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?

DD school has abolished uniform for at least the first term . PE kit for days that they have PE and normal clothes for non PE days

Is fishyduck unaware of the entire tech industry?

Not to many blazers there. Or indeed anywhere really these days.

The rest of the world are baffled as to why the Brits are preparing their children to work as bank managers from the 1950s, but each to his own.

The rest of the world are baffled as to why the Brits are preparing their children to work as bank managers from the 1950s, but each to his own

Really? I’d have thought the rest of the world would have too much to worry about to give it a thought.

Really? I’d have thought the rest of the world would have too much to worry about to give it a thought.

Im not saying they spend a lot of time on it.

why would anyone wash a blazer and/or school skirt every day?
Fresh blouse, socks etc daily - wash blazer/skirt on weekend.
job done.

@Delta1

I am absolutely pro uniform as a direct result of having spent 5 years in a non uniform school. The kids, parents and staff ended up voting to introduce a uniform years later. I would avoid non uniform schools for my kids.

what happened to make you say that?

Anecdata isn't actual proof

@TheClitterati

why would anyone wash a blazer and/or school skirt every day? Fresh blouse, socks etc daily - wash blazer/skirt on weekend. job done.

I'm guessing it's something to do with coronavirus.

high school if your kids don’t wear the right brands they will be mocked mercilessly

That happens anyway with even with uniforms. Your shoes, bag, coat, hairstyle, glasses, phone, pencil case, etc- all of those are up for a pisstake. The arguments for strict uniform are so weak, it does confuse me how very attached to them some people are.

Why in the world would you wash them every day? Even my messy some fidnt need goes doing more than three or four times a term, my daughter oy at half term and end of term. She had one skirt I washed weekly and my son did have two pairs of trousers in case one got muddy.
My daughter loves her uniform. In fact the angst the kids go through figuring out what to wear on mufti day would be a nightmare if it was every day.

@Iwalkinmyclothing so many things I haven't considered yet

The same reason we’ve been in complete lockdown for three months, the schools have been shut since March and thousands are dead.

I know it’s easy to miss stuff but WTF pip??

It would be easy to have missed the washing clothes everyday thing. DS is in school under keyworker provision and the school has not mentioned it.

Well yes but you’d think people would realise it might just have something to do with the pandemic

School uniform is outdated, unnecessary and regarded as quaint by people from other countries. The 'social equaliser' argument is nonsense really imo - I've been a teacher for 25 years in the absence of clothing to judge by, kids will judge others for their phones, bags, trainers, make-up (or lack of it) and even by the way the uniform is worn - skirt length, style of trousers, shoes etc.

Most of the other supposed benefits of uniform are laughable - encourages pride in the school and its ethos , encourages good behaviour (nope, just creates a whole new category of infractions to punish kids for). Prepares kids for the workplace (not unless they are aiming for certain jobs, and also - if this is the case why don't they have to wear formal clothes at college or university?).

DD1's school has said no blazer and wash shirts and jumpers daily.

why would anyone wash a blazer and/or school skirt every day?
Fresh blouse, socks etc daily - wash blazer/skirt on weekend.
job done

Im guessing posters are pointing out the inconsistencies ,hypocrisy and gaslighting re. Government policy over coronavirus.

I've been washing trousers and shirts every day before this, so from a personal point of view I'd be glad to see the blazer and tie dropped in favour of a plain jumper and plain sports kit then you could just get x5 everything from M&S or somewhere with no expensive logo'd kit. I hope it gets resolved soon as I'm due to get a whole lot of logo'd school stuff next week for my son's new school (they advised ordering ASAP).

Why would we wash our clothes, eh?

I quote the official governmental Covid-19 recovery strategy, page 50:

"Wash your clothes regularly. There is some evidence that the virus can stay on fabrics for a few
days, although usually it is shorter, so if you are working with people outside your household wash
your clothes regularly. Changing clothes in workplaces should only normally be considered where
there is a high risk of infection or there are highly vulnerable people, such as in a care home. If you
need to change your clothes avoid crowding into a changing room."

Source:
^OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s
COVID-19 recovery strategy^

www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy

Wearjj in my school uniform is cheaper in the long run. It also removes disparity between students and kids showing off their latest trainers.

Turning up with popcorn to watch the school uniform debate. My experience fwiw is being from a very poor family going to a very snobby school. The uniform was ok, although a financial drain on my family. When I was forced to remain in its sixth form in my own clothes there was a bit more of an issue. I am not in touch with anyone from that school and would scream like 'ell and run away from anyone suggesting a reunion. The uniform lack was not a primary cause, but a contributor and a symptom of the issues involved in crossing Britain's social divides.

It's all about British bloody snobbery quite simply.

Regarding the more pragmatic question, schools are getting their guidance right now and are having to send it out right now in advance of shutting down for the holidays. I recommend sending some sort of message to a contact at the school pointing out that there is a mismatch between a requirement to wear blazers and a requirement to wash everything every day. This is one of the many practical little issues that they will have to take into account and find a sensible solution to. Point it up to someone sensible and hopefully it will stick in their heads and keep their attention long enough for one to be found and communicated.

Much preferred it when mine were at school.
No arguments about what to wear, plus it’s egalitarian, no need to keep up with richer/spoilt brats with the latest expensive whatever.

Often a lot cheaper, too - most schools have 2nd hand uniform sales. - I didn’t buy anything new for mine after the initial senior school outlay, and even then I could have got some of it 2nd hand, but didn’t want my dds to be like I was - all elder sister’s things in 1st year, when virtually everyone else had all new. 🙁

Oh boo, have I killed it now?

@orangeblosssom I agree.

I think we’d see the real value of uniforms if schools had to pay for them out of their budget. How many schools would actually think the £300+ a student was worth while if they had to pay for it themselves?

I usually like uniform but im not happy to keep buying new if school closures are going to be regular.
My son had new uniform after a growth spurt at February half term that hes hardly had a chance to wear and wont fit him in September.
I will buy new for september as I do every year in the hope that he will be at school full time, I will be less keen to replace outgrown or ruined items if hes not, especially if im having to pay for extra childcare instead of school or not earning 100% myself.