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?

I guess I care a bit about seasonal stuff because it looks like this outside my window :o

I'm not sure a summer dress with tights would cut it - it was minus 12 when my eldest left for the school bus! But my kids have enough sense to dress for the weather anyway, there just isn't room for summer stuff to be out with the winter stuff. I assume the couple of posters who mentioned kids not dressing appropriately have reception age kids - I suppose reception age kids who usually have their clothes chosen for them might make silly choices in terms of being warm enough...

Tbh nylon school trousers or school skirt and tights would also be crap choices in the weather we have today! I remember when I was at school we had to wait til the school announced in assembly that we were allowed to wear trousers at all in winter (girls school, skirts only, but once it was deemed cold enough we were allowed to wear cords for some odd reason, though I guess at least warmer than the usual thin "school trousers"...)

When DD was in reception and chose her own clothes for school, she didn't seem to have too much of a problem. Once or twice I said, 'you are going to be very hot/cold/wet if you wear that - look out of the window'. She got the idea pretty quickly. With school uniform she doesn't actually wear what she's supposed to wear (fortunately they are relaxed about it) as she often has an extra long-sleeved white top under her polo shirt in winter or leggings under her summer dress in order to be a sensible temperature. I also don't buy stupid polyester school trousers but grey cords instead because they are simply more comfortable and practical. And I usually send her a random fleece to wear for outdoor PE in the winter otherwise she'd freeze in a short-sleeved T shirt. I've also sent her with tracksuit bottoms instead of shorts. It's 4C out there today. There is no way that shorts and a T shirt are suitable for outdoor PE in this weather, and we don't even have real extremes of hot and cold where I am.

It's just so much easier to be dressed appropriately when you have access to the full range of clothing rather than just some slightly impractical bits of it.

It's just so much easier to be dressed appropriately when you have access to the full range of clothing rather than just some slightly impractical bits of it

definately.

although if your dd you will wear the same pairs of shorts over and over with or without leggins depending on weather

funnily enough unifirm just doesn't provide the amount of temperature control ability needed. Dds eczema is so much better in holidays where she can wear what she likes.

can you link. to those trousers. I'd love to see of I could get away with them

They were from H&M which tragically don't seem to have them any more - they've been doing them for four years and I'd have stocked up if I'd known they would stop doing them! But these are v similar and I think I could totally get away with them at DD's school.

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/narrow-fit-girl-s-perfect-fit-slim-cut-trousers-grey-dark-solid.htm?ProductId=702080362&FiltreCouleur=6439&t=3

They come in a narrow, medium and full fittings which seems pretty sensible, too.

Also, they do a boys' version which is more straight cut and 100% cotton instead of having a little stretch, which might work better if your school is a bit fussy, plus I'm guessing 100% cotton is better for eczema:

www.vertbaudet.co.uk/boy-s-straight-cut-corduroy-trousers-grey-dark-solid.htm?ProductId=702410320&FiltreCouleur=6439&t=3

We are experiencing a very cold snap right now, about -15C. My DDs will be wearing heavy sweaters or hoodies under their winter jackets, with probably T-shirts under them as it is warm in the building, plus jeans or leggings, and boots. They have about a ten minute walk to school and will also wear scarves and beanies and gloves. Luckily nobody has swimming this semester.

Wrt the question of controlling what they wear -- when they were small I bought all their clothes for them and gladly accepted binbags of clothes from friends - many of us swopped clothes around. They chose whatever they wanted from the binbags and I would choose a few items too and then send them on their way. I always changed out seasonal clothing so there is no way they would be tempted to wear anything inappropriate. Seasons are very well demarcated here. So while I did control what was available, they chose from what was in their drawers and closets.

When they started earning babysitting money they all liked to buy their own clothing, which was fine by me as long as they read the laundry instructions before deciding.

If uniform has mystical 'levelling' powers, and also frees one's cluttered little mind up to do work.... then let's start a petition to suggest the Prime Minister and cabinet get issued with a uniform. Nice squeaky polyester regulation length skirts and a thin, cheap white shirt with matching little ties, anyone? And polyester jumpers - with a logo on. Or matching nylon fleeces for when it's cold (although it's a mystery to me how that's meant to be warmer than a nylon jumper?) I think everyone should enjoy a feeling of 'team spirit' and belonging.

I'm getting a warm feeling inside just thinking of them being prepared for the real world and the world of work.

I think the fleeces are to go over the sweatshirt not instead of. I like uniforms for my children and they have never complained about them.

Mt children walk to school in their uniform and warm coats, hats, gloves scarfs, boots in snow or very wet weather. They remove all this at school and change into school shoes. Their school is very well heated and they often sit in class at the end of the day with rosy cheeks and have taken their jumper off! It seems to have changed for the better as I remember shivering in school s with broken heating etc

Do your children have lockers, Lovemyway? My UK friends were all amazed that my DCs' always had full length lockers at school, and that they were big enough to accommodate books, boots, an umbrella, and a long coat. I had a locker in secondary school but it was more of a cubby, and coats couldn't squeeze in if you also had your PE bag or some books there. Each year had its own locker area. In primary school the corridors were lined with pegs and you were assigned one.

Evidence (such as there is...).

Personally I prefer the school uniform option just because I think my DC's would drive me crazy with their indecision of what to wear on a daily basis. When DD was at her school it was a rigid policy down to the specific code number of style of skirt. No skirt could be altered in any way and this was policed fully. The girls accepted it and got on with it. Anyone who had their hair dyed an unnatural colour was put in isolation and sent home with a letter. At every introduction/open evening before the students joined the school the head teacher would hand out clear guidelines and would inform parents that she understood if they disagreed with them but they where the rules of that particular school.

DS goes to the adjoining boys school and other than the school blazer, house tie and house pe kit, you can purchase black trousers, jumper and white shirt from your choice of shop. The uniform is again policed fully and parents are again informed before the boys join the school.

Both schools allowed removal of jumpers if the weather was too hot.

Both sets of uniform could be purchased from the local uniform shop that supplies the uniform for practically every secondary school in the borough.

It would take them exactly one week to get used to choosing their own clothes, Sassy.

Believe me when DD went to sixth form it didnt, it was a bloody nightmare. Two years of indecision and competing in the fashion stakes. She actually missed her uniform.

We never have any issues with choosing clothes. In any case, DS's wardrobe consists of three nearly-identical pairs of jeans, two nearly-identical jumpers, two pairs of sport trousers, and assorted tshirts. That's it. Choice is a non-issue on both weekdays and weekends. He just wears what is clean!

And DD who is at lycée (sixth form) wears variations on the theme of jeans plus shirt plus jumper. It's really no bother.

The difference is that they have never worn uniform so there is no novelty factor, which I think is what raises the fashion stakes in UK schools on non-uniform days (or once they get to sixth form)

math I still found it a PITA choosing clothes for everyday, at the ripe old age of 50! Making sure I didn't wear the same thing too obviously more than 2-3 times a week. Mixing and matching...Now I'm in a job with a smartish uniform and it's a huge relief. Two identical jackets, two pairs of trousers and a skirt with either blue t shirts or white blouses and job done. Life is much easier. Then all I need is a couple of pairs of jeans and tops for the weekend.

Stop spamming that blog!

I asked my DD in secondary how she feels about wearing a uniform, would she like to wear her own clothes like in schools on American films? The answer was a resounding "no!" She says it's nice not to worry about not wearing the right thing to fit in and not to worry about what to wear in the mornings. I asked about expressing herself, she told me that she can express herself through her words, music, friendships, projects and activities. She thought what you wear would just express how much money your parents have.

Clever girl.

Mistigri I think you are right about the novelty. Now DD is away at Uni she doesn't fuss about what clothes she is wearing as there just doesn't seem to be any peer pressure about such trivial things.

I think DD just enjoyed the fact that in school she didn't have to even think about what to wear so it was easier.

*And DD who is at lycée (sixth form) wears variations on the theme of jeans plus shirt plus jumper. It's really no bother.

The difference is that they have never worn uniform so there is no novelty factor, which I think is what raises the fashion stakes in UK schools on non-uniform days (or once they get to sixth form)*

exactly Mistigri

That is our experience in Germany too.

Avoiding wearing the same thing more than two days in a week is achieved by putting your clothes in the wash - we all put our underwear and tops in the wash every night - jeans/ trousers get two wears in a row if clean or also go straight in the wash (in the case of the middle child especially who always gets muddy or grass stained playing football). That is normal - surely nobody is wearing the same shirt all week if they wear school uniform any more than non uniform kids would wear a more distinctive t-shirt or whatever repeatedly, without it going through the wash which automatically prevents the same item being worn days in a row

Actually the incapability of people who have worn uniform to cope with not wearing a uniform at 6th form or in adult life is a pretty powerful argument against having school uniforms at any point! Actually sounds from some of the most recent posts as if 11 formative years of school uniform institutionalises some people to the extent it leaves them paralysed with indecision when they actually have to pick out there own clothes

*their

I'm of the opinion that not forcing kids to wear uniform is better but that if a school must have a uniform then it should be as simple and cheap as possible. There is no reason why a 5 year old should be in slacks and a tie, a tracksuit is probably more appropriate at that age and allows for a lot of flexibility in terms of activities during the day. Cheap and easy to replace too.

No schwab I don't think anyone wears one shirt all week! Five identical white shirts for each child or DH, one a day, or blue tops for me. Two pairs of trousers (or skirts for DD) and undies - a clean set every day. One jacket each and occasional jumpers. So I do two washes Friday night, one darks and one whites/undies and that's it. Certainly don't need to do washing every night. Good god! All easy care and dry by Saturday am on hangers for the next week. Bingo!

I don't think I'm incapable of choosing clothes for work etc but I find clothes and fashion extremely boring and always have.