To want to challenge the school - uniform affordability

[whyhaveidonethis]

My DS2 is starting secondary school in September at a different school to the one DS1 went to. Today I bought the compulsory items on the uniform list and frankly I am pretty disgusted at the cost and the compulsory items. Not only the blazer but the school jumper, rucksack, toe, PE bag, PE uniform (shorts, tracksuit trousers, T-shirt, and rugby top) have to be embroidered with the school logo along with the grey in every way the same as ASDA own brand school trousers have to be embroidered. WTF? £24.95 a pair for school trousers that would otherwise cost £6 in the supermarket. You can only buy from one supplier and so they have you over a barrel. The PE bag alone cost £12.95. The rucksack £22. It's basically a bloody blue rucksack I could buy for £10 elsewhere. Why the hell does every pupil need to have identical bags? Surely that's a recipe for disaster? They also all have to have the school coat which is embroidered with the logo. I didn't dare ask how much that cost.

I'm hopping mad. How is this in line with Department for Education guidance which states schools should: consider the cost, the available supply sources and year round availability of the proposed uniform to ensure it is providing best value for money for parents....and, ensure that the PE uniform is practical, comfortable and appropriate to the activity involved, and that consideration is given to the cost of compulsory PE clothing.

I am right on my high horse about this. I have a good income but live in a deprived area. How on earth do those on benefits afford this?

WIBU to legally (or otherwise) challenge the uniform policy?

YANBU it's inexcusable! I could afford it but it would still piss me off. Imagine how people feel who are struggling to get by! There is absolutely no need for expensive trousers for god's sake!

I feel the same as my son is starting secondary the whole uniform just cost me over 140 pounds as can only buy from 1 supplier blazer 35£ jumpers18£ pe top etc absolute rip off about time this was stopped

The cost of going back to school is ridiculous,Thank Go there's a book rental scheme in primary at 100euro per year. After buying the crested jumper and Tracksuit, copies pens pencils, it has easily cost us a few hundred. It is a bog standard school.

Blimey OP. Presumably nothing finance, integrity or conduct-related?? No need to answer if you fear outing.

Anyhow, no, you are not at all unreasonable and you are wholly within your rights to write to the school about this. Don't fear being 'that parent'.

Most of the secondary schools in my [deprived] area are implementing this. Even the one virtually next door to Asda. None are grammar schools as there are none in my LEA. One in particular came close to bottom of the list in the country so not a ‘choice’ school. It really gets my goat and like you although we can afford it what about those who can’t?

Tomatoesrock where are you? A book rental scheme?!?!

That coloured jumper policy just about ensures no secondhand jumpers. I think the school or a staff member is making an extra cut somewhere.

All bags same is as you say a recipe for confusion too.

The jumper system is a nice idea in theory to distinguish year groups but a pain as families can't hand down jumpers etc. The governors/head don't live in the real world (or don't care).

Ohnothanks he was convicted of drink driving. They let him keep his job as he admitted it. He's not there now due to different reasons. Totally outted myself now.

I feel your pain. I have two D.C. going to new schools in September where everything has to have the school logo. The eldest D.C. coat alone is £38.

ALemonPea blimey, you poor thing. I just know that things will be lost despite labelling and it's going to cause no end of dramas

We used to have different ties for different classes with an extra stripe for upper or lower school. That way they could still narrow down who it was likely to be, but the new tie for upper school was only £5 abd even if siblings came up to a different class, again it was only a £5 cost.

Challenge it. A similar policy was challenged near where I live and the academy backed down. It was a stupid policy as the school serves a very deprived area (ex-mining village).
www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/council-intervenes-to-help-resolve-uniform-row-at-doncaster-school-1-9279219

these stupid uniform rules are simply a way for schools (in particular, usually the headteacher) to 'prove' how tough they are on discipline and how they set such high standards. It's ridiculous and so outdated. I work for a huge multi-million pound company in huge swanky modern offices and barely anyone dresses 'formally'. The world has moved on.

My DD went to a London comp in 2009. The blazer alone was £90. A blouse was £13.50, plus embroidered sports hoodies, etc. The school, despite being highly sought after was v poor in reality.

The uniform at the independent we moved her to was similarly priced. The diffetence between the two schools was about quality of teaching, behaviour and at the indy there was no competition about cool be it trainers or Abercrombie and Fitch. Was a decade ago nearly.

Jesus Christ, why do some schools insist on being so restrictive?

My 13 year old DD wears a uniform. I've bought her uniform for going back....
Trousers x 3 (£5 each from Asda)
Shirts x 4 (£5.50 per pack/2 from Asda)
Shoes (Adidas black trainers from Sports Direct - £21.99)
Jacket (£12.99 from Mountain Warehouse)
Bag, we had in the house.
PE trainers (£10 from a friend)
Sports leggings (£12.99 from H&M)
PE tshirt, from her drawer.

£83.97 total. She'll still look smart and be ready to learn.

Ds is going to an avdany but y7 uniform is provided free( need extra shirts and a pair of trousers)

ah the benefits of home ed

all we need this autumn is new winter shoes,new coats and new boxers or pyjamas(our day uniform)

and thats a maybe as both kids like to be either in boxers or naked

tbh if both mine were in school i would be seriously struggling with sizing

in sept i would have had to buy for a 6 ft 14 y old in m-l with size 12 shoes(should be going in to y9)

a 5ft 8 y old with size 4 shoes in 14-15 now (should going in to y4)

Paradoxically DS went to a leading London Independent. Blazer was expensive and the jumper but everything else was supermarket. Sports kit readily available 2nd hand.

It's selection via the back door. Outrageous, but not unusual I'm afraid. If you're on some income related benefits the school may assist with the cost, it's worth asking. Often they don't advertise that.

forgot to add
genuine question but how do people who really cant afford this buy it?

do the government/schools give a grant?
what happens if you term up in supermarket uniform

We have similar for DD but can buy any bag and coat (but must be navy or black). Shirts are a specific style so the cheapest is £11 for 2 (much cheaper than the school supplier). Boys have a different coloured trim on the tie to denote the year group fine (colour allocated to y7s, that cohort keep the same colour through the school). It costs £5 and will last the whole time . Girls have a different coloured logo on the blazer so it won't last the whole time, costs much more, and can't be handed down. It's not an academy and not many schools to choose from in the area. Quite a large catchment with a mix of backgrounds, the school itself is in quite a deprived area. It seems the most suitable school for DD but could rrally do without the uniform costs!!

In contrast, DD2 in primary has a mix of hand me downs and items replaced from the supermarkets - much easier!

Someone on the secondary education thread has started a petiton about this issue. here is the link:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/226145

That is ridiculous. I thought my son’s school was bad, but it’s not as bad as your school. At least we could buy our own trousers, shirts (except summer polo ones), bags and PE bags. Yours is a bit OTT. How the hell do they manage to keep track of their own bag/PE stuff if it’s all the same? It’s like they are trying to crush any scrap of individuality out of the children. Is the head ex army or something?

School uniform is a joke. New head, new uniform. It’s essentially dick waving about who has forced their small people into stupid clothing.

Children do not learn better in blazers and ties.

Children don’t stop bullying other children just because they are in black shoes not trainers.

Uniform to increase the feeling of community? Fine. A logo school jumper available cheaply plus a plain polo shirt and black below the waist will do nicely. And cost a few quid.