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?!

I forgot about the cardigan or tank top, and also, if they choose to wear skirts (girls' school), they have to be logo'd. I've just been on the supplier's website, it would come to £127.

The thing is the horrible secondary cheap nasty blazers don't in any way prepare young people for college or work. At college you wear your own clothes and in work you wouldn't wear a cheap blazer that you couldn't take off unless you had permission.
Schools often change to the blazer after a rubbish ofsted or wanting to reinvent the school and seem to think a new 'private' style uniform will achieve better behaviour, attendance and teaching our recently changed the uniform and it was completely pointless. They felt a sweater was too much like primary and went for the blazer... after a rubbish ofsted. Just unnecessary massive expense for those of us who'd saved uniform from siblings and uncomfortable and hot for the students.

I'm so glad it's not just me who thinks school uniform is getting ridiculous!

I'll see what the school suggests, I know some other parents are upset but not sure if anyone else plans to say anything...

@Tealover2468 I'd just exercise your right to buy non logo of your own choice. When my daughter lost her PE t shirt I provided a plain one, never heard any complaints. I don't think I would mind so much at all if it was decent stuff that lasted, but they just sign up to a company and on the whole it's just fairly low quality.

OP Have you just got a new Head Teacher?.

YANBU

Those are ridiculous prices for primary uniform.

My kids had generic shirts, shorts/trousers and PE kit. Only one (supposedly) essential logo item was a sweatshirt. It was virtually indestructible, dried on a hanger overnight and didn't need ironing.

There was a sweatshirt cardigan with the logo but it wasn't very popular with the girls who mostly wore (the more attractive) supermarket (inc M&S) cardis in the right colour.

There were some other items with logos - book bag which everybody used in infants and then rebelled; polo shirts which cost about £8 a pop; and a sun hat which was rarely worn beyond infants.

The school used to ask children to wear the 'proper' logo'd items for things like school photos and performances outside the school.

There was an active second hand stall which sold decent items for £2 and scruffy ones for £1. One year they bulk bought some cheap dresses and sold them for £2 too.

I thought this was a great approach to primary uniform. Very practical and very cheap. Far cheaper than any other clothes!

@SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires No but there was a recent 'requires improvement' ofsted report I believe

Hmmm, so the HT thinks that new uniform = better ratings?

Our -private- school only requires jumpers, sports Poloshirt, tie, winter coat and blazer to be bought from school uniform shop. The rest is generic.
We have 2 jumpers (they are polyester, so indestructible and wipe clean), and they will still fit next year (everybody bought a size bigger).
We buy a winter coat anyway, the school one was normal price and great quality.
Blazer will last at least 3 years (again, nobody buys fitting, everybody sizes up)
Trousers get converted into shorts for summer when ripped or too short (takes about 5 minutes). They are standard school trousers.
Poloshirts -one is enough.
Tie - we have one, and it will last another year at least.
So, not expensive at all, especially since worn 5 days a week.
Loads of stuff can be found on amazon or eBay cheaper, and identically looking to the supplier uniform

I don't agree with all the logos. I have my DC's uniform bought (m&s non logo) jumpers for £8 and shirts from Tesco etc.

No need at all for the logos and expense at primary level. I would certainly ask around / Facebook for second hand.

I've no idea but it is a little coincidental...

I understand logo jumpers and PE tops but £17 a jumper isn't cheap,
I buy big but by September 1 jumper has usually vanished completely and the arms seem to shrink after time?!

Our jumpers are sleeveless :) I find it fascinating that state school uniform is more expensive than private school uniform (nothing ever gets lost here as well, kids are strongly encouraged to look after their stuff, and since everybody comes in with exactly the same stuff, they also go out with exactly the same stuff)

I just looked it up - our jumpers are £21,but since they are sleeveless, they last forever (at least 2 years, sometimes 3). And as I said, nothing ever gets lost.

@yura it seems there are no real rules on what the schools can demand of parents.

I know the GOV UK regulations do state price should be considered however it seems thats not the case these days!

I bet you weren't consulted about the uniform changes either?.

We were asked to pick a colour of jumper out of 2.

@SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires oh the e-mail says we were however this was discussed at a 'parents meeting' which i can never attend due to work and I'm not even sure when they're held?!

Apparently only a handful of parents turned up. I felt maybe a questionnaire/survey sent home would have been better.

Update it has been vocalised that the changes have been made and thats that people are expected to accept it.

A second hand shop is apparently going to be set up which is fine however im still a little sad that at primary school having to buy second hand is even necessary!

I rarely buy the logo' d stuff - school definitely don't insist on it. Just had a look and sweatshirts are £10 which isn't too bad. Polo shirts are £9 each. I'm definitely buying mine from the supermarket where I can get a three pack for that!

If you're struggling with cost check if there's a uniform grant. My council pay £100 per child for those that meet the criteria.

Crikey we just have logo polo and jumper. Everything else is supermarket

Would it be worth asking for a copy of "the minutes"?

Update it has been vocalised that the changes have been made and thats that people are expected to accept it.

I wouldn't accept it.

No you are definately NBU.

Summer dresses are summer dresses they are 5 quid in asda and 2 for 10 pounds in Tesco.

Polo shirts are 3.50 for 2 in asda to. Perfect for pe as opposed to 8 pound odd for one pe t shirt no one but other school kids r going to see.

And I thought 14 quid for a cardigan was bad but this takes the piss

@SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires I dont really plan to if im honest, not when it could be made affordable by using Tesco/Asda summer dresses and not needing PE socks that cost £5.50 Each!

Plus only having the one shop that provides logo stuff (its been the same one for years) makes me think they haven't even shopped around for competetive pricing!

@Gileswithachainsaw I know! i dont even buy myself £17 jumpers!!

YANBU. There’s a petition here

Plus only having the one shop that provides logo stuff (its been the same one for years) makes me think they haven't even shopped around for competetive pricing!

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear!, looks like HT has been very naughty indeed.
0/10.

I never bought the logo school shit for my kids. I sent them in an appropriately coloured school cardigan or jumper from Woolies (showing my age!) or Tesco. If the school didn't like it, I told them they should pay for the said items, as I couldn't afford to. What are they going to do if you don't buy the over-priced sweatshirts etc?