To hope schools scrap uniforms

[greengoldfish]

It can’t surely be possible to wash blazers and heavy kilt like skirts on a daily basis.

AIBU to hope this means an end to uniform, or if not, a return to some comfy jogging bottoms, polo shirts and cardis/jumpers?

Our blazers are some sort of quick dry polyester and it's easy to wash them overnight. Not sure people would bother though.

Every single day?

I really think they should simplify uniform - ditch anything that can't be bought ubiquitously at supermarket prices. But for many reasons I don't think they should do away for uniform entirely.

If you wash those blazers daily they are shredded in weeks tbh. and people just wouldn't do it, in Real Actual Life as opposed to the fantasies of our incompetent govt.

Nope-today’s guidance mentions uniform. Everything must return to NORMAL including wearing uniforms.

You don’t want to live in s country without school uniform, believe me (I grew up in one). fine if you are rich, but otherwise you will spend £££ (significantly more than the most expensive school uniform) or your kids will be bullied mercilessly.

Our secondary is wearing pe kit until christmas.

Are we expected to wash them everyday? If so them we should have option of cheap unbranded uniform.

I don’t think long term the clean uniform every day will be doable. Too many families can’t afford enough sets of uniform/to do so much washing.

That said a move away from blazers would always be a good one imo!

I agree with a PP that they should perhaps simplify uniforms so that all items are easily purchased anywhere but absolutely shouldn't get away with them entirely. School uniforms are an important social equaliser and there are so many kids in my school who find non uniform days a real struggle because the casual clothes they own are hand-me-downs, not fashionable or they simply don't have enough different outfits for it not to be really noticeable after a few days.

myself what nonsense. I grew up in a country without school uniform and you are talking utter nonsense. You tackle bullying by coming down hard on bullying - nothing to do with uniform at all. Many countries with no school uniform report lower rates of bullying than the UK.

I only have one DD in 6th form now and there is no uniform - I've spent precisely £0 on extra clothes for her. She has an allowance, buys what she likes (lots of charity shop stuff), looks great. DD1 did the same.

Most other countries seem to manage it myself!

Bullying was awful when I was at school anyway (with a uniform.)

Trainers for PE, coat, wearing your uniform like a geek, skirt length. I got threatened to have my head kicked in because my tie was too fat

Our primary is in uniform now and no mention of washing it every day.

What a load of bollocks myself

Clearly washing blazers daily is fantasy.

I think they should simplify it but I don’t think they should get rid of it completely

I really think they should simplify uniform - ditch anything that can't be bought ubiquitously at supermarket prices

This. There is zero need for all these expensive logo-d items. If you must, have a tie. That's all you need.

I am in favour of uniforms but I am not so sure I actually agree with this

School uniforms are an important social equaliser because when I was at school you could absolutely tell who was wearing the worn out jumper or the skirt that was too short because their parents couldn't afford a new one. But it does get rid of the brands.

@pointythings its usually brushed under the carpet, but being perf on, having your stuff used to wipe bums, having coffee poured over it etc was fairly normal for people who didn’t wear the expensive brands. It wasn’t classified as bullying though, just a „disagreement between pupils and damage to goods“. Uniform won’t fix all of this, of course, but it reduces the inequalities, and the pressure on parents.

Another person here who believes myself is talking complete and utter tosh. I live in a country without school uniform.My son's clothes are mostly from cheaper stores or bought in sales. Het has never been bullied for the clothes he wears at school and it is a lot cheaper than if he lived in the U.K. My nephew (and his Friends) in England have often been punished for silly school uniform infringements.

"Uniforms do not need to be cleaned any more often than usual, nor do they need to be cleaned using methods which are different from normal."

www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools

I don't think abolishing uniform will be very helpful. Equally, I don't think being anally strict about it is helpful either. It seems very common for new headteachers to promptly change the uniform policy to be more strict and I don't believe it makes a scrap of difference to pupil's learning, heads just do it because it's an easy way to make "change" rather than tackling the real issues.

I think blazers are pointless. I always remember having to wait for the teacher to give permission to remove it while people were sweltering in the summer. I very rarely wear a jacket anymore unless I’m in client meetings so I think it is a bit daft for schools to make students wear them.

I'm in the UK. I'd much prefer my daughter to continue wearing her uniform. Much cheaper than splashing out for Nike, Adidas, Puma, Fila etc items. Because that's what they all wear outside of school. Non uniform day they all turn up in their brands. Branded items are also more likely to be nicked at school.

@ordinarybloke you can believe what you want, of course, but I lived it. and I know several people who did, in different schools.
It is something that needs to be carefully handled, and opens many doors

Mind you, I’m all for a reasonable uniform. blazers and ties - why?