To be annoyed at the school for changing the uniform...again

[Meandyouandyouandme]

DD2 is in y9, when she started at her school they changed the uniform from polo shirts and jumpers to blazers and ties, so fine I had to buy her uniform anyway, but my DS was going into y11, and I had to buy him new blazer, tie and trousers, that he wore for about 9 months. So I was a bit annoyed at that, but accepted the schools reasoning that they wanted everyone to change together.
The school has a lower and upper school, so currently the year 7&8s wear a navy blazer and 9,10&11 wear black, they also wear their own ties in upper school. So in September my DD started wearing a black blazer, so now I have bought two blazers, and about 6 ties as we thought they were for three years. Now the school have decided that the upper school have to go back to the blue blazers, as they look smarter and have more wearability apparently. I don't know about that as my DD hadn't worn her black one long enough for it to wear out yet, or I have a magic washing machine
I wrote to the school to complain about the waste of money and resources, and that my DDs uniform fits fine and isn't worn, and why can't they phase the change in gradually. The reply was the usual uniform helps learning and there was a consultation., blah blah.
AIBU in being really pissed off at buying a third blazer in as many years because the school can't make it's mind up, and to have had two different blazers in the first place?

Was there consultation? You might ask for evidence that parents were involved in the consultation and how their views were taken into account.

Yes there was a consultation, but I don't who with. None of the other parents I know ever mentioned anything.

I thought that they had to give at least one full terms notice of any change to the uniform. Therefore if they want to change uniform in September, they should have informed you no later than the final day of the spring term. If they are telling you now and I am correct, then the new uniform cannot be imposed until January. I'm sure it is on the Department of Education website.

No uniform in the US either (but much smaller class sizes - I think that had a bigger effect on learning than what they are wearing)

At my DSs' school, they wear a blue blazer in years 7-11 and a black one in the 6th form. But it is specifically stated in the uniform rules that they may continue to wear the blue ones until they outgrow them. I don't think many people do this in practice, but they can. I think it would be really sensible if your school brought in a similar rule, in this case saying they could wear the old colour until it needed replacing and then go over to the new rules. If they don't, how are they going to deal with anyone who literally can't afford a new one?

I'd politely ask for a copy of the consultation documentation. Go down fighting ;)

Thanks, have had an email requesting a suitable time to discuss this over the phone, but probably just going to get talked at. I will ask for a copy of the consultation documentation. I have read the minutes from the last governors meeting, in March, and there was no mention of the new uniform. I can't believe my moaning will change matters, and I'm probably getting a name as one of "those" parents. But hey ho, I couldn't just go quietly along with this again.

Actually, there is (very slight) evidence that introducing uniform where there was none before, into schools with discipline problems, supports discipline and indirectly improves learning by a tiny amount.

There is no evidence that changing it improves learning.

School is just being silly and unhelpful by requiring overnight changes before students have grown out of what they have.

I don't know why more people don't just tell schools to fuck off and refuse to spend money on half this stuff TBH, but that is a personal view.

My view is coloured by my recent logoed cricket trousers fiasco on another thread.

Read this before you talk to them: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269113/school_uniform_guidance_2013.pdf

This guidance is valid until this summer, although it is not statutory. There is advice to schools on issues which should be taken into account when deciding on changes of uniform, so you can ask them specifically how they have met each of these guidelines, as well as asking for information about the consultation which took place.

Keep the discussion polite and factual, ask for evidence, and push back if you don't get answers.

You could also (they'll hate you but if you are going to be "that parent" might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb) follow up the conversation with a written summary of your conversation, in which you ask for any additional clarification, or make a formal request for a review of the policy. Copy it to the governors and anyone else with an interest (PTA?).

Well considering DD is being quite vocal in her hatred of the new uniform, bearing in mind this will be the third one since she started, I'm not sure how easy it will be to get her in it, though I'm not surprised she's fed up!

Thanks Boffinmum, summed up my feelings very eloquently

Thanks Mistigri, feel like now I've started I will have see it through just to make them see they can't just do this. Have had absolutely no complaints about the school before, my DC have really thrived there.