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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried have inadvertently become a CF?!

180 replies

LartenCrepsley · 08/08/2018 10:25

MN jury, am I a CF? All the recent CF threads have got me questioning this...
I teach at a small independent school. I’ve been there several years and, although it pays significantly less (£10k-ish) than teaching in a state school would, there are several perks to working there, the biggest being reduced prices for my two DC. I’m charged no tuition fees. I know I am very lucky in this respect.
It’s a private school so obviously uniform is a big thing. The uniform is very specific and the policy is strictly enforced (by me and my colleagues). The uniform is only available from one shop and it’s eye-wateringly expensive (one summer dress is £45! A blazer can cost up to £85.). However the uniform is very good quality and lasts well. We regularly get donations of pristine uniform pupils have out-grown. These donations are sold at school to boost our funds a bit. The used uniform sale brings in around £50 a year, so it’s not a huge amount. I have been helping myself to uniform to kit out both DC. I have not been donating any money in return. When the uniform is finished with, I will return it all to school.
AIBU? CF? Or is this ok?

OP posts:
Original poster
LartenCrepsley · 08/08/2018 10:26

Apologies for such a long post about what is actually quite a non-issue! I didn’t want to risk any drop feeding!

OP posts:
ConciseandNice · 08/08/2018 10:26

It seems reasonable to me. No you are not a CF OP!

flamingofridays · 08/08/2018 10:26

hmmmmm. I would still make a donation in your position, and return it to school when they're done with it.

Apileofballyhoo · 08/08/2018 10:27

Just donate some money. Win win.

Cismyass · 08/08/2018 10:28

No you are not a CF you are a thief.

KC225 · 08/08/2018 10:29

What flaming said. Use it and hand it back into the general pile. Remember paying hih less keeps their fees down

Singlenotsingle · 08/08/2018 10:30

Just a perk of the job, surely, was my first reaction. Although, it could be seen as theft
(and get you in a whole lot of trouble!) so I think you should just give a donation in the usual way. It can't be much, can it?

Jonsnowscodpiece · 08/08/2018 10:30

I would agree with making a donation. To be perfectly honest I would have probably done the same as you.

Secretlifeofme · 08/08/2018 10:31

Actually I think that is a bit CF, sorry OP. I am a teacher in an independent school too, although I have no DC. When we have cake sales or similar I would always pay for the cakes. It seems to me that you are taking advantage of your position in having access to this uniform.

OverTheHedgeSammy · 08/08/2018 10:31

That is a really low amount for a second hand uniform sale to make. If thats all the effort they put into it then YANBU.

WoahBaby · 08/08/2018 10:32

I think you need to donate some money, otherwise you're just taking it? How come everyone else donates? I don't get why you aren't? Does your boss know?

Firesuit · 08/08/2018 10:32

I don't want to put it harshly, but as described, this is theft, not cheekiness. Unless you have permission to do it from your boss, in which case it's not either.

Frogscotch7 · 08/08/2018 10:32

Yes very cheeky unless you asked someone first if it was OK.

IdaDown · 08/08/2018 10:32

Why should other parents pay but not you?

Agree with Cismyass

Original poster
LartenCrepsley · 08/08/2018 10:33

It may be relevant that all my colleagues (including the owner of the school) know I am borrowing the uniform.

OP posts:
NataliaOsipova · 08/08/2018 10:33

It is stealing, really, I'm afraid.....

IdontunderstandPicasso · 08/08/2018 10:33

Yes but your plan only works if the uniform stays in a good enough condition for someone else to wear. You can’t really borrow uniform. I think you are a cf yes. A tiny donation would be better than what you have done.
The fact you work at the schooleans nothing. In this context you are a parent so unless your school let other parents do the same then you are being totally unreasonable. I’m a teacher too and I would not do what you have been done.

MorningsEleven · 08/08/2018 10:34

It's theft.

NataliaOsipova · 08/08/2018 10:34

Cross post. If it's been sanctioned by the school, then it is a different matter.

cameltoeflappyflapflap · 08/08/2018 10:35

You're not borrowing it, you're using it for your child/ren.

Give a donation for the uniform you are using.

tenbob · 08/08/2018 10:35

If everyone knows and is fine with it, it's not CFery and certainly not theft

Dadsbigsausages · 08/08/2018 10:35

You are streaming donations. You could give the school exactly what the clothes would have sold for. Or a bit more.

I don't think those donating would be happy to know you are taking the clothes home for your own non fee paying children.

fuzzywuzzy · 08/08/2018 10:35

The second hand uniforms are meant to be sold.

You've been stealing them!

You could end up losing your job and the school would be well within their rights to press charges against you.

You need to pay whatever price the school sells these uniforms for and then after you're done donate them back (if they're in a condition to be donated or not, they belong to you once you have paid for them).

Right now, you're nicking school property!

KittysMyName · 08/08/2018 10:36

Extreme cheeky fuckery! You’re already getting free private schooling and now you’re stealing uniform. Make a (large) donation, sharpish!

Dadsbigsausages · 08/08/2018 10:36

Correction you are *stealing donations

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