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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to rebuy five years of primary school uniform

534 replies

Schooluniform2018 · 18/04/2018 09:34

Our small primary school has always had a uniform. I have had one child pass through the school into high school and therefore have enough shirts, pinafores and logo cardigans to pass down to my youngest two. Currently in years 1 and 3.

Deputy head was recently promoted to head and promised 6 months ago that the uniform was staying the same with a logo change in the cardigans.

Today they have decided that the colour of the uniform has to change. (Not sure if pinafore/trouser colour is changing yet)

So could we buy new pe kits, jumpers/cardigans and maybe pinafores/trousers !

So I have five years of uniform...enough for my youngest two to wear all their school life, in good condition and they want me to spend a lot of money which I simply do not have to replace the uniform.

Oh and they didn't bother to ask parents opinion, just presented it as a done deal.

AIBU to tell the school that my kids will be still wearing their old uniform colours until they graduate to high school in five years time, as I don't have the money to rebuy new stuff :(

I heard that uniform is optional at primary school, so hoping that will work in my favour.

I am so upset. It is a good school with no reason to change the existing nice uniform, the new one is made by the same uniform shop in the same materials just different colour and logo.

OP posts:
lyracostello · 18/04/2018 09:36

Definitely not unreasonable. I would not be buying new uniforms in your situation.

Could you organise a parents petition or something?

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 18/04/2018 09:36

Don’t be silly. You know you aren’t going to send your DC to school in different coloured jumpers than the rest of the school. Uniforms change. You just have to accept it.

SprogletsMum · 18/04/2018 09:37

They did similar at my dc's school. I didn't have any uniform saved but the jumpers went from £9 per jumper to £18 per jumper. As far as I remember no one fought it but I wish I had now.

athingthateveryoneneeds · 18/04/2018 09:37

I think you need to speak to the school. Every uniform change I've heard of, the school gives vouchers for existing students to update their wardrobes. Maybe that is an option they can offer to you.

Mrs9C · 18/04/2018 09:37

This also happened at our school, although we never had a colour change. Our dc wear the old uniform, as do others. It'll phase out eventually.

bonbonlavie · 18/04/2018 09:39

Are uniforms that durable that they can be worn for years and years and passed down through 3 children? Do your kids really not get new school shirts at the very least?

Also, if the uniform has changed then I'd suck it up and not make them stand out like a sore thumb. You don't know if the pinafore colour is changing yet so it may just be the cardigans and shirts you need to replace....and I think you should be replacing shirts anyway rather than handing them down.

SaucyJack · 18/04/2018 09:39

It's not realistic to expect schools to keep the exact same uniform for ever more. Some families will always lose out during inevitable uniform changes.

Unfortunately it's you- but YABU

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 18/04/2018 09:40

What about suggesting to school that pupils can continue to wear old uniform until they grow out of it. Which will be 5 years for your 2!

Original poster
Schooluniform2018 · 18/04/2018 09:40

It would be nice to buy the new jumpers but it is not possible.

Yes. I will be sending my kids in the old uniform or non uniform, whichever the school prefers. I have no choice which makes me feel even worse. :(

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 18/04/2018 09:40

That’s frustrating and I would imagine they didn’t think it through but your children won’t thank you for making them the different ones.
I’m quite impressed the uniform is in good enough condition to pass down as ours always seems to get destroyed through stains and holes

ScattyCharly · 18/04/2018 09:40

Usually when this is done, there is a long transition period. At my school they changed the uniform and the transition period was 2 years. But they did not mind 4 years later when a few of us were still wearing the old stuff.

You could write an email saying you have all your eldest’s uniform so enough for both kids to go right through with and you cannot afford to replace these clothes.

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 18/04/2018 09:43

Talk to the school, tell them you can't afford it. You won't be the only parent who can't, or quite reasonably doesn't want the additional expense or waste.

Similar happened at our kids school, parents gathered on FB and wrote a letter of complaint with the out come of much cheaper alternative to the new fancy knitwear, free ties for all and 2 years grace on switchover.

Original poster
Schooluniform2018 · 18/04/2018 09:43

"What about suggesting to school that pupils can continue to wear old uniform until they grow out of it. Which will be 5 years for your 2!"

I suggested that and was told there was some leeway (which I am guessing will be 6 months) and to read letter this afternoon.

But the new head won't want the uniform looking patchy for years. Which why they had agreed to keep the colour and just have logo change.

Personally I think they should ask the new starters to buy the new uniform and keep the older years in the old one and in 6 years the whole school will be in the new colour at no additional cost to parents.

OP posts:
Invisimamma · 18/04/2018 09:44

Usually schools give a few years where both uniforms will be acceptable to wear. Our nursery changed the colour of their polos and sweatshirts from green to purple, 4 years later there’s still lots of boys and girls wearing green sweatshirts. Clearly handed down from siblings and friends.

Certainly raise your concerns with the school and suggest a compromise.

Also what kind of uniform are you buying that you can hand down through three children!? I buy 6 sets of everything and only a few items are in any condition to be handed on by the end of the year as they get worn through, washed out, lost or holes.

FizzyGreenWater · 18/04/2018 09:45

I thought uniform couldn't be compulsory in primary?

I'd be complaining loud and long about this. PTA, governors, everyone. Make a fuss and others may join you. You can at least ask the uniform change to only apply to new joiners. I'd even report to OFSTED!

Changing the colour is ridiculous - talk about a petty bit of playing emperor. So new head doesn't like the current colour I suppose. Live with it, or find another job!

RB68 · 18/04/2018 09:45

Its all so wasteful. Especially when it is shop specific. I too would be wearing out the old stuff.

And yes it is possible for uniform to last if well treated. Hence all the secondhand uniform sales etc

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 18/04/2018 09:45

It winds me up though, basically such things are vanity projects for heads. Dept of Education advice is that uniform should be affordable, flexible and ideally non-branded.

Tester123 · 18/04/2018 09:46

YABU to your children if you send them in a different colour uniform to everyone else.

YANBU to explain to the school you will be buying the right colour but from supermarket/matalan rather than theirs due to price. My DD has one school logo jumper and the rest of her uniform is the right colour but doesn't have the logo, which seems to be the norm at her school.

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 18/04/2018 09:48

Yes a sensible approach would be for new starters to have it.

worth reading this

. DfE guidance

Zcarter · 18/04/2018 09:48

Do you not buy your children a new uniform every year ???? Please don’t send them in in the old hand me down uniform they will get bullied !!!!!!

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 18/04/2018 09:50

What would you do if your DC lost their jumpers? You’d have to replace them then wouldn’t you? How much are the jumpers? Ask the school about a reduced cost for those having to replace existing uniform.

adaline · 18/04/2018 09:50

Do you not buy your children a new uniform every year ???? Please don’t send them in in the old hand me down uniform they will get bullied !!!!!!

Don't be so ridiculous! If it's in good condition how on earth can you tell?

BertieBotts · 18/04/2018 09:52

6 months is very short, most schools give a longer crossover period. And yes uniform isn't legally enforceable at primary anyway. I expect you won't be the only one!

Replace with the new colour as things get worn out but I would continue to use the existing things.

Gileswithachainsaw · 18/04/2018 09:53

Yanbu

It's bloody expensive crap and many parents 're use old uniform or buy from school second hand. Dd2 is in hand me downs in favt they look better than the newer ones that haven't washed and worn so well as they must have changed the quality and materials now as they look shit very quickly compared to the ones i bought years ago still growing strong.

I've got hundreds to pay out on secondary uniform soon there's no way I would fork out for anything more until grown out of. This is nothing more than territory marking

AjasLipstick · 18/04/2018 09:53

My friend's school did this and they made it clear that the NEW uniform was for the new starters and that any current children could wear either the old or the new.