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 don't like uniform. Makes my life harder and I'm philosophically opposed to it. But my 6 year old DCs like it (except the PE kit!) at the moment.

it's a weird concept.
an extra expense for actually shit quality clothing that I would never ever otherwise buy.
and it doesn't help poorer pupils not stick out as there are great differences between the different brands/supermarkets.

I like uniform. Less hassle in mornings for kids to choose clothes, in schools children do all look the same, and they're usually practical and hard wearing.

As I said on the other thread, as a parent I don't really care either way. Whatever the dress code or uniform policy actually is, it's important to me that it isn't sexist or racist or disablist and so on, and that's about it.

I like uniform but with the logo uniform I don't think it should only be available from only one source, there should be a choice as to where to buy it from, the senior school that mine go to have there own suppliers and the are so rude it's unbelievable, but I have had no choice but to spend £300+ in there each year, if the same treatment was from a high street shop I would refuse point blank to enter the shop but they know you have no choice so the service never gets any better but if there were 2 suppliers then no doubt the service would improve and the price also would be lowered slightly

As a child from a poorer family I loved it when I got to secondary school and had the same clothes as everyone else. So uniform was a big plus for me then. As a mother I loved the fact that there were no arguments about what was being worn each morning - and handing down uniform was both ecological and cost efficient. As a teacher it was a bit of a pain having to enforce the rules - but easier than navigating the minefield of what might be inappropriate clothing in a non uniform setting. I'm definitely a uniform fan.

As someone who never had a school uniform until secondary I hate it. It's restrictive. There should be rules such as practical and comfortable clothes, no labels on display, suitable for the season, clothes you don't mind children getting permanent marker/paint/clay/grass stains etc on, other than that I really don't understand the point of a uniform. Other countries manage without.
Also don't agree with the current rules on hair colour tbh. I had orange, red, purple, chestnut, blonde and brown hair (not all at the same time). I still managed to get A levels, a degree and THEN conform into a smartly dressed business person with a conforming shade of blonde hair, no visible tattoos and simple gold studs for work.

I like uniform. I think my dd and friends would be distracted by what their wearing. We are only allowed to buy all the uniform from the school approved shop, so everyone has the same. No choice in skirt style etc.

Those who want uniform because it takes the hassle away from choosing what to wear, can't you designate a clothing set just for that purpose? Surely there is a sensible solution to this.

I hate school uniform. Children are not prisoners to be forced to wear all the same stuff.

All this thread tells us is that most people are in favour of wgst they know. Far more interesting was a thread a while back for those whose DC had experienced bith uniform and non-uniform schools - on that thread the majority were in favour of no uniform.

It also shows that many of us make decisions in a very illogical way. It's not hard to refute the majority of 'reasons' why uniform is good. People are also not comparing like-for-like - the fact that mufti day is stressful at a uniform school does not mean that no uniform = stress, you're comparing apples and pears.

i have read loads if threads complaining about uniform, petty rules and draconian responses to minor infractions. Lots in favour on this thread are in favour when uniform rules are practical and sensibly enforced. But the threads on MN suggest that many schools are failing to do this (I read at least three threads complaiing about children being forced to keep blazers in 30 degrees heat -wtf?). Never read a single thread complaining about lack of uniform.

Not necessarily true river. I've experienced both and non uniform was a pain in the arse. I much prefer uniform, so much easier in the mornings.

I went to a primary where we had no uniforms, and now my kids are at a uniform school. I think uniforms are great. Easy, practical, and for all the comments that income differences are obvious, there's far less of a gulf in pricing between supermarkets and John Lewis than there is Primark and designer, surely? And as a kid my mother was useless at making clothes match, or choosing clothes or shoes that even vaguely suited me or looked like those the rest wore. A uniform would have been great for me, on that basis alone.

Agree that restricting uniform to set suppliers is not on, though.

RiverTam seeing as the vast majority of state secondaries and the large majority of state primary schools have a uniform, you're not seeing threads about lack of uniform because very very few students go to schools without a uniform. It's the exception rather than the rule.

I think it's fine for people to say they prefer uniform, it's their opinion. Why does it have to be backed up with research and flawlessly logical reasoning. Why not just, "I prefer uniform because I like it"?

Asa parent, I don't mind it - my DCs have been to schools with simple, widely-available uniform that is mostly available from lots of suppliers. No-one makes trousers of my DS's current size - 24-26" waist, 34" inside leg - but that is true f all clothes, not just school uniform, and actually uniform black trouisers are manufacrtured by so many people that it has been possibkle to track down ones that fit him bertrter than any casual clothes ever do.

As a teacher, I'm not wildly hassled either way, for 99% of children 99% of the time. But when I have had to discreetly clothe a child in clean clothes every day because they do not have access to washing facilities and have no other clothing that belongs to them, or put a warm jumper on a child who has no coat and only summer clothes, I have blessed uniform because it makes it so much easier and less visible. Most MNers will not be aware of this - their offspring attend different types of schools, or we really are quite good at our jobs and you can't tell - but in some schools this is part and parcel of our daily work.

(And yes, I know in a non-uniform school it would also be possible to dress a child who needed to be dressed - but when items are so much more individually identifiable it becomes much harder. Others would see that X has 'that red jumper from the box', whereas what they see is that 'X has a uniform jumper', which is indistinguishable from everyone else's, might or might not be the one she had yesterday, and easy is for us to keep in every size.)

Not sure about the uniform causing bulling due to the cheap asda trousers etc. It would be a lot worse with non uniform and the some of kids parents not being able to afford names and kid getting teased because they do not wear hollister.
I used to dread non uniform day as it brought the bullies out

The downside is we had to wait for an announcement at high school that jumpers could be taken off so somethings you were roasting. Common sense needs to apply

I love school uniform. It makes everything simpler. DS goes to a posh state grammar with Blazer-and-tie uniform. He's now in Y11 and has had a total of two Blazers They seemed expensive at the time but have washed and worn really well. You can get them second hand at the PTA too. He can wear whatever grey trousers/white shirts he wants but only 'shoes' not trainer style ones. Hair must be above the collar. They all look smart.

Someone said they prefer that their DC wear whatever's clean. But with uniform you have trousers/jumper and 5 shirts that are bunged in the wash every Saturday morning and dry in half a day. Bob's your uncle - clothes for the week sorted!

My preference applies to me too. As a TA I had to think about what I was wearing every day. Now I work in a bank I wash my trousers/tops/scarf on Saturday morning and I'm done for the week! Don't even need to iron anything. What's not to like?

Like it - for various reasons

Its great in theory, at our primary it is grey bottoms, red jumpers, white polo/shirts. No logo required and "cheapy asda" is the standard (whats wrong with cheapy asda?!)

The only problem I have is with high school who insist on practically everything down to underwear being fucking monogrammed and therefore costs about 4 times as much as non monogrammed.

But i much prefer uniform, it is a great leveller.

Expatinscotland, by strict uniform I mean things like DS' previous school's £16 a shot logo sweatshirts and £40 logo PE kit, all compulsory from reception. Not ones where a £4 jumper from asda is fine.

I'm much happier with current school's anything the right colour goes attitude. Would still prefer no uniform though. It's easy and cheap as long as you want Teflon, rather a pain if you need cotton.

Then there's the fact that any attempt to enforce uniform effectively punishes children for their parents' failings. No, def don't like uniform.

I liked it as a child. Less hassle. I didn't like 6 th form because I had to think about what to where and how to bloody express myself.
Now I think it is important- when I lived near the French lycée in Kensington the girls had designer bags etc.....this creates divisions. Particularly for those who cannot afford it. Totally for it!

I dislike uniform. As PP have said how can it be cheaper to buy two whole sets of clothes and shoes?! I find it quite sad that children lose their identity as soon as they start school. I don't see how eduction could be improved by all wearing the same clothes rather than their own clothes that they feel comfortable in.

Lose their identity! What a weird view that clothes define them.

As a mum to DD who takes ages faffing about in the morning deciding what to wear, a uniform is a godsend otherwise we would never leave the house on time. She likes the uniform too which is an advantage.
Uniform or not wouldn't make any odds to DS.