To wish schools would enforce uniform rules

[SunshineAndSmile]

So DD wants to wear black trainers for school but the school says no branded trainer type shoes. Last year 'everyone' wore trainers and nothing happened. The school also say minimal makeup, minimal jewellery, no coloured nail varnish, no fake nails, no shortened skirts but why then do half the girls look like they are going clubbing. Why am I constantly arguing with DD about this when the school just makes rules but doesn't follow them through? I feel like am fighting a loosing battle.

WIBU to ask the school to actually enforce their uniform rules this year?

Have you considered that it's your interpretation of the rule that is wrong, and the school and your daughter have an interpretation that is different?

"no branded trainer type shoes" doesn't seem to mean no trainers at all to me. Just not branded ones. That said finding any without writing may be tough but teenagers are resourceful.

I ended up accepting the "different concept" of uniform that our school enforces. I'm with you in spirit op but after years of grousing about it I have moved to the zen stage. I have lads though and on the whole they don't look so variable.

Personally I would abolish this type of non-uniform uniform.

Our school then says in the upper years you should wear a blazer and buy a new tie with an extra stripe. Getting with the spirit of rebellion I never wasted my money..

Have you been up to the school yourself to see how the students are dressed?

The oldest trick in the book is everyone does it. On our last fore drill we removed all those students not in correct uniform to speak to them. Out of a school of 700 students, there were around 15 in incorrect uniform including shoes.

The oldest trick in the book used by kids*

Fire drill*

Apologies, damn fat fingers....

I must radiate evil, my eldest hasn't even asked to end the rules and she's about to hit year ten.

I don't give a damn what the rest of the school looks like to be fair. If other parents waste money it's their lookout. I do reserve the right to laugh at the newspaper 'reports' of cross parents being incensed that schools implement uniform codes.

Just tell her that 'everyone' is a chav.

Not Nice, Ttbb.
Parents kicked up a stink when a new HT came in & strictly enforced uniform. yr11 DS was delighted though. He said finally you could dress according to uniform & not be made to feel like a dork for it.

The 'everyone' wears them is the oldest trick in the book.

I had a parent call me after I sent a note home about black trainers. We had a lovely chat. Turns out her boy had gone home and told her that when we say 'black leather school shoes' we are actually ok woth black leather trainer style shoes because thry weren't proper trainers and 'everyone' was wearing them.
They weren't.

His Mum bought him new proper shoes and removed some of his allowance to cover the cost. Serves him right for lying.

Though it is nice to see a thread on here of a parent following uniform instead of the usual crap where people complain their child can't wear a while host of fashion items "because it doesn't stop them learning".

DD really kicks the arse out of the school uniform rules (rolling over the waistband of the skirt that is plenty long enough if she wore it properly, ever more make up, ever more noticeable jewellery)

I've told her that it's her own silly fault if she ever gets into trouble for it. I buy items which conform, up to her what she does with it and what non-uniform adornments she adds.

The school seems to have a thing about girls skirt length (if they are in skirts, which most/all of them are) and boys tucking their shirts in. Head has said it's a useful issue to have, because they can feel like rule breakers without having to do anything dreadful.

EdithWeston
Sounds like my school.
Parents kit their kids out appropriately and support our uniform. As a result we don't have to go down the route of pedantic uniform policies.
Students know we'll sanction them if they break uniform so it's not worth them bothering because their parents would back us if they tried.

95% of the time the worst we have to deal with is telling girls to roll their skirts down and boys to tuck their shirts in, which they do because also they want the teenage cool look they good kids and don't want to be in trouble.

I just color any logos/ labels on shoes with a Sharpie.

I probably sit in the middle on uniform wearing. I don't care either way and am also fine with a loose-ish interpretation. But then I aslo have boys and also they couldn't care less to a great extent.

However, I agree that if there is a very specific code then the school should be consistent on it becasue otherwise it causes grief.

My personal view would be no uniform or be quite laid back. e.g. plain white top, plain black bottoms, plain black footwear - Job done.

wax I feel similar.

I'd happily have a uniform of plain black smart shoes, plain black non-fashion trousers/skirt, plain white shirt, school jumper in whatever colour.

That's pretty much the uniform at my school when I was a kid.

If you were the person who had to police uniform in school, you might have a different viewpoint. I speak from experience.

Schools try very hard to be consistent about uniform and of course, that should be the case, but sometimes it just isn't possible, particularly if parents aren't on board.

Dd got into troubke all the time for wearing socks with tights and on the odd occasion having her skirt too short

Definitely her problem

She does wear trousers an awful lot and although they are not uniform ones she has never been in trouble for them

New head though so we will see

Every other part of the uniform rules she abides by, no funny coloured hair or extreme styles, no makeup (it says minimal) no piercings, tie and blazer all correct, correct colour items etc

foxy I agree.I've said this on a few uniform threads.

The issues arise when parents and students repeatedly refuse to follow basic uniform requirements.

Another poster has said their school allow black trainer type shoes abd they have people turn up in yellow trainers.

Some people clearly hated school as a kid, don't value education and so spend their child's years of education slagging school off, not supporting school etc and the justify their attitude 'because the school's shit anyway'. I feel for those kids because the odds are stacked against them.

Both boys went to school in exactly the right uniform

Ds2 is about to go into year 10 so i dont know if that will change

The school seems to have a thing about girls skirt length (if they are in skirts, which most/all of them are) and boys tucking their shirts in. Head has said it's a useful issue to have, because they can feel like rule breakers without having to do anything dreadful.

I quite like this approach. Allow them to rebel a little, within safe parameters

The school I work in (large state secondary) does enforce our uniform rules.

As a form tutor, one of my tasks each day is to check for uniform infringements - make up/nail varnish - I give them remover/wipes to remove there and then. Jewellery I confiscate until the and if the day and inform parents.

Uniform stuff they are sent to head of year to borrow items.

Refusal to comply results in isolation.

We are strict about it but I have to say, I deel with very few incidents - the vast majority of kids comply and those who push the boundaries generally only do it once.

The key is making sure every single member of staff is enforcing rules - something which our head is really keen on.

pumpkin
Your school sounds like mine. We have a nice simple uniform but expect it to be followed. It does my head in when students come from certain teachers because I know that they don't pick up uniform (and also don't set homework etc so are the 'cool/sound' teachers)

Out of interest, is your school a 'simple uniform and expect it followed' or 'very prescriptive, trousers must have the right logo on from our 1 supplier'?

Maisy no, it's a fairly simple uniform - trousers/skirts/shirts can be bought from anywhere including in supermarkets.

The only more expensive thing is the blazer but there are a couple of places that stock it and school usually have some second hand ones for sale as well.

I thought so pumpkin. Guessing behaviour is pretty good in your school and most parents will support sanctions given by staff?

I only say this because I find that schools who end up going down the pedantic route end up doing it because of endless battles with a reasonable number of parents/students (probably the ones who also don't see why other basic expectations apply to them and so standards at school slip because staff are fighting a losing battle) and then the school has to take a hard line stance or gets taken over by a MAT with a hardline stance to try and sort the school issues.

So far other teachers on MN seem to be confirming my experiences.