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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think £200.00 on a school uniform is shocking

180 replies

Racheyg · 14/08/2017 17:37

DC1 starts school in September he has just turned 4.
the only uniform that can be purchased from the non school uniform shop is shirt and trousers. He even has to wear a tie.

The rest even pe kit is branded with their logo. Its all come in at nearly £200.00. I only ordered 1 pe kit fingers crossed he doesn't lose them :)
Im guessing its only going to get more expensive. as next year he needs to wear a blazer. I think I will be wrestling him to get him dressed every morning :)

OP posts:
LtGreggs · 14/08/2017 19:57

Just re-read your post. Wtf is a pe jumper?! Even at secondary we just put our school jumper on top if it was cold...

LtGreggs · 14/08/2017 19:58

For his "spare change of clothes" surely they use the pe kit?

OK, maybe my school experience is on a different page!

Original poster
Racheyg · 14/08/2017 20:40

argy well aren't you pleasant. Why don't you just go away and bark up another tree.

OP posts:
Original poster
Racheyg · 14/08/2017 20:43

ltg the pe jumper is a sweatshirt that goes with his joggers for pe. The pe kit is a different colour to the rest of his uniform.

I am hoping that they use his pe kit, but they just say a spare change of clothes. I will take both on his first day and take back what he doesn't need.

OP posts:
agentdaisy · 14/08/2017 20:44

That's an insane amount. Our outstanding and oversubscribed primary has a basic white polo, black/grey trousers/skirt/pinafore, and green jumper uniform, with white t-shirt and black shorts/joggers for pe. There are logo jumpers/cardis/polos but these are optional and not many children have them.

It's going to cost me about £60 for 5 polos/trousers, 3 jumpers, pe t-shirt and shorts, book bag, pe bag and shoes for ds starting reception. Going on nursery he'll need a clean polo and trousers every day but his jumper will hardly get worn.

I couldn't afford £200 per child for school uniform and I dread dd moving to high school in a few years when she'll need logo blazer, tie and pe kit.

Yura · 14/08/2017 20:52

I won't tell you what I just spent- it's a lot more. Eczema child means everything has to be polyester and teflon coating free, so one plain Poloshirt is £10 already, trousers are between £8 and £18 per pair, etc... (some supermarkets do apparently 100% cotton shirts, but they are coated in so much stuff to make them easy iron etc that they are a no-go). School jumper is specially made (cotton),

fleshmarketclose · 14/08/2017 21:03

It will take a class of four year olds half an hour to get dressed before and after PE if they are going to have to battle with formal shirts so don't imagine PE is going to happen regularly. It's ridiculous if you ask me to have such a rigid uniform for small children. OP's dc's sweatercosts more than the logo knitted one at dd's secondary school and they are adult sized.

ThanksForAllTheFish · 14/08/2017 21:04

YANBU.

Our bog standard state primary school has just changed the uniform from poloshirt and sweatshirt (logoed preferably but not compulsory) to shirt / tie / blazer.

Blazer prices start at £28 for the smallest size. Logo jumper £15 / logo cardigan £17 (not sweatshirt but a horrid 50% acrylic mix thing). Logo PE kit (horrid football top type fabric in luminous yellow) £10, logo PE shorts £8. PE socks £4. School ties £7-£10 depending on standard/ clip on or elasticated.

We also need smart polishable school shoes (no trainers allowed), indoor shoes (not trainers or slippers and only plain black with no logos) and PE trainers in plain white. Oh and only grey socks and tights now allowed - so all the black ones we have from last year that are still in perfect condition can't be used.

Majority of the parents didn't want the new uniform but the headteacher wants it so it's happening. For my one child I have spent £257 on new uniform (that's without needing new proper leather school shoes as her old ones still fit). I dread to think of the costs for larger families, particularly as the school has a high number of FSM children.

Last year I spent around £150 and had 5 full sets of uniform and shoes, this year I have 3 shirts, 4 bottoms, 2 cardigans and a blazer. Angry

CockacidalManiac · 14/08/2017 21:12

Perhaps it's a good school and he will learn that if you buy something, you have bought it. Not brought it.

Pleased with yourself, are you?

Ketzele · 14/08/2017 21:13

I've just spent £400 on dd1, who is starting at (state) secondary. That included shoes but I was Angry. I have no quarrel with school uniform per se, but when they put logos on everything to stop you buying it from supermarkets, that's a tax on parents, nothing to do with instilling standards and discipline in the children.

dd2 is still at primary, and I've spent about £40 on hers.

dementedma · 14/08/2017 21:13

I agree wiht the other poster in Scotland that we just dont have the same level of fuss here.Blazers are optional at ds secondary school, he will go back tomorrow wearing balck trousers (£16 Matalan), white shirt ( 3 for £15 Asda), plain black sweatshirt (£8 Amazon) and black shoes which were a total bargain reduced from £45 to £15 in Sports Direct. He will need to take £9 with him to buy a seniors tie as we forgot to get one at the end of term.All of his clothes are men's sizes.

Ketzele · 14/08/2017 21:17

I should add that I didn't buy a blazer or coat, and only one jumper (got two others second hand).

One of our local primaries recently introduced a new uniform, complete with ties for the boys. Surely ties at that age are just going to get lost/ used to whip each other with/ used to tie things up with/ lost again?

BeALert · 14/08/2017 21:20

Wow.

They don't even go to school at 4 here...

ThanksForAllTheFish · 14/08/2017 22:48

dementedma I am in Scotland.

The new head teacher that's changed the uniform to shirt/tie/blazer previously worked in a private all girls school. I think that's why she's deluded making the uniform smarter. I know technically she can't force the new uniform, but I don't want my child to be given a hard time for not complying. She's a sensitive little thing and very much likes to stick to the rules.

ILoveGrammar0 · 14/08/2017 22:49

Just wait until you get to secondary school.

Fishbiscuits · 14/08/2017 23:20

YANBU

I'm very thankful that my daughter's outstanding primary school (which is part of a multi-academy trust of several outstanding primary schools) is not overly strict on school uniforms. Black trousers/skirts/pinafores, white shirts or red or white polos, and black or red jumpers/cardigans. Red gingham dresses are another option in the summer. Clothing with logos on is available but definitely not required, and there is also the option to buy iron on school badges for £1.50 if you wish. The school uniform rules do say black/white/red/grey socks and black shoes although I don't think this strictly enforced (the sock part certainly isn't). PE kit is white T-shirt and black shorts and plimsolls, and black joggers and a pair of trainers for outdoor PE. Absolutely everything can be bought from the supermarkets.

pp2017 · 15/08/2017 00:31

My primary has set branded uniform - ties, jumper, pinafores for girls, PE kit - can buy shirt and boys trousers from anywhere in correct colour....

No way mine cost £200 though, even with shoes and buying trousers from Next!!?

pringlecat · 15/08/2017 01:08

£200 is ridiculous for a state school, but from reading your subsequent post, you do seem to have over-bought. So not as bad as it first sounds.

GreenTulips · 15/08/2017 01:40

X3 kids shoes alone £150
Trainers £130
Blazers £24
£4 ties
Trousers/skirts £70

PE kits are fine still fit

New bags and one PE bag £80

Coats are ok

Haven't brought any tights yet!!

Please don't add it up I don't want to know

Want2bSupermum · 15/08/2017 01:51

Be careful what you wish for. I have a 6, 4 and 18 month old. Elder two are in school here in the US. There is no school uniform. It costs a fortune. They need a snow coat, snow pants, rain jacket, rain boots, snow boots and back pack that is 'kid approved'. Then we have 5 outfits which I label Monday-Friday and are name taped with out last name followed by the first name of my three kids.

I buy 2nd hand and keep it as limited as possible yet each child somehow ends up costing about $1000 a year. I really really wish they had a school uniform!

DarkerWeb · 15/08/2017 02:02

£200 doesn't go far on private school uniform. Our logo'd science jackets are £25. Art apron £15. Hockey socks £12.

It does sound like a lot OP but as someone said previously, it gets worn so much it's actually good value.

BeALert · 15/08/2017 03:35

I buy 2nd hand and keep it as limited as possible yet each child somehow ends up costing about $1000 a year. I really really wish they had a school uniform!

It does get cheaper as they get bigger - stuff like snow pants and coats last longer, you can pass them down, and they just don't grow out of clothes so fast. Mine get at least two years out of all their snow gear other than boots. Don't get me started on the cost of skis for everyone though...

BeALert · 15/08/2017 03:36

Oh and whatever you do, don't let them play ice hockey...

Want2bSupermum · 15/08/2017 04:12

Haha!!! DS is playing hockey. Kit including skates is all hand me downs from my cousins. My mothers side of the family are Canadian. Every single person on that side of the family can skate and play hockey.

BeALert · 15/08/2017 04:13

Goodbye all remaining money and spare time :-D