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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not get high school uniform

27 replies

AtSea1979 · 28/07/2016 17:45

Can someone please explain how it works. Just got the 'starter' pack. £200+ later and there's one blazer and one jumper.

In primary DC would wear a clean jumper every day or two.

So how on earth does a blazer stay clean and only need washing every few weeks?

OP posts:
redhat · 28/07/2016 17:46

Blazers don't need washing every day. Ours get washed at the weekend and if they're ruby in between then they just get s sponge clean.

EweAreHere · 28/07/2016 17:48

I truly HATE the school uniforms. And our state secondary is changing an already expensive school uniform to an even more expensive version starting in September 2017. Miserable for those of us who have to buy the current uniform for a single year, can't save it an pass it down to younger sibling, but will then have to stump up for a whole new one.

Misery. And a complete and utter lack of consideration and respect for hard working families who can't afford governor whims like this. But there's no where else to send our children to school!

nokidshere · 28/07/2016 17:48

Because teenage children don't get the opportunity to get dirty in the same way as primary children. My teenagers have more than one polo shirt but only one jumper that gets washed at the end of each week. They are never dirty.

fuctifino · 28/07/2016 17:50

We manage with one skirt, blazer and jumper. We have multiple shirts and pe kit as she is sporty and uses it every day.

I can count on one hand the times I've had to wash and dry a skirt overnight.

calamityjam · 28/07/2016 17:50

Our two have one blazer each and it does get pretty grotty. I have found them very easy to wash and dry though, no dry cleaning or anything. I just chuck them in the machine on a cool wash and hang them over night and they are always dry for morning.

MatildaTheCat · 28/07/2016 17:53

The more stuff they have the more they will lose. Fact. Might compromise and get two jumpers if they are quite cheap but nobody has 2 Blazers.

dementedpixie · 28/07/2016 17:55

I don't wash the blazer often although I did get dd 2 (think they were about £30 each). She has 2 cardigans but rarely wears them. Skirts and blouses are from the supermarket so not too expensive

dementedpixie · 28/07/2016 17:55

I do !!

PersianCatLady · 28/07/2016 17:59

And our state secondary is changing an already expensive school uniform to an even more expensive version starting in September 2017.
I think that this is disgusting how they keep changing things yet you have to pay the price.

When I was at school they introduced a specific school jumper in a certain year group and it was only compulsory for that year group and the ones below, after five years of this policy everyone in the whole school was wearing it.

MrsKoala · 28/07/2016 18:00

A blazer is a coat isn't it? It goes over your jumper. You shouldn't need to wash you coat/jacket that often. I had a clean shirt everyday and 2-3 jumpers and skirts when I was at school.

Brighteyes27 · 28/07/2016 18:01

Yes they definitely don't get as dirty at secondary. Manage with one blazer dry clean only brush dirt off and gets dry cleaned (as per instructions) every half term to keep it looking better for longer. Some bought cheap Blazers in M&S with 20% off before schools broke up last year & found local embroiderer to embroider logo to save money but you don't get the cut so looks v baggy on a slim child. I bought mine at uniform shop and cost a small fortune for most of it but M&S stuff cheaper, washes & lasts better if you can get away with say plain black trousers etc.

YelloDraw · 28/07/2016 18:04

A blazer is a coat isn't it? It goes over your jumper. You shouldn't need to wash you coat/jacket that often. I had a clean shirt everyday and 2-3 jumpers and skirts when I was at school.

Yeah. Except in summer when they still have to wear the bl00dy blazer and it is over just their shirt and they are sweating and the blazer gets sweaty. F-ing hate blazers. Stupid piece of uniform.

Tanaqui · 28/07/2016 18:04

Also they never wear the jumper!

BoneyBackJefferson · 28/07/2016 18:07

you think that its bad now, what till they start losing stuff.

MrsKoala · 28/07/2016 18:30

We didn't have a blazer thank fuck. I would have lost it regularly, just like everything else.

TheRealKimmySchmidt63 · 28/07/2016 18:33

One blazer is fine see how child gets on you may or may not need to buy another jumper often the jumper is not compulsory and a lot of kids tend to do blouse/shirt/tie and blazer I'd get at least 2/3 skirts/trousers though

TheDailyMailareabunchofcunts · 28/07/2016 18:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

titchy · 28/07/2016 18:41

Blazers are machine washable and dry overnight - a weekly wash is fine.

Jumpers - don't get worn unless it's Arctic outside.

I had 2 kids at secondary and three jumpers between them in total, even accounting for growing that was too many...

CakeNinja · 28/07/2016 18:45

I got dd 2 Blazers!
She has 3 skirts and 5 shirts, 2 ties and 2 full sets of Pe kit (polo shirt, rugby top, netball skirt, skorts, socks)as she does a lot of afterschool school sports.
She wears one blazer on alternate weeks and I wash each one after its had 2 weeks of wear. Easy to wash but they do lose their shape quicker the more you wash them.

redskytonight · 28/07/2016 19:01

I only wash DS's blazer at the end of every term!!! (obviously completely slatternly by most people's standards).

I see it as no different to a jacket I'd wear to work over a top, which only gets washed every-so-often.

LovelyBath77 · 28/07/2016 19:34

The lady in the uniform shop said we'd only need one jumper, as they only wear them when it's cold as otherwise it's just the blazer. Managed to pick up a secondhand, good condition blazer at the new parents evening for ten pounds, and with the trousers we're allowed a certain type from M & S which happened to be in the sale at £8. Even so, it still comes to loads and the most expensive items was the sports top (£39 each). That's a lot I think and again couldn't get secondhand as new type this year.

If anyone is struggling, you could try asking the school as someone I know just got a bursary from the school to pay half the uniform costs. I have a friend in Scotland who got a grant from the council (I think) for £60 towards uniform as well.

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 28/07/2016 20:22

You say the blazer is like a coat but they eat there dinner in it and wear it all day every day?
If I wore my coat this often I think I'd feel the need to wash it!
I will buy more shirts and trousers then, as only have 2 off each in starter pack and see how we go on with jumper and blazer, from this thread it seems he won't wear both together unless the depths of winter.

OP posts:
Original poster
AtSea1979 · 28/07/2016 20:23

His uniform shop blazer isn't fitted at all, looks like a tent on him.

OP posts:
CakeNinja · 28/07/2016 20:25

red I bought dd2 and wash them quite regularly as she's 12 now and sweats (and smells a bit despite daily showers!) and walks nearly 4 miles to get to and from school with only a shirt and a blazer so it can get a bit a whiffy if left longer.
Plus she doesn't wear a coat (? She has one she chose but apparently nowhere to keep it at school?) so it gets wet in the rain etc.

CakeNinja · 28/07/2016 20:26

Plus yes, she eats her lunch in it and it just does get grubby. I guess it acts as a sort of cardigan?!

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