Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

or is Headteacher power crazy? (Uniform thread)

190 replies

RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 10:56

So ds started his secondary school yesterday. When we had induction day in July, the teacher mentioned that they had just bought in new Logo school trousers & skirts.
Now the entire school has to change uniform as policy before was plain black trousers/ skirt. Fine. Except that the school uniform shop now has a huge backlog of uniform, and over half the school has not received the uniform. So imagine masses of parents in 1 tiny uniform shop, owner on the phone to school- apparently will allow plain black trousers/ skirt.
Except yesterday, it wasn't fine. The Head sent home over 75 pupils, local newspaper at the school, pupils bought back by parents were put into isolation. As far as I am aware, they did not send home yr7's. They did however get a massive bollocking. DS very upset.
Dp went into school this morning to get a grip on what was happening. As he was waiting, pupils were swarming past him, having been pulled out of lessons to go to conference room to explain why they dont have school logo skirt/ trousers. Ds included. Head was in conference room shouting at them & they were coming out and being taking off into different rooms(?) Dp has arranged meeting with head at 11.30am today.

OP posts:
shrum · 04/09/2013 16:36

Headteacher's surname begin with an E?

(I'm a bit of a random lurker on MN but wondered if this would make onto here)

Binkyridesagain · 04/09/2013 16:37

My DDs school (she has now left thank god) had logo'd everything, except their underwear, the blouses could only be a specific style, which surprisingly you could only get from the only uniform supplier . The P.E. kit was the worse though, the jumper had to be logo'd and embroided with her name, you paid extra for the embroidery but wasn't allowed to buy it without, the skirt, pe knickers and trutex tops had all to be embroided with their names. All this embroidery meant that it couldn't be passed on to anyone else because when it was unpicked it damaged the fabric.

Thankfully the boys go to a school that is more sensible, school blazer and tie are normal school logo, the rugby kit and PE kit is school colours everything else is bog standard, buy it cheap uniform.

Dahlen · 04/09/2013 16:40

How has it become acceptable that this sort of dictatorship policy about uniform is now the norm? Working in the forces/police/NHS/any other industry with a uniform is a choice. You voluntarily choose to adopt an adherence to uniform policy (and IME many of these professions are more relaxed than this school).

Children have made no such choice and rely on their parents to buy the uniform. I have never understood how anyone can think that punishing a child for not having the correct uniform is fair.

What is an 11-year-old child in the wrong trousers supposed to do, exactly? Do the school hope that the humiliation/punishment the child receives on being singled out for 'breaking the rules' will result in said child going home and shaming the parents into getting the correct uniform? That's unfair on the child in itself, but also put the child at significant risk in a context of abuse. In an age where safeguarding is a constant buzzword, this is a massive educational 'fail'.

Spinstrel · 04/09/2013 16:43

I actually think this is worth a campaign. It is such a huge waste of everyone's time and money to be making insane uniform policy like this and the rules about keeping blazers and jumpers on on days like today just make me boil (ha) with rage.

whois · 04/09/2013 16:50

One gained the most kudos by wearing the oldest fabric pattern one could

At my secondary school it was massive kudos if you wore the old grey jumper which had been phased out 2 years before I started!

My posh junior had a rancid brown uniform but at least they were flexible on you wearing summer dress (or not) in the summer, didn't have to wear the blazer, jumper or card, kilt or pinafore etc

Original poster
RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 17:15

Shrum -Yes begins with E. School has farm attached.

OP posts:
lagoonhaze · 04/09/2013 17:20

I think there needs to be a coordinated campaign too. Its just madness.

Original poster
RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 17:25

Agree with pp that mentioned the campaign.
School have:
logo polo top OR shirt and logo tie in house colour
logo jumper
logo P.E shorts
logo PE polo shirt
logo PE tracksuit bottoms
logo PE sweatshirt
the bloody logo trousers and skirts
logo hijab.

On top of white socks(PE), blue footie socks, black socks, trainers, football boots, shin guard with ankle support, bootbag, mouth guard, etetc

OP posts:
Methe · 04/09/2013 17:33

Sounds like a nightmare!

shrum · 04/09/2013 17:34

Have sent you a PM RedHorse3.

Just looking at your list and I think DD's PE socks, football boots, shin guard and mouth guard are still in the giant PE holdall we bought her and have been to school a total of once since the start of Y7!

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 04/09/2013 17:41

Can you link to the local press articles?

Original poster
RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 17:46

Will see if can find press article.. So far they have posted it on their fb account.. paper gets published on Thursday's I believe.

OP posts:
ChocsAwayInMyGob · 04/09/2013 18:09

I think that insisting on embroidered names is so wasteful. You can't pass it on. You need a new one as soon as you grow. You can't give it to a charity. Isn't there enough clothing landfill?

CruCru · 04/09/2013 18:09

This sounds awful. Have you drafted a letter to the governors?

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 04/09/2013 18:13

I too would write to the Chair of Governors and the LEA.

These are totally unacceptable policies and shows that education is not being prioritised over the Head's personal power trip.

Remotecontrolduck · 04/09/2013 18:23

This is something I know only too well. DDs school was similarly nazi-esque about uniform.

One particularly ridiculous example was they had an optional plain grey, non logo'ed jumper they could wear in cold weather. This non logo-ed jumper apparently wasn't allowed to be purchased anywhere other than the school shop. Children were regularly put in isolation for having a 'non school shop' PLAIN GREY JUMPER. They knew it wasn't from the shop as the V on the neckline was the wrong thickness....

This was one of many, many incidents. I'd be here all day if I was to list them all. All just as stupid as the example above.

The result was a lot of disguntled, unhappy teenagers who were so put off learning they were practically counting down the seconds until they could leave school. It really did no one any good whatsoever. I would strongly support any move to regulate uniform policies to sensible levels.

Original poster
RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 18:31

Being published in paper tomorrow. If someone could tell me if Im allowed, will link to fb page.
Im liking the sound of this campaign idea - how would I go about starting one? Too many silly rules across the country regarding uniform it appears.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 04/09/2013 18:34

One can only conclude that the teacher you had meeting with was powercrazy powerfreak.
MANY of us have met those !!

orangeandemons · 04/09/2013 18:36

Uniform is meant to be sustainable according to govt. Embroidering names on, is not sustainable.

Bubbles1066 · 04/09/2013 18:39

I've worn lots of uniforms in my time but never come across logo trousers/skirt. It had to be a certain type or colour, yes. A school I used to work at had a school skirt or you could buy your own as long as it was a certain length. I can understand that. But logged skirt/trousers....where is this logo, across their backside like a Juicy tracksuit???!!! Surely if it's on the pocket of the trousers/skirt the blazer covers it? The mind goggles.

Viviennemary · 04/09/2013 18:41

What an idiot this Head sounds. I agree name and shame in the local press.

Original poster
RedHorse3 · 04/09/2013 18:41

Will takes pp's advice and write a letter to the Chair of Governers tonight.

OP posts:
Tuppenceinred · 04/09/2013 18:56

I work for an LA.
Get a copy of the school complaints procedure (a legal requirement) and follow it re the rude behaviour of the Head.

Have a read here www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/b0014144/schooluniform
www.teachingexpertise.com/e-bulletins/legal-obligations-on-uniform-policy-2190
It might be interesting to ask to see the public minutes of the governing body meetings for the last 4 - 6 months. How were the changes to the uniform decided and approved? What consultation took place? Consultation is a legal requirement for uniform changes.

Talkinpeace · 04/09/2013 18:59

tuppenceinred
Consultation may be a requirement, but paying attention to the outcome clearly is not - lots and lots of schools are playing these games

Moetlovermuvver · 04/09/2013 19:08

Ooh ooh ohh. I think I know what school it is. My friends girls go there. I'll have to ring her and ask her about it!