the rules or go to a school without them.

Really do? What a horrible school!!!!!
There isn't a school without the same rules anywhere vaguley near me. As I've said before, if the school aren't happy I'll get him actual "shoes". I just find it ridiculous that the replacements will likely look like the ones e has.

But there aren't any primary schools without uniforms!

Hadn't read whole thread! Oops. Good you will get him new ones.

Yes really. That is the madness of schools. "Adults among children, children among adults" was DM's phrase about teachers, not true of all but a higher % ime.

Lovebunny Parental choice has always been a bit of a myth in many parts of the UK sadly, and with the rising birthrate leading to bulge classes etc in many areas, parental choice is/will become even more restricted. My own child was of those initially left without a reception place due to "no room at the inn", and that was a few years ago.

I just wish the government would emphasis the need for affordable uniforms more often in state schools. The borough next door to mine has ALL secondaries now carrying academy status, and the primary department heading in the same direction. The competition has commenced in the last few years to have the "poshest" (expensive) uniform too between them. I suspect this is a trend that will spread sadly.

I'm normally generally pretty anti-government interference in education but I would like to see a statutory limit to uniform costs imposed. (A school near me has £14 jumpers & £7 logo'd shirts for 5 year olds, a secondary I know has £70 blazers - that's unreasonable in the state sector I feel).

Yy- that's the price of the logod, shit quality polos at ds1s school, bochead, with jumpers costing £10 each, also awful quality. The infants he just left allowed you to choose whether or not your child wore the logo, ds1 always looked perfectly smart in his £2 plain asda jumpers & polos imho!!