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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's not hard to adhere to uniform rules

804 replies

Puzzledconfusedandbewildered · 06/09/2016 16:49

Yet again in the fail a school has had protests from parents (and police presence) due to 50 students being turned away on day 1 for breaching the uniform rules

Aibu to think the rules are the rules and if you want your child to attend that school you adhere to them?

OP posts:
SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 09/09/2016 03:31

I'm pro uniform, as long as it's sensible without petty rules. E.G. school badges/colours on towels, swimwear, Alice bands and or bobbles, soap/shower gel for bathing, pens, ink/pencils & hankies* Though I would assume that sneezing/wiping one's nose into the hankie would be disrespecting the school anyway. Underwear for both sexes (including tights) would the children have to go inspections so many times a day, just to satisfy the HoS?, .only available from the the school supplier (at a hugely inflated price)

What about children who have been brought up in a vegan lifestile, or they think that they're Gender-fluid would they they wear?

BTW...I think that the only hours that the HoS can "control" uniform is from when school starts until home time, otherwise the Hos should keep her/his nose out.

  • Yes, I am taking it it to the extremes.

----

Did any one know that there isn't a/an actual law regarding "school uniform", only guidance from the DofE.

So I would like to know from any lawyers..."who trumps who"?

mathanxiety · 09/09/2016 06:44

Of course Gove was a fan. He loves playing with the big boys. His spiritual home is Dallas.

MissHooliesCardigan · 09/09/2016 08:05

None of the 'rules are rules' brigade have answered my question about how they'd feel about their boss insisting that everyone in an office wears a thick black polyester jacket when it's 30 degrees C and all requests to remove them are refused?

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 09/09/2016 08:18

I agree with children having the right uniform

Having to wear a blazer in class when learning and it is extremely hot no

But this isn't what the issue is about
It's about having to correct uniform. The vast majority manage to do this and a few may have a good reason why not but no frills on socks and no buckles on shoes is easy to follow if you want to but some don't they won't be told be a headteacher what is right Hmm

These issues can be taken up with the school council but that takes more effort than kicking up a fuss in the playground

NNChangeAgain · 09/09/2016 08:19

Have you ever worn body armour on a festival site in midsummer, hoolie?

However, the schools round here all have policies about removing Blazers when temperatures are forecast to be over a specified temperature. Of course, they've had to specify 'which' forecast is used, because parents were sending their DCs into school without Blazers with printouts from obscure forecasts for the UK from weather stations in central USA!

RockinHippy · 09/09/2016 08:21

This sums it up pretty well for me Grin

VIDEO

Arseicle · 09/09/2016 09:16

the vast majority of children managed to wear the correct uniform a few didn't (some may have genuine reasons) and protest how by contacting the school council no that too much effort lets just kick up a fuss in the playground

50 kids were refused entry to school on the first day, so that is not a few by any stretch of the imagination.

We haven't even mentioned thw downright creepiness of teachers inspecting the clothing of teenagers, having a good look at their skirts and the tightness of their pants. WTF is up with that?

LineyReborn · 09/09/2016 09:21

And those kids were wearing the correct uniform. It's that the teachers found fault with trivial things - like black trousers being 'too baggy' or 'stretchy' - and sent 11 years olds back out on the street that I think is a completely disproportionate response.

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 09/09/2016 09:51

The school has around 1000 pupils

Over 900 managed to follow to uniform policy

Then the following 20 still couldn't manage it

Hopefully this didn't disrupt the other pupils and the teachers could get on with teaching

There is nothing creepy about a teaching deciding if a pupil is wearing the correct uniform or not what a ridiculous argument Hmm

ilovechocolate07 · 09/09/2016 09:51

Old head seemed to allow black trainers and new head doesn't. If it was clear that the change was being made then parents shouldn't have bought trainers. I personally would question my child asking for trainers rather than shoes and double check with the school. I do think that rather than sending children home and potentially putting them at risk without parents knowledge they should have issued a letter saying what woukd happen in the event of uniform rules being breached or call parents to inform them of breach.

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 09/09/2016 10:13

And those kids were wearing the correct uniform. It's that the teachers found fault with trivial things - like black trousers being 'too baggy' or 'stretchy' - and sent 11 years olds back out on the street that I think is a completely disproportionate response.

Well clearly they were not wearing the correct uniform, as mentioned above over 900 pupils had no problem in adapting to the new rules, it seems mostly the ones who got sent home (to change and return) were trying their luck. Talk about not picking your battles wisely.

Mistigri · 09/09/2016 10:46

Its not necessarily true that 900 were "adhering to the rules" as it appears that the rules have been applied inconsistently. I happen to know someone with a child at the school in question; her child was not sent home for wearing a particular style of footwear (which on the face of it appeared to comply with the rules) whereas another child was.

WankersHacksandThieves · 09/09/2016 10:56

I dont think the policy changed though, just the level of adherence expected. On the face of it, our rules don't allow leggings or trainers to be worn but both are and it isn't enforced. In practice the leggings and black trainers look fine so are accepted but presumably a hard line could be taken at any time. Ime even parents of children who are the first to go to high school ask around friends with older children to establish what is allowed before purchasing. Yes there are always parents who think the sun shines out of their child's backside and think they should be special (not talking about medical reasons here) but the vast majority just want their kids to fit in. I don't have an issue with a uniform policy but when teachers are made to become uniform nazis instead of educators then there is something wrong.

Balletgirlmum · 09/09/2016 10:57

My husband (a teacher) would agree with you.

JudyCoolibar · 09/09/2016 10:59

ilovechocolate, why would parents assume that a new head is suddenly going to change the school's practice? They might have faith that he has the sense to follow a more sensible approach. Plus not every parent buys new shoes at the beginning of the school year.

WankersHacksandThieves · 09/09/2016 10:59

My niece was at school in England for a while and got in trouble for having a small white heart on her black socks. I'm not aware of anywhere in Scotland where they police it to that degree.

MissHooliesCardigan · 09/09/2016 11:19

Wankers But if you allow a small white heart on a sock, what next? Someone might start wearing socks with a small pink heart or even two small white hearts and then where would we be?!

LineyReborn · 09/09/2016 11:23

A small white heart on a sock will bring society to its knees.

a7mints · 09/09/2016 11:33

RockinHippy

did you read the comments session in which Russell states he was just trying to be as funny as possible and to quote him verbatim 'I do agree that a clear uniform policy is an excellent rudiment in installing discipline'

Arseicle · 09/09/2016 11:36

If you have to rely on the colour of kids shoes to instal discipline, you are really really bad at it.

a7mints · 09/09/2016 11:43

Where are children supposed to learn how to follow instructions if not at school.They obviously won't learn it from their parents.

WankersHacksandThieves · 09/09/2016 11:44

I know! My poor DM was devastated as shed sent down the socks (clearly in Scotland these abhorations are acceptable) so she felt responsible. Luckily they moved up here again and niece is about to start uni so her entire academic achievement hasn't been ruined.... :o

Arseicle · 09/09/2016 11:45

Where are children supposed to learn how to follow instructions if not at school.They obviously won't learn it from their parents

Speak for yourself, you may not be arsed to teach them but most of us do. We don't need headteachers telling them their socks are the wrong shade to teach them anything.

a7mints · 09/09/2016 11:46

At my DCs' school (a Grammar school) there is no need for a lot of time wasted on uniform because parents are supportive of teh school and adhere to the uniform policy....now there's a thought!

JudyCoolibar · 09/09/2016 11:48

Where are children supposed to learn how to follow instructions if not at school.

They learn that all day every day - how on earth else do you imagine that schools function? Do you seriously believe they won't learn to follow instructions unless they are wearing shirts with logos, shoes without metal tags and stiff blazers?