or is Headteacher power crazy? (Uniform thread)

[RedHorse3]

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.

What the actual fuck is the point of a logo'd skirt or trousers? Where is the the logo? Over the bum in Bench style? So tacky.

Yanbu.

I like the idea of "Get Angry and Change Things" though.

Madness! Of course a logo on a skirt will get you A*'s all day long!! Other schools should follow this initiative-forget lessons send them home ...it is all about the logo!

Schools have to give a certain number of months grace when introducing new uniforms normally - sure DD's school had some recommended guidelines or something when they changed their uniform - we had 18-24 months leeway (can't remember which one, but well over a year)

Lol at over the bum logo!

It's a small, 1cm ish emblem on the front of the thigh - though the two different uniform suppliers have had them stitched on in different places!

Just wondering what this school's last OFSTED was like. This sounds incredibly like one of the secondary schools near me. All sorts of fun and games over the new uniform. School in special measures, now crowing about record GCSE results which for A-C including Maths and English were 32% below the school DS attends.

definitely power hungry

Why oh why can't schools introduce iron on or sew on logo patches. This way parents could buy plain shirts, trousers, jumpers, skirts etc...

This would be a very simple solution and parents would not have to fork out hundreds on logo'd school uniform very year.

I think the school uniform debate will run forever. Some of the stories on here show why the government need to put some serious rules into place. Embroidered names! How ridiculous and what a waste of time!

YANBU
Your HT would have lasted a week at my old school.
We all started Y7 in skirts and blouses as the new pinifores for 7and 8 were impossible to get.

Poorish isolated area, 50 miles not nearest large shops. Chances of mothers buying pinifores once they ce in stock (having bought alternatives, Zero. Pinifores were never mentioned again).

Posting on bumpy motor way just as wise as winding up our mum's.

Just another power crazy HT. At ds's school they were all told in assembly that if ties were worn too short the Head would be finding them another school to go to. This is a school with many children with ASD's and acute anxiety so you can imagine the distress this caused. This school is also aiming for outstanding at the next Ofsted inspection.
Complaints are either ignored or result in you getting 'threats' from the Governors.LA are aware but do nothing because the school has such a great reputation! My experience has been that a lot of staff high up within schools are simply bullies.

Does the town begin with M?
Dds school have just decided that all girls must wear black tights 40 denier in sept onwards and black 10 denier in summer. No socks.
What a crock of shit.

Just down to my friend. It is the same school. She said it was a nightmare and she'd ordered the stuff before the holidays but as far as she was aware, no children were sent home for not having the skirts or trousers though.

The cost to parents is ridiculous though.

Dave supports it though here

DD's school has just changed their uniform. To blazers, etc.

I think that now they've changed to an academy and introduced a house system, they didn't want to compared unfavourably to the other 3 high schools within 10 miles, who also have blazers.

Worst bit is that skirts have to have a logo on. Idea being that if the logo is visible, the girls are not rolling skirts up to a fashionable shortness.

Skirts that had the official logo on were available at the one and only local supplier, but at least the school allowed for a logo to be sewn onto a plain black skirt bought elsewhere.

Difference in price for me to sew was about £7 per skirt, and I can unpick the logos if DD needs new skirts in future.

And our PE kit also has to be logo'd, but as long as joggers/shorts are plain black then logos on the tops is enough.

I have a personal theory that high performing schools don't go mad over uniform and keep it plain, simple and relatively cheap. Its mostly the schools which aren't that great who go over the top with logos, gold braiding and frogging. Maybe to give the impression they are more impressive than they actually are

Not allowing parents to shop around for uniform is not just about cost. What if you child is particularly tall, short, needs to wear all cotton for a skin condition or their SN make buttons impossible.
Alright the schools will have to make arrangements for SN but why should it be necessary

So would anyone be interested if I started a campaign regarding uniforms/ costs etc?

Teacher sounds like a nutter

YANBU, but clearly this government is going to do sod-all about it. If parents struggle to pay for uniform, well, it's their fault for being poor, innit?

Why am I not surprised David Cameron is in favour of this stupid uniform dictatorship.

Red as for the HT saying you were intimidating, how hypocritical of her was she not intimidating to the children in her care????????

I would ask for a copy of any notes that the other teacher took during the meeting and a full copy of the schools anti-bullying policy. If the school is being run by a bully I would really want to know their strategies to deal with bullying situations.

Logos on the front thigh of trousers????? how stupid!!!!!! ok if they have to have a logo at least put it on a back pocket and on a skirt to stop them rolling them up, can the school staff not see the length and tell them to roll them down again.. or if the skirt is too short (which I admit I have seen on many occasions) contact the parents telling them to provide a skirt in the right colour at the correct length.

Mumsy. I work in an Ofsted outstanding secondary.

We have a logo on black jumpers and polos, but students don't have to wear the logo, as long as they have a plain top in the correct colours. Black shoes or trainers, black trousers or skirt. That's it, apart from PE stuff which again doesn't have to have a logo on. No blazers/ties/fancy socks etc etc. the school is in a relatively wealthy area, but te parents would go nuts if the school tried some of the things on here

DD1's secondary introduced blazers and ties last year, but it's phased - old style uniform is fine until outgrown with no time limit (but not to be passed down to younger siblings).

The uniform itself is very affordable - only the blazer and tie are compulsory for ordinary wear (and they really don't need the jumper as the blazer must be worn except if it's exceptionally hot, and the school is heated a LOT hotter than our house). PE kit is a logo polo shirt, which is compulsory, but the shorts and socks can be bought anywhere (though the school charged the same as normal sports shops).

Total for everything for DD last year came to £45 and it all still fits (I did buy the blazer very big though).

They are also sensible about blazer removal in hot weather. That shows it can be done sensibly.

OH God Cameron is such a fecking wanker.
We are against sky high prices not generally free schools.

DD2's primary has a pretty decent uniform

When I was governer of a primary I was told you can't legally enforce primary school uniform. yet now I have had to buy grey trousers or blue skirts/pinafore white polo (until year 3 when it is shirts and a tie) grey tights or white socks.

Luckily we don't need logo'd stuff yet but The academy nearest to us or the good catholic secondary school have the works with blazers, ties endless P.E kits, summer uniforms, winter uniforms. Blazers on at all times, no outdoor coats as blazer is waterproof. It wasn't warm though and dd got really sick walking to school and back

DD1's uniform was roughly £75 a year which isn't hugely expensive. She got a full uniform from the school when they changed uniform then a free blazer and tie each year. Newer pupils were paying £100+. We are in an area of low unemployment and a lot of deprived children. Parents can not afford dictator uniform rules.

OP I would support your campaign

We have exactly the same plain grey jumper issue - the school shop charges £13 for an acrylic V neck jumper (no logo). It pills quickly, John Lewis do a thick 100% cotton grey jumper for £9 and it is better quality. But we have to buy the shop's despite them both being plain grey V necks! I would be interested in a campaign...

In Wales, parents get a form that they can submit to Ofsted (Estyn in Wales) inspectors when an inspection is due. It's a really good idea as parents can voice objections that a Head may ignore.

Maybe contact Ofsted?