To ask what UK parents really think of school uniform

[longtimelurker101]

Relating to the thread on school uniform and hair dying. What do parents really think? Do you support the idea or would you prefer that schools across the U.K went non-uniform and had no rules regarding appearance?

The other thread seems to have been locked, which is disappointing because I've just read Math's post and it really needs addressing lol.

I think uniform is pointless.

And weird.

I'd prefer no uniform. You can still tell who has the cheapy Asda trousers/skirt over the John Lewis ones etc so it's not about them all being the same to stop bullying or being picked on for not wearing the in thing.

Is this a Fred? Missed the first one..

I like it. Easy to get stuff ready for school, children look smart. Have more of a problem with "office wear" for 6th form. No professional adult I know wears "office wear" by the school rules!

I haven't seen the other thread but I'm in favour of uniform as long as it's cheap and competitively sold - i.e. there isn't just one supplier who can charge what the hell they want. And as long as not every item is logo-ed - so trousers or skirts can come from anywhere as long as they're black (or whatever colour). But I like the concept of a uniform - it provides a sense of belonging and there's no stigma for those who can't afford the coolest/branded casual clothes.

I like primary uniforms. Secondary should be more comfortable practical and all the silly rules about hair and coats are unnecessary. Comfortable trousers, flat black shoes, polo shirt and a warm washable jumper.

I LOVE it - I have 3 kids - 2 are teenaged girls - the minefield of bloody fashion and wearing the 'right' clothes is awful - uniform removes all the stress

Haven't read the other thread sorry.

Not a fan of formal school uniform. Seems like an unnecessary hassle - why should pupils have to dress like a 'businessman' in order to receive an education?

DS hates his crappy, ill-fitting blazer and so do I.

They should be allowed to dye their hair if they want too. It's their hair. it's not offensive.

Dress code would be much more sensible imo.

I prefer uniform.

But underpinning that is that it should be a sensible uniform.

Not over-elaborate, not available only from specialist suppliers, not in a weird colour. And no need for mountains of logo sports kit.

I like uniform. It's convinient, cheap, easy to wash, and takes away any having to think about what to wear for both parents and children.

I like uniform - it stops me having to think in the mornings and analyse what I should be putting Ds in instead.

I like it for all the reasons listed above especially what ghosty and hassled said.

Agree with jesabel.

I would prefer no uniform or rules re hair colour etc

I like it, we always have the correct logo uniform makes the whole school look neat and tidy in photos and the children at school like to try and get the class award for correct uniform every week.

Although ours don't have to have Blazers just polo and sweatshirt and you can have X colour or white with the school logo polo shirts.

The next local school always look quite a mess dispite trying to enforce a uniform as most of the parents don't give a crap (about the uniform or anything else for that matter apart from their cans of red bull)

I like basic uniforms.
I don't like when school insist on only logo stuff and only available though overpriced suppliers.
I also dislike when kids who are growing like weeds are punished for not have the right kind of black shoes or the right Logo stuff due to growth or money constraints or things on back order.

It isn't done properly in most state schools. There is little insistence on wearing the same stuff, it's all cheaply supermarket crap full of Teflon.

Whereas in many preps and private secondaries the uniform is supplied by the school so everyone does actually wear the exact same thing. It's so much easier this way.

DD has just moved to a private prep and the morning arguments over 'can I just wear my pink leggings under my skirt because Lola does' and other similar nonsense, has all completely stopped.

Makes my life easier, tbh. Can hand down school jumpers from DD to DS which I wouldn't get away with if it was their "own" clothes.

I love school uniform. It makes my job easier during the week. I make sure it's all washed and ironed and then it's all sorted for the week, and I just know that I need to wash sweatshirts mid week.

Although I understand what a pp has said about being able to tell about cheap uniform, I think in primary anyway children don't notice.

I think school groups out on trips look smart when they're all in uniform.

I do think that when there is uniform it should be enforced. When classes of children all wear a variation of the uniform I think the school might as well just not bother.

Mine are only primary but I love uniform. Keeps normal clothes nice, not so worried if it gets a bit manky and super easy for dressing in the morning. School polo shirts and jumpers from two suppliers so all the same. Grey trousers - I have ones from m&s and some supermarket own - you can't tell the difference in looking at them.

Uniform is not perfect but think advantages out weigh the disadvantages.

Yes you can tell who has cheap asda v marks but if there was no uniform it would be a lot worse. Plus there no arguments over what your going to wear.

I like uniform but not the extreme rules like no non black stitching on shoes etc.
I don't like school branded stuff, keep it cheap and basic.

I like uniforms as long as they are practical. I agree office wear for 6th formers is silly.

I don't mind uniform if it is practical and comfortable. When my dd's started secondary school their uniform was black trousers or skirt, polo shirt and jumper or cardigan. New Head comes in and changed the uniform and they now have to wear blazer, shirt and tie and they have to wear blazer in lessons which I think is ridiculous.

I do support the idea of uniform, however, I don't agree with the way my daughter's high school enforces it.

We have to wait until the head gives permission for them to wear coats (not that DD would be seen dead in a coat), they have to wear blazers in the height of summer. When they went back after Christmas staff were actually measuring the girls' trousers to make sure they were the same width at the knee as at the ankle. DD was given a 'uniform strike' for wearing walking boots to school on an extremely wet day, despite the fact she had her proper school shoes in her bag.

I don't agree that hair colour or how much make up, or the colour of their nail varnish or how many piercings they have in their ears have any bearing on how they learn

Utter nonsense, and I would have thought school would have more important things to worry about to be honest.