To be worried have inadvertently become a CF?!

[LartenCrepsley]

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?

I too work in an independent school. We would expect a donation- that way for a few quid, you can never be accused of theft. You would buy uniform for a state school so perhaps use those prices as a guide?

In your position, I would still make a donation.

If you have permission, it's fine.

If your colleagues know and are ok then it's fine I think. Some schools donate uniforms rather than sell it off, this is effectively what they are doing and Id imagine that £50 doesn't go far in a a well off school like yours

I don't understand why you're asking. If the owner knows and doesn't care, it's fine, surely? Why do you care what mn thinks?

The parent has donated it rather than selling it or giving it on to help the school make money. Would you take anything else? Wine for the bottle stall, cake etc? I’m not sure why any of you think this is okay. I’d not be very impressed as a parent if I was paying fees, paying for an expensive uniform you insist on and then subsidising your children’s uniform. Yep, cheeky.

If I was in your position OP then I would see getting first dibs at buying the uniform cheaply as a perk. I would happily make a donation.

How much would the sale of second hand uniform bring in if you kept your paws off it, op?
Perk of the job, my arse.

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

In that case, it's an informal perk of the job, and you are doing nothing wrong. The uniform has been donated to the school, the school is choosing to dispose of it in this way. The original owner no longer has a say in what happens to it, as it's no longer there's, so no-one relevant is losing out.

I suppose the only caveat is that the wording of any invitation to donate should not exclude the school doing something other than reselling, otherwise the school is misleading the donors.

If sanctioned by the school, it's not theft. But if I was another parent and found out, I'd be very unhappy. The school is technically a charity, and what you're doing wouldn't be viewed too kindly by the Charity Commission, though it would have to be brought to their attention first. It's a bit like charity shop employees helping themselves to the best donations - though even then, they usually pay for them, which you're not doing!

OverTheHedgeSammy

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.

Another way of looking at it is that they make so little because the staff are helping themselves for free.

It’s beyond CF, it’s theft, jeez!

Getting first dibs on buying donated second hand uniform (once prices had been set by others) would be one thing (although given that you pay no fees it is a bit cheeky IMO). Paying nothing is inexcuseable.

If the uniform sale really only raises £50 a year then it’s badly run!

no longer theirs

If agreed by the school authorities, it's fine. If on the QT, it's not.

It's a shit thing to do.

It's like charity shop staff who cherry pick all the best stuff...which most stores have a policy against for a reason!

You should really make a donation, free schooling and free uniform really is a bit too far!

You should at least donate the difference between what the articles could have sold for in their very nearly new state, and what they could be sold for after your DC have worn them for several terms.

Otherwise, should pupils on bursaries also be allowed free loans of donated second hand items?

If the sales only make a very small amount, then surely you only need to pay a very small amount (£1 an item or whatever) to make this right. Pay what the other parents would pay.

You shouldn't borrow uniform as you can destroy/stain/devalue it- better to pay for it the regular way. Surely if you paid £10 per child per year it would boost the school and still be waaaaay cheaper for you.

Our school sells the skirts/trousers at 50p and blazers for £1, you could double that and still be quids in.

Sorry, I know I said I was going to avoid drip feed, but here comes a big one....
The used uniform is often given at no charge to other parents, on the understanding that it’ll be given back when the children have finished with it.

What does the money collected from the donations for the second hand uniforms usually go on? Treats for the kids?

I know you said they only make £50, or so, but that could be because you are not contributing when you should be.

And, more important than the boss and other staff knowing you 'borrow' the uniforms donated by other parents; do those parents donating in good faith that they are being charitable know that the staff get first pick?

I think this happens a bit in charity shops too. A friend of mine used to get a call from the charity shop she worked in for one morning a week to go in and check out what she wanted first when certain lots of clothes came in before they were put out to the shop. I thought this was CFery.

I would think you're a CF.

The uniform that you're 'borrowing' is in good condition and could make the school money at a second hand uniform sale but isn't as you're 'borrowing' it.
Pay something towards the uniform that you're 'borrowing' and then you'll stop being a CF. Or buy a new uniform as you're not having to pay anything in tuition fees.
If I donated articles of uniform in good condition but realised that it wasn't being sold to raise money, I'd be furious and would stop donating the uniform pieces.

To those of you who have said that if the OP has permission then it is fine, I would disagree. There is a second hand uniform sale that doesn't raise much money for the school but could raise more if these pieces were put up for sale, then what do you say? This is akin to someone donating quality clothes and accessories to a charity shop and the shop workers having first dibs on the merchandise but not putting anything in for these pieces.

Shameful in my opinion.

Do the other parents know? I doubt it. I also doubt they would be happy, especially if they donated those uniforms. I work in a similar school and can't believe you think this is ok, whether your colleagues care or not. It's cheeky as fuck.

Everyone knows including owner? Then it’s fin3!

If the uniform sale really only raises £50 a year then it’s badly run!

^^ this too!

Then why have you posted, op? . Shit stirring?