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

[Puzzledconfusedandbewildered]

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?

[FarAwayHills]

It's very annoying when schools don't enforce their own rules but on random days decide that they will start doing so

This drives me nuts. I'm constantly nagging DD about rolling her skirt up but 'all the older kids do it' and the 'teachers don't say anything' is all I hear. Once or twice a year all hell breaks loose about uniform then they just ignore it for the rest of the year.

Consistency in enforcing rules would really help parents win this battle.

[ayeokthen]

DS 9 has just joined a new school, uniform list was sent out well before term ended and it's a lot stricter than the previous school (2 have amalgamated), however we were given plenty of notice, 3 months at least, and very clear instructions of what was and wasn't allowed. Some of it was a pita to source, but we managed. These "sad faces" are ridiculous. There are rules, follow them or expect consequences. Isn't that true in everyday life?

[MylaMimi]

The school has uniform policy. What's hard about following it? If the policy is grey socks (or whatever) then buy grey socks! And make sure your DC wears them!

As for "staff flexing their muscles". Even if that's the case, who's running the school? The staff or the kids? (or the parents?) Would you want your DC to attend a school where the staff don't give a fig about rules? I went to a (very good) school where there was a definite school uniform policy. Parents didn't question it, pupils didn't question it.

Occasionally you'd get one or two who would come along in something like ankle boots instead of shoes but guess what... they were generally the tiny minority of "naughty" kids who were the least academically achieving and their parents were also rule-breakers/newspaper moaner types (if they'd have had that kind of thing then). The kids who did well at school didn't have time or inclination to cause a stir by deliberately wearing the wrong uniform.

[PumpkinPie9]

If you let everything go, things just get worse until by Christmas assembly looks like Aintree Races

[Memoires]

They need to start in the right kit. Breaches will creep in as time goes by, and by March teachers won't be wasting their time on it except for obvious infractions, like not wearing a tie or the wrong blazer.

[pointythings]

It's amazing how many countries the world over have better educational outcomes than the UK and yet manage to educate their children and young people without the vast, vast benefits of a rigid uniform...

Maybe it's because they are allowed to get on with teaching and maintaining rules that matter instead of worrying about sock colour?

[Beeziekn33ze]

Big comp I taught at, navy blue uniform, 6th formers wore brown. On the first day of term a bright, well behaved sixth former, who'd just got excellent GCSE results, was told her cardigan was the wrong shade of brown and she must go home to get it changed. She wasn't seen again, transferred to the local 6th form college and two equally promising g friends went there with her. Senior male staff with steam coming out of ears at the actions of the very senior female member of staff who'd sent her home.

[FarAwayHills]

Also don't see the issue with leather trainer type shoes. Have schools actually investigated the options available for secondary age students? The options are so so limited. Personally I would much rather DD wore a sturdy leather trainer shoe rather than a flimsy ballet pump with no support.

[Essexmum69]

As someone who has spent 20 years working in jobs with a uniform policy that specifies leather shoes, shoe and sock colour (and no not police or armed forces) I fail to understand why people find this a problem and cant abide by it. After school and the weekends is the opportunity for them to wear what they like.
Having just kitted DD out for 6th form, it cost alot more than year 7 DS's school uniform.

[Mistigri]

There is zero time wasted policing girls' (and it mostly is girls') attire in my kids' schools. As far as I can tell, there's no need to police it, because clothing isn't a source of conflict between students and staff.

OTOH, if you make clothing a battleground in a school full of teenagers, then you will get a guerrilla war.

[Trifleorbust]

The issue with leather trainer type shoes is that they aren't smart, they are casual. Kids wearing smart shoes then ask why they shouldn't wear trainers too. So everyone starts wearing them. Then what do the rebellious kids do? They start wearing white trainers. And so on.

[insan1tyscartching]

Dd's school sent a booklet home at the end of last term with picture illustrations of the accepted trousers,shoes and shirts and links for suggested outlets. I imagine there will still be pupils in the wrong uniform regardless. I'd rather buy what is accepted first off than buy outside of guidelines with the very real risk I'd end up having to replace.

[Mistigri]

My DD goes to school in white trainers. What's wrong with white trainers?!

This thread is weird, it's like mumsnet's been brainwashed!

[Trifleorbust]

Nothing innately wrong with white trainers. But the question was what is wrong with black ones. The point is that you either have a uniform, or you don't. There will always be people who want to bend the rules, but if you let them, you have no rules worth a damn.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Fucking hell, white trainers? What next, anarchy? The end of civilisation as we know it?

[Trifleorbust]

I don't personally care what kids wear. But if you say black shoes, that's what's wrong with white ones

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

What about individualism, self expression, kids with sensory issues, kids with issues about their bodies, kids who feel the cold a lot, kids who overheat, kids who have a five mile cycle ride to school?

We are all individuals.

I think angsting about school uniform rules is really petty and pathetic.

[Arrowfanatic]

I saw the article and having looked at the pictures I saw boys in white trainers and girls with skirts so short I couldn't imagine it covering much. This I can understand. But I do get frustrated when schools demand particular logo items and then you find the cost is several times more than a plain version.

[RiverTam]

Brainwashed is right. Who are these dimwits who attach so much importance to sock colour and shoe style? They certainly aren't anyone who is want to entrust with my child's education.

And the OP sounds like a right chump if she thinks there's much choice in school allocation in England.

Still, I guess it'll prepare all the drones of the future that everyone seems to be so keen for their DC to aspire to be.

[RiverTam]

Trifle and uniform rules aren't worth a damn.

[RiverTam]

Who is= I want. Autocorrect fail.

[StopMakingMeLogOn]

It's all very well saying that if you don't want to support the uniform policy then send your dc to another school, but that only works if there is a choice. Many parents are given no option.

School uniform for primary can be cheap, but for secondary it can be quite pricey, esp blazers and other logoed items you can only get from the approved supplier.

Anyone who thinks that teenagers wearing polyester in July is a good idea and will be conducive to learning is a total plank whose opinion should be automatically disregarded.

I approve of school uniform - it gets rid of all that teen angst over what to wear every morning but I would have no respect for a head who got his knickers in a twist over white socks instead of black.

I also think that sending kids home without contacting parents first is irresponsible. What if the parents were working miles away and the dc had no keys or money?

[FarAwayHills]

The black leather type 'trainers' I'm referring to look pretty much like Clarks boys shoes - plain black leather lace ups, with black logo. They are smart, sturdy, waterproof and last more than 6 weeks.

White trainers - no chance

[Christine88]

YANBU

it's not about the uniform affecting education it's about learning to respect authority, earn respect and come to school in a professional manner! If the parents were given fair warning and didn't adhere to the uniform then they're the ones messing with there children's education!!

Teachers and parents should be working together and regardless of the rules they're there for a reason and parents should set an example for there children and adhere to them too!

[Trifleorbust]

Can't agree, sorry. Uniform rules teach students that they are not in charge at school. However much you may wish that individualism could be the order of the day, most schools fall apart when run along such lines. I would much rather my children understood they go to school to learn, and rules are rules (unless grossly unreasonable or dangerous).