to think primary school uniform price is ridiculous?!

[TeaLover2468]

I'm new here but just wanting some perspective.

My dc's school has just updated the uniform policy, I've always thought it was expensive but now its getting a little silly.

Logo school jumpers £17.25 + each
Girls M&S Summer dresses £12+ each
The boys summer shirts £12 + each

On top of that they need

Logo PE tshirt £8.50
Logo PE hoodie £ £13.50
Specific PE Socks £ 5.50

This is without thiings like shoes, shirts, pinafores coats and backpacks, Logo PE bags, Hi-Viz.
Plus an Optional blazer at £30.

Is it unreasonable of me to think spending £200+ on one child a year on primary school uniform is ridiculous?
I always knew secondary schools were expensive but that's over £1300 for 6 years of primary school.
That could buy a car!
AIBU or is it getting a bit silly now?!

BlackInk Thats what i mean we cant all afford to just keep buying logo items.

No M&S summer dress compulsory down to the colour we have to buy, and PE tops have to be logo. It's a state school I wouldn't mind if it was private but its not!

Does your school not have a 2nd hand shop? It's been a godsend for us.

And why do you have to buy the M&S dresses? Can you not wear the ones from Sainsbury's or Tesco's which are cheaper?

That seems really reasonable to me - I spend more on clothes for my two and consider myself to be quite frugal.
I buy good quality brands but almost always in the sale. £17 for a jumper seems pretty cheap.

Is it that you have to buy them all at one time?

I buy DD's dresses from Asda or Sainsburys usually, cost £4-£5 each. I don't see how your school can stipulate that you can only buy them from M&S ??

The only logo item at the Primary School here is the jumper. I have only ever paid 50p at the school fayre.

PE kit I get from Asda, 2 packs of white t-shirts, black cycling shorts, somewhere between £3-£5 a pack. It doesn't cost a fortune.

It is the logo that adds the price on. yes it looks great when they are all in matching kit, but it rockets the price up. They should sell the logo badges so that you can stitch them on yourself :(

DD's school have a separate uniform for year 6 as other schools join them, but at least it matches the secondary uniform so if it still fits they can wear it on.

cross post. If they really are stipulating M&S dresses, then this is something that the parents need to address with the school. Not everyone can afford to shop at M&S. I guess it is because they want identical. The parents need to challenge it though via the governers maybe?

£8 for a logo jumper here.

None of the logo uniform is compulsory either but all reasonable price so most people do get it

I agree they shouldn't stipulate M&S dresses for some people the difference in price is significant. It's also much easier to make sure home clothes are well looked after and not lost. School uniform comes back in a terrible state sometimes (I have no problem with this by the way I'm glad they're playing in mud and enjoying painting etc. but it's the reason school uniform shouldn't be expensive).

Unless it's a private school, they can't insist on anything.

I would suggest the basic supermarket options with no logo. You won't be the only one. And... if you start the term and see that you are the only one, then have a word with the school about sourcing secondhand from them, lost property items etc. They'll wreck the stuff within a month anyway.

'Yes of course we bought the non-logo items, as you know primary uniform cannot be compulsory so we naturally assumed that your uniform list was advisory, as is legal. We are of course happy to compromise and send X in logo uniform if you have some available' :)

What happens when a family just cannot afford to purchase these things! I was a teenager when my ds was born. When he went to school my parents kindly bought his first sets of uniform as I was young and struggling. Mind you aside from logo sweatshirts everything else came from Asda!

sorry I'm not sure how to reply to people individually.

I've no idea if they have a second hand shop I will ask though!

Yes countless jumpers have been lost and never found and at that price i get quite upset about it and am told the DC should look after them better, one is 5 :/ also ruined with things like paint and PVA!

I would be more than happy with a generic supermarket summer dresses and sew on logo's as suggested. Maybe i will put this forward and see how it goes.

There was an attached letter stating consequences if policy not followed it included asking the children why they are in wrong uniform which i also felt was unfair!

I've just had a look at the supplier website again.

Cardi (not logo, just random stripe on a navy cardi) £19.50
Pinafore dress (navy, nothing exotic) £17.25
Gingham summer dresses £14.25-£15.25
Cycling shorts for gym £10.25 (by contrast 'boys' shorts are a bargain at £5.25)
The logo gym tshirt seems okay at £7

As I say, we're lucky and will just buy a few logo bits and the rest from supermarkets. But this is uniform for an average village state primary 🙄

You would be horrified by the price of Australian school uniform. I assumed that the extortionate prices for my kids' uniforms are because it's private but a lot of the public (state) schools use the same supplier and I just checked out of curiosity and the cost of Summer dresses for girls is pretty much standard around £32!!!

even if there's no official second hand "shop", parents from your local town must be happy to sell back too-small items on local selling sites.

I never understand how so many parents have "ruined" clothes, maybe ask the school for washable paint? My youngestones do come home filthy, but so far no item has been ruined. I prefer when the filthy clothes are white, they are easier to clean, but everything else still comes out clean in the wash.

To be honest things like glue and whatever don’t bother me. As long as I know it’s washed and clean it gets used even if stained!

I don’t have an issue with expecting 5 year olds to try to take some care of things either. If they come out without everything then send them back to get it!

I wouldn't mind so much except my son's uniform is yellow! Within a week it looks terrible with pen marks that don't come out. I'm not entirely sure why they let little kids loose with pens. What's wrong with using pencils and crayons?!

This just doesn't happen in Scotland. My child's school sells royal blue sweaters with the school logo which you can buy if you wish, if you prefer not to the £4 sweater the same colour from Asda is fine. Apart from that it's basics like grey trousers and white shirts.

Check the schools uniform policy.
It one thing them offering these items and their costs, it's another to source the yourself in accordnce with policy.

My Dads schools policy states clearly that logos aren't necessary providing colour scheme is adhered too.
Black / grey trousers, skirt or school dress
White / yellow polo shirt or white shirt
Green jumper or cardigan.

All cheap as chips from loss of places.

You could ask on a local selling group. People often have stuff lying around they haven't got round to selling.

It is expensive. I make things last by:

Dresses - buy two sizes too large and adjust by taking up the hem and putting elastic in at the waist. Then just readjust as they grow.

Blouses - always buy a size too large.

Cardigans - one or two sizes too large.

Your local Facebook selling sites will also be a great source of second hand kit.

There was an attached letter stating consequences if policy not followed it

What are the consequences?

£12 isn't much for a dress. Unless you want it made by actual slaves, rather than children people working in sweatshops.

Our policy is very specific branded items.

I have bought jumpers from supermarkets in the same colour and they have come home saying 'mrs Xm said I cant wear this its wrong'

The consequences start with asking why they are in incorrect uniform and then making them change into school spares then meeting with parents.

No on its own £12 isn't much for a dress but buying 3 at £36 makes it quite expensive.

I know this is all a matter of opinion obviously but I dont want my DC to feel singled out or embarrased because i dont have £70 to spend on summer shirts and Dresses!

This really depends on the school. At DC's old school you could wear generic "from anywhere" polo shirts, jumpers and trousers/skirts. As cheap or expensive as you wanted it to be.
Do they have to wear the logoed items? Is same colour, no logo acceptable?

I've never had to buy a full set of school uniform every year, and if you have 2 children you can hand things down, or you can buy things from older DC if your school doesn't have a formal second hand uniform stuff

That sounds like a lot to me.

DD has one logo jumper £10
T-shirts plain 5 for £7.50
Cardigans about £6-7 each, plain
Dresses from George £4-5 each

You can save money on the dresses by buying them when they have sales and things. At the moment they have 20% off uniform so I wokld be buying the next size up ready for next year!