To think a primary school cannot enforce the use of embroidered PE kit?!

[SmiteYouWithThunderbolts]

Today we were told that from September all children must have the school logo PE kit and for new starters in Reception, this needs to be ordered by tomorrow. The full kit costs £32 and has the child's name embroidered on as well, so it's impossible to hand it down to siblings or buy second hand.

Now then, I was always under the impression that somewhere there is a piece of legislation that says primary schools cannot enforce school uniform, let alone bloody PE kit that costs a fortune.

AIBU to refuse to fork out for the kit and carry on using the Asda joggers and t-shirts they've always had?

Is this a standard state school or is it a free school or an independent?

It's an Academy. Will check the link now, cheers!

They can enforce uniform (expert posters like prh47bridge and others have linked chapter and verse in th past).

Whether it is at all reasonable to have a £32 games kit for reception children is another matter. I'd have expected a Tshirt and shorts, costing maybe £6-8.

Clear naming I do sympathise with, though.

And you can always unpick and restitch for siblings. (I knew needlework lessons and chains twitch would come in handy one day).

Ordinary state primary schools can't enforce uniform. helpful to stick to the school colours but you can by from wherever you want and does not have to have a school logo.

Sorry just seen post that it is an academy

X-posted with an expert TeamEdward - who has linked the gov page which states uniform can be enforced in primary schools.

How bloody ridiculous and unreasonable. I would be extremely annoyed too.

what are they going to do if you don't order it by tomorrow?

£32? I'd be making an appointment to see the head to let him/her know how ludicrous that is. For an embroidery kit? No way. I would point blank refuse.

meditrina I think the OP means the child's name is machine embroidered by the shop, hence the cost being so high?

It's ridiculous.

£32!! For a primary school pe kit?!! That so taking the piss and bollocks to having their name,e embroidered! Could you just get surname on it so you could still hand it down?

I think academies can do whatever the fuck they like re uniform.

Its disgraceful and goes against recommendations re uniforms being affordable etc.

You can label it on the inside! And I just put surname as then it covers all my five for handing down.

And yes lets machine embroidered done by the supplier, what a con.

Clear naming I do sympathise with, though. And you can always unpick and restitch for siblings.

The names will be embroidered on to the tops and trousers, in a fancy schmancy way. They offered this as an optional thing last year but virtually nobody took it up because it was so expensive and tbh looks rubbish. I don't think it could be un-picked without ruining the fabric and even I'm not clever enough to re-embroider another name over the top.

I will be complaining, as I suspect will most people. This isn't a school in a terribly affluent area. There's a larger than average proportion of kids on FSM, so how do they expect parents to afford this kind of kit! I will have 3 children at the school by September. No bloody way am I forking out £96 for PE kit. PE KIT! Not even daily uniform. Stuff for them to romp about in the mud!

Get the surname machine embroidered instead?

But yes, it's taking the piss.

I meant, sod the (expensive?) service and embroider it on yourself. Then you can be sure it's possible to pick it out. And if you do initial+surname, there won't be that much to change.

It's all part of the package, meditrina. For £32 you get trousers, jacket and t-shirt all with the school logo and child's full name machine embroidered. THAT is what they're trying to make compulsory.

I also have three at primary school and no way would I pay that much for pe kit, I got black shorts and white t-shirts as specified, from m&s, I didn't even pay £32 fro all three pe kits together!!

What happens if you say no to the embroidery?

Its really not OK to insist on crap like this. Its not affordable for a lot of parents, crap that you can't hand down/get second hand etc. Utterly stupid idea IMO.

Will they let you just have surname so you can at least hand down?

Substitute plain items, embroider names yourself, and follow advice in TeamEdward's link and report to OFT. Tell school you have done this.

They can enforce uniform, but it's meant to be affordable.

Any other parents likely to join you in sabotage?

And what happens when they grow out of it half way through the year? £32 again?! Bollocks to it!

Any other parents likely to join you in sabotage?

So far, everyone is outraged. There's talk of a petition! I don't think we would have an issue gathering support.

They can (and do) enforce uniform, unfortunately.