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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to call and rant?

14 replies

user1484937392 · 15/11/2017 07:44

I have 3 DC. All attend the same High School. It's the most local one to us and caters for 3 towns worth of children.
I don't have much money. I'm making money stretch as much as I can but it's not going as far as the school wants.
We booked our appointment for their school uniform which turned into £300 for 3 blazers, 2 skirts and 3 pe tops. They tried getting us to buy the pe tops at a lovely £19.95 each which I could not afford along with the football socks at £9.95 and the jumper at £29.95.
I though all was ok. Until my DC came home saying they now needed football boots, black trackies and black hoodies/jumper as well as proper shorts. They are doing rugby for this term so need to boots now.
With Christmas coming up and with not genuinely having the money I'm making myself sick.
AIBU to think A) they could have prewarned me B) they should reduce the price of uniform so I could afford it all C) to ring them up and just say that I cannot keep up with this money.
Feels like they are attending a private school sometimes!

OP posts:
Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 07:48

Do they run a second hand shop?
Can you let them know you can't afford it?
Didn't they send a kit list at the start of the year?

Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 07:49

Try Facebook for the boots too. They may only need them for a couple of terms before they do a different sport.

robinR · 15/11/2017 07:52

Agree with getting second hand.

For things like black hoodies just go to Asda

Original poster
user1484937392 · 15/11/2017 08:16

No kit list was sent out. It's just been decided they will do rugby now. I've looked on my local Facebook groups and nothing there at the moment. My DD2 keeps getting told of for wearing just plain black shorts as I couldn't afford their branded shorts. I thought shorts are shorts no? I'm really struggling with it all and the school are not helping with their prices. I know I'm not the only mum to be really struggling with how much things cost. At their old high school it was never an issue. They wore black shorts etc and it was fine.

OP posts:
Maplestaple · 15/11/2017 08:32

At my DC's school you get a list and it's also available on their website. I put money by as when our eldest started it was nearly £350 for all the stuff. DS starts next year and again I'm putting money by. Eldest will keep all stuff and get a new blazer and new white shirts.

Obvs football boots can be handed down so what one grows out of I'll keep for the other.

Can your DC not share shorts if pe days are different? You really can't let her keep getting in trouble. Can she see if they have a second hand sale?

Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 10:43

I would get in touch with the school too, if you've just moved to the school and have to kit out all 3 at once in school branded stuff it is a big ask, maybe they will agree to allow non standard for a term or two to allow you to catch up?

Ttbb · 15/11/2017 10:47

It's unfair for state schools to do this imo

Osolea · 15/11/2017 15:02

I agree they should look at reducing the prices, but cheaper products mean cheaper quality and it's only possible to produce cheap clothing if it's manufactured in sweat shops.

If you can't afford their branded uniform, email the school and tell them that your children will be wearing generic versions of all the things they require.

Three children close in age was always going to be expensive, and you knew they would need uniform and PE kit so yabu to think you should have been given notice for something that's a given, but yanbu to refuse to buy kit with logos.

silenceisadistantmemory · 15/11/2017 15:09

Don’t call and rant- email and rant!

Is this an academy

Original poster
user1484937392 · 15/11/2017 18:03

I didn't think ahead to having 3 DC close in age. 1 is my bio, 1 is step and 1 is a private foster.
I would love to share shorts but the eldest is 5'9 with a 36 waist, middle 4 ft with a 26 waist and youngest 5ft2 with a 30 waist.
They need to be measured accordingly as was their blazers and PE tops.
And to top it off they have PE pretty much the same days minus one who has an extra on a Friday.
I've asked about second hand from them which they do not have.
It feels like they are trying to be an 'upper' school but it isn't a posh school. It's just a standard high school. They don't do expensive trips to the Alps or anything. The school shop is run only on the school premises by the school. The Head wants it to look the part as it had bad OffSted reviews before she took over.
Damn I ramble. I've checked eBay and found boots from 99p. Which is a bonus.
They sent a letter home saying they definitely need tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie to wear from now on but STILL want them to have shorts with their logo on. But if they are wearing tracksuit why would they need shorts?
Oh I don't know. It's just another stress on top.

OP posts:
Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 22:03

www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform

See this link and ask them how they are ensuring uniform costs are kept to a minimum etc. It also says some items should be able to be bought from a supermarket. Sounds like your school is running a profit making shop if it's charging those prices, insisting on branded items and the only supplier. This applies to academy's too.

Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 22:04

Pages 4 and 5

Madonnasmum · 15/11/2017 22:07

The case study at the end is interesting.

Elefant1 · 16/11/2017 10:51

If you are in England you may be able to get help from the council www.gov.uk/school-uniform

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