to wonder if you care what your child's teacher dresses like

[MsColour]

The school I work in has just introduced a new dress code. Basically we need to look smart - no denim, skirts not too short, no strappy tops, tattoos covered....Most of generally dress like this anyway so it's not a major issue - I always cover my tattoos for work. My dp thinks that it shouldn't matter as it's the results that count.

Just wondering if parents care what their chidren's teachers look like or is it not an issue.

[secretscwirrels]

Yes I would like to see teachers dress in a businesslike and professional manner.
I cringe at some of the ones at secondary school.
There should never be any doubt in your mind as to whether the adult is a member of staff or not.

[poshfrock]

My brother is a science teacher - he wears Next suits. From those in the know his lessons are anything but dull. In fact his lessons are very popular with all his students. And he was rated outstanding in his last Ofsted.

On the other hand my DSD's Spanish teacher regularly turned up to school with a nose piercing. When DSD demanded a nose piercing at 13 we turned her down for several reasons including "you won't be able to wear it at school". Very difficult to enforce when one of her teachers wears it every day - including at parents' evening!

FTR I have body piercings and I'm a lawyer but they are never on display in the office. Not even my colleagues know that I have them, let alone my clients, and I intend to keep it that way.

[EstelleGetty]

Interesting thread! My DSis volunteers in a primary school for children with ASN and mobility issues. She has lots of tattoos, but none on show, and takes her nose ring out for school.

She tends to wear a pretty knee length jersey dress, or skirt and top. She looks young, bright and friendly. She has to do a lot of running about, so something more rigid (like a blouse and pencil skirt) wouldn't work.

Her hair is dyed pink and she used to wear a hairpiece to cover it up but she met the HT one day who said it was great and the kids would love it, so she needn't cover it up! And the kids do love it.

[hellymelly]

I would care if she looked as though she was doing a shift at Spearmint Rhino, but other than that she can wear what she likes. My dds are in Primary school, so it is important that the teacher is comfortable to be active with the children.

[claraschu]

I guess I prefer comfortable, cheerful looking teachers, but I don't care what people wear actually. Why are people so obsessed with appearances?

Everyone knows who the good teachers are, and everyone respects them for what they do.

[starfishmummy]

There was a nursery nurse at ds's special school.who dressed like she was going out on the pull. Short skirts, plunging necklinestimable and glitter type fabrics. Its a special school so disabled kids who need lifting, bottoms changing etc so it didn't seem ideal.

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

I would prefer teachers to show a bit of personality. Yes to the rule of 'can't see up it, through it or down it', though. Apart from that, I wouldn't care. I don't mind tattoos, piercings or pink hair, either. (Unless the tattoo in question is a tramp stamp, but that's because you shouldn't be able to see a tramp stamp under appropriate clothes.)

[NoComet]

Until school uniform is consigned to the dustbin of history, where it belongs, teachers need to be slightly smart.

It is very disrespectful to wear, jeans, vest tops, very short skirts, trainers or sky high heels while bleating on and on at the DCs about top buttons, ties, skirt length and making them wear formal shoes they hate and their parents don't want to pay for.

Personally the only outfit, our teachers had I genuinely disapproved of was a maxi dress. It really was more sutible for the beach, especially in a primary with steeps in the main corridor, where she or any of the DCs could have stood on it.

The only uniform rule I did agree with was no very long gypsy skirts (which were fashionable and I loved) in school.
Both my junior and senior schools were built into hills, with steps all over the place.

[parkin2010]

I am a secondary school teacher- I wouldn't be impressed if my bank manager dressed in a scruffy way and have littke faith in them. Kids have a lot more respect for you when you dress smartly, just as they are expected to do themselves. The ones who looked like they'd arrived in threadbare clothes or with their dinner splashed down their fronts where the ones we messed around for at school. It's not hard to look smart.

[primarymonkeyhanger]

I teach y1 and I agree with the dress code but it should also be comfortable and easy to move in. I always err on the side if caution with vests under tops and leggings worn as tights. Dresses always below knee length or thick leggings if slightly above the knee.Parents always compliment me if I wear a dress of skirt or a colourful top. I do look rather casual at times wearing black/navy skinny jeans or skinny cords.I wouldn't dream of wearing heels and usually wear converse or slip on pumps.
My major gripe is people who wear shirts but don't iron them, so scruffy. Or tops that ride up, for this very reason all mine must be past bum length!
Tatoos and piercings are a no no as is too much slap.

[AmandaPandtheNightmareMonsters]

Primary- that sounds very smart and sensible for year one. My Dd's reception teacher seems to mostly wear leggings or skinnies with long tops and I think that is very appropriate and practical for the age group.

[AmandaPandtheNightmareMonsters]

Sorry, that was in response to you saying you look rather casual at times.

[catgirl1976]

Up to a point

I have no issues with tattoos or piercings or hair colour but I think teachers should be clean and smart and dressed in professional, office attire

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

Not really, I don't care any further than "Oh look, Miss Teacher has got trackies on, it must be PE this morning"

But then DD1's two teachers so far have both been blonde visions of loveliness, especially the angelic reception teacher. They tend towards dresses/trousers and tops with ballet pumps or boots depending on weather.

[thebody]

it does breed resentment though amongst teens if teachers wear arse skimming skirts and then have the bloody cheek to pull up my dd on her skirt length.

I wouldn't mind but the laugh is she's an old piece of mutton who shouldn't and dd is, of course, stunning!!

ban uniforms for all.

lets be beautiful individuals not sheep as long as we are clean, smell nice and cover up the sex organs.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

I think practical for primary so top and trousers and smarter for secondary. No wild hair colours or tattoos on display and neat and tidy.

[treas]

Dd's art teacher would be classed as a Bohemian dresser with her long flowing shirts and tops and looks lovely.

The school's reception teacher always manages to wear clothing emblazoned with the D&G logo which I find teeth grindingly annoying - mind you to be fair that's probably more to do with her being a snotty caa who thinks she's above everyone including the HT

[motherinferior]

I want teachers who are fizzy, enthusiastic, good teachers who fire up my kids to learn their subject. I do not give a flying fandango about how they're dressed. Actually I can't remember how most of them are dressed. I know DD1's science teacher wears - shock horror - jeans to work. As he is the head of science and is a charismatic, dedicated teacher whose class love him to bits, I rather think that is more important than if he's crammed himself into a suit.

[Bonsoir]

I prefer my DCs' teachers to show some personality. If that is through the way they dress, so be it. The better dressed teachers tend to have generally higher standards across the board.

[thebody]

exactly MIF..

[parkin2010]

Bloody hell check out my spelling of were. Oh dear. It's been a loooooong day, I will throw my suit away and hang my head in shame! :)

[Pachacuti]

I care up to a point. I would prefer not to see teachers of either gender in spangly hotpants, for example. I think teachers should be dressed comfortably in clean clothes that are reasonably presentable, I suppose; personally I wouldn't be bothered by tattoos (so long as they were correctly spelled )/denim/strappy tops.

[FredFredGeorge]

I wouldn't care what the teachers wore, however if the school enforced a uniform code that was distinctly different from the teachers clothes then I would have a lot of difficulty with the school.

So if there's no uniform, or it's any trousers and a polo shirt / sweatshirt then anything is okay, if it's ties and blazer then the teachers have to be similar. There are enough double standards within schools and the rights not given to children to add further ones with uniform is just wrong.

[sparklekitty]

I think it depends on primary or secondary. As a primary teacher I like to look a bit individual, I, however don't show too much flesh (a highish wide strapped vest top on hot days) I do show some of my tattoos off, ones on my wrist and foot in the summer when I'm wearing pumps. They are very inoffensive am the kids like looking at them. Think it's important for children to see lots of different styles, it shows were all different and that's a good thing.

I guess secondary teachers should be a bit smarter as the children are expected to be a bit smarter

[Nadienoo]

My DDs school is quite smart... Teachers dress smartly... DD2's had on a pretty red jumper dress and leggings today... DD1's teacher has purple hair and a chin length bob...

As long as they aren't dressed like they are out for a night on the tiles I don't really mind, as long as they are good teachers...