To not replace all school uniform

[Allyg1185]

Everyone I know buys everything new for going back after the summer. Am I the only one that thinks this is a massive waste of money if it's not needed?

I just replaced ds shoes and polo shirts at the easter holidays as the shoes had seen better days and the shirts were evading my stain removing abilities. I've tried on his jumpers and they still fit and aren't washed out.

So new I've bought socks and trousers as they were threadbare at the knees where he has fell etc and socks going the same way. He asked for a new more grown up school bag.

Anyone else the same as me and reuses what they can?

just wait until your child is mid high school and wears adult clothes

It didn't make any difference to me. If the clothes didn't fit or were worn out they were replaced. Neither did I feel the need to buy big as it just looks silly.

I think people do fall into two camps and I don't think it's necessarily money related. Those whose children turn up smart for school and those who may have the uniform but it's a different shade due to over washing, stained, too big or too small. It's all about priorities and outlook.

In the workplace, if you want a decent career then smartness is very much needed. Plus children need to feel valued rather than that they are only worth second hand and scruffy clothes. Uniform is supposed to instil a sense of belonging and pride.

Even higher end uniform doesn't last that long before the colours fade and it looks tatty.

I wonder if the "I buy new every year just because" primary school parents will continue to do this in secondary school ? If they don't because it's too expensive, then will this make them rethink their habits now?

Yanbu. Ds3 needs new shoes and ds5 is starting school so needs new black shoes as he doesn't have any. That is all I'm buying. I'll do a hot wash and put all the school shirts in as they are mostly looking grey around the cuffs. Ds3 and ds4 may need new shirts if the boil washing and vanish doesn't work but hopefully it won't come to that.

Dd has had 1 skirt she wore for 2 years. I did get another last year but she lost it. She has some others she doesn't like so she's basically worn 1 skirt for 2 years.

Ha most of the kids at my daughter's school come from extremely wealthy families and not one has to look smart in their workplace. I am very much the poor relation in my office job (and even then I work half the week from home). People have a very narrow view of what "the workplace" requires. I agree it's about priorities. I just don't think that snooty tone towards people who have different ones is necessarily justified.

if you want a decent career then smartness is very much needed

You see this is where the uniform argument falls down.

Not every 'decent' career needs a uniform or office related wear. What twaddle. The poverty argument doesn't work either because kids know who's parent should have money and those who have to scrimp.

Some parents put a higher priority in their children having the newest or latest whatever and like to show off their wealth via their children.
I know a few millionaires who's kids wear secondhand - it's not money related it's snobbery.

And fuck off with the insinuation that people are scrimping on clothes so they can treat themselves. As it happens I do but second hand things for me too - I did yesterday- but I also buy far fewer clothes for me and wear them till they fall apart. I also have second hand furniture, baby equipment, musical instruments. It's not about scrimping - it's about whether you can find perfectly decent alternatives second hand or if it's better value/less hassle to buy new. That's an individual decision I make on a case by case basis. Uniform, as it happens, I do tend to buy new but only because I rarely see good quality second hand.

I’ve got two full uniforms to buy this year as 2 DC are moving schools. It’s all got to be school logo stuff, including a £40 coat. It’s a state school, not private. I’m looking at IRO £500 by the time I buy everything.

It's definitely about priorities. Where I live purple have tiny houses but drive really flash cars (Essex). There's no way we could afford a car like theirs but our house is much bigger and we go on nice holidays. That's where we choose to spend our money. That's where they choose to spend theirs.

I agree it's about priorities. £30-40 saved by buying nearly new rather than new uniform will pay for term of Scouts or a weekend camp.

My kids started a new school after May half term, and it's been so hot they've barely worn the new expensive jumpers.

I will have to buy new shoes.

On the first day back in September I will dress them in the newest stuff they own and the new bits I buy them. By the end of the week nobody will be looking and they can wear the school skirts and trousers from last year which still fit and are decent enough. I helped run the second hand uniform stall this year and I'm pleased to say a lot of uniform in good nick sold. It's such a waste to throw out uniform that can be reused.

I also find the attitude that one's childhood and education is simply 14 years of practice for a middle ranking office career really depressing (and this is coming from someone who is very content in my middle ranking office career). Surely education is about expanding the mind and broadening horizons. What kids are wearing ought to be the most minor of all possible concerns. It makes me quite depressed tbh.

I buy when needed but do it then in something fresh for the first day back.

if you want a decent career then smartness is very much needed

Not necessarily. There are plenty of low-level jobs which require uniform or smartness and plenty of high-level jobs which require neither.

In any case, what's the point of instilling the importance of a smart uniform into children who are going to go off to college or university and be able to wear whatever the hell they like? Most children quite rightly recognise that uniform is passé and that it doesn't magically make kids behave better, believe in the ethos of their school or get good jobs. And I say that as a teacher. Other countries manage perfectly well without uniform and think we are delightfully quaint for still having it.

Other countries manage perfectly well without uniform and think we are delightfully quaint for still having it.

Yep and our girls would be more comfortable and more covered if they worn 'their own clothes'

Do we need car mechanics and binned? Don't we need surgeons and nurses (which the government needs to address with training opportunities and nurseries) We also need teachers and gardeners, playworkers and shopkeepers

Why not send them in boilersuits or scrubs?

Local school here has posters about 'being grubby shows we've had fun learning'

I don't think teachers care if the kids have secondhand stuff, they teach them regardless!!

There does seem to be a fashion for struggling schools to relaunch as academies with new logos and a fancy new uniform to distract from the fact that the underlying issues in the school remain unresolved. E.g they still cannot attract good and experienced teachers.

And schools putting students back into blazers to magically improve discipline problems.

And it's doesn't prevent bullying - bullies will bully regardless.

When DD1 went into high school , she got bought all new , obviously . Within two weeks , her PE kit ( all named ) had been stolen . Her jumper , also named , stolen . Ditto her tie , and then her blazer . None of it was bloody cheap . So I had to replace it . Another £150 . Same thing happened . So I told the the school I didn’t have the money to do it a third time, and they actually replaced it at a substantially discounted rate for us . Apparently they found it was common for some kids to not actually get bought the uniform at all , wait until term began , and then just plain steal it . I was slightly gobsmacked , to say the least .

Partly I blame the cost of it . This year DS2 is going to high school . The uniform has to come from an ‘approved supplier ‘ at cost of about £200 plus , and that’s without shirts and school shoes if needed . It’s the third change of uniform at that school in 5 years . If it’s come to the point that kids are having to steal the uniform to get any , then why on earth they need to have one that’s so expensive ? Allow a generic Asda type uniform, and sell the badges to sew on . There’s a company round here that will sew badges on for about two quid each . It’s ridiculous.

In the workplace, if you want a decent career then smartness is very much needed

Smartness at school makes zero difference. Look at all the people with stellar careers who went through the school system never wearing uniforms at all.

Allow a generic Asda type uniform, and sell the badges to sew on . There’s a company round here that will sew badges on for about two quid each . It’s ridiculous

Asda do blazers for like 10 pounds. That's a third of the price of logod blazer.

Dd1 is off to secondary school and I have exhausted the hand me downs for dd2 now as we 1 has spent year six makimg do with the same skirts we bought three years ago so they aren't really in a state to 're use any more.

I have spent over 200 quid so far and I have still yet to get dd2s stuff. Bags shoes trainees equipment . I've had to fork out for a trip already . I'm.probably looking at 500 quid to sort out both of them fully. And that's witg dd2 at least being able to buy supermarket stuff . You can bet your arse I'm.going to be getting jumpers from the school pre loved sale in September when they are 14/15 quid each.

All this so kids can lose it or it gets nicked?

On what planet is 17 pound for a skirt ok.

Oh and I've discovered a massive issue with the one supplier shit too. Not only do the smallest sizes available sometimes not fit and you risk detention having to buy unautherised items . Some of the stuff may not be in stock either...

I replace as needed, usually skirts, polo shirts and tights due to either staining or growth spurts. I usually have to replace school shoes as they're either threadbare or outgrown, however I had to buy new shoes in February and they still look great. If they fit in September, DD will wear them and I'll buy her new shoes when she needs them. They're patent Kickers ones and I'm so surprised they still look nearly new.

DS starts nursery so he'll need a whole school wardrobe but I've got a selection of school jumpers from the secondhand uniform sale. In the tiny sizes, they outgrow them so quick it seems fine to buy secondhand and we will pass them into the uniform donation boxes when DS outgrows them too.

I wouldn't just replace for the sake of it if items were clean, in good condition and still fitted.

Luckily mine are still in primary where supermarket school uniform is totally fine.

Bloody ironic that under a Government that supports the free market economy ad nauseum its schools are involved in this dodgy "approved supplier" racket. There's a reason scrip was made illegal.

I replace as needed. New shoes are usually required. Might need PE stuff for dd2&3 as they've had the same since reception and are going into year 3. I'll check through this week. Can afford to fully replace but can imagine why I would.