To think school should not have special ties for special behaviour or sports etc, the whole point of a uniform is so they all look that same !!!

[LardLizard]

Not all the same apart from a few with a different tie to everyone else

Yanbu. Its just another way to glom money from parents if you ask me.

Don't lots of schools do this? Different ties for different houses/years/ prefects etc?

Ds1's school do this, but the ties are given to pupils, so parents don't have to pay. I think it's a nice idea, different ties are awarded for sports, academic, house prefects etc If your child has a county tie for sports, they can wear that instead of a school tie.

Why not? If they want to be able to easily identify a certain group of students for a positive reason, what's the problem?

It's pretty common. Many schools have house ties. My school had special ties for seniors. We also had special jumpers as an academic award, badges to sew onto our blazers for music/sport/academic achievement/House participation. The whole point of these things is to reward students in the most visible way possible. It worked well at my school.

It's very common.

Sports, music and academic scholars like standing out.

Some schools have house ties, or prefect's blazers/ties/uniform bits.

Upper and lower schools often have different uniforms.

Why not ? Because the whole point of s uniform is to make them all look the same

I know it’s very common

Uniform isn't to make them all look the same really. It's to create a sense of belonging, and community.

And it's good to have a way to make people stand out as part of that.

The scholars and leaders are part of that community, and the student body should be proud of them.

They give the younger ones something to aspire to, and are easier to approach.

LardLizard

Did you ask the school what they think the whole point of uniform is, or is that just what you think it is?

What's the point of making children, especially girls, wear ties?

I don't think schools should have ties - bloody stupid annoying things.

Can you imagine trying to introduce them today? Hi we're going to insist on these potential strangulation hazards that are a bastard to learn to tie, and will be constantly tied incorrectly in an attempt to subvert uniform policy (depending on when/where you went to school the fad was either for the thin end to be showing with the large end hidden in your shirt, or going for as oversized a knot and tie visible as you could get) taking up endless staff time policing it... would never get through. Especially for girls where ties look even more awkward coupled with boobs - v-neck style shirts look so much smarter.

Mind you I killed hours wasting time in lessons picking strips of woven thread out of my tie to make new patterns on it.

Supposed to be something they wear to make them look more equal

LardLizard

Who told you that?

Lots of schools have house ties, sports colours, academic colours worn as sashes or prefect/ school captain badges etc. I think the idea is to promote positive behaviours and achievements.

@LardLizard the equalising is a factor yes from a socio-economic point of view. As if some children have ratty obviously old hand me downs vs some children have branded, fancy, new every month clothes it immediately acts as a social divider.

However, being identifiably an academic or other school achiever doesn't have the same negative dividing effect. It seems like a nice thing to do imo!

I think the idea is to promote positive behaviours and achievements

Problem with that is you can end up with kids who are really badly behaved (on report, never doing homework, constantly sent out of class) but who are sporty, with the most decorated blazers.

I have no problem with schools handing out badges, ties etc, but at my dc's school, these awards can be quite unbalanced. Sport is heavily recognised and rewarded multiple times, the arts struggle to get a mention.

Lots of schools have different ties etc. I think it's lovely to award achievement.

Uniform isn't there to make everyone look the same, it's to create a sense of belonging to the school. There are always differences, those in shiny new well fitting uniform and those in faded hand me downs so they don't all look the same anyway.

I think it's fine as long as these things are achievable for all. Ds has a house tie and various badges on his blazer but a lot of the badges are from being part of clubs that anyone can join. He's also got a badge for being the faculty winner for music which he got for being the best at music in his year. That's just one badge out of many though, most of his badges are club badges.

Is this because your DC hasn't got a special tie? Sorry, YABU. The uniform is there for lots of reasons - one of the main ones is having a common identity and sense of belonging to a community. Having slight differences / privileges, still within the boundaries of the school uniform policy (such as ties!) is a really nice way to show achievement of some kind, without using monetary reward. I think it's absolutely fine!

Well I don’t agree with 100percent attendance awards either do not suprised I’m a lone voice
Reason I don’t, is because you do not reward things that are out of children’s control
IMO

And I do agree there’s a hell of a lot of rewards that goes to sports related stuff

Why not other subject like a humanities award

Why is sports so celebrated
Probably this messed up world we live in

Ds’ school has a strong arts programme too, so sports and music, drama, arts are equally rewarded. There are library badges, chess club badges, rugby, music badges etc too. The focus isn’t just sports. Equally why shouldn’t my son’s sports achievements be celebrated? He plays hockey to county level, he’s trained and played for years, and works his arse off to play better every season. Cold evening training sessions, turning out in rain for tournaments, giving up his lunchhour to help coach the younger kids at school hockey club - yes he’ll wear his sports tie, and he should be proud of himself, he works hard to play at the level he does, and it’s nice that the school acknowledges that.

I like this. It's just like the Armed Forces.

You can have a room full of people of the same regiment in correct uniform, and not have a matching pair.

whole point of s uniform is to make them all look the same

to make them look more equal

Have you ever seen adults wearing uniform as part of their work? Even when they all, or mostly, wear similar clothes there are always badges of office. Chief fire office's white helmet, captains four stripes etc.

Exactly because they all look the same, the differences stand out, rewards for achievements of which the wearers are justly proud. Gives others something to look up to, to set out to achieve for themselves.

Which rewards grate on you, @LardLizard ?

"Why not other subject like a humanities award"

DC's school certainly has a History tie, plus ones for languages, plus various club ties like philosophy (you have to attend/contribute for those, some subject ties are awarded by teachers). Most subjects covered. Plus a charity one.

So they can and do exist. Perhaps your gripe is more about the range at your school being too narrow?