to wonder if school uniform should be worn

[manicinsomniac]

I know all the arguments about school identity and poorer/less fashion conscious children not being teased. And I've always agreed with them. Plus I just like uniforms.

But I've been helping with a charity over the summer (a clothing bank) because it does big school uniform events where people can come and get their uniforms for free. It was a really hot day when we did the first one and, due to a combination of the number of people who turned up and Covid rules meaning only 5 could come in at once, many of them queued for 2 hours!! It actually really upset me that so many people are in a situation where it is preferable to queue for that long to avoid spending maybe £20 (don't actually know?) in the supermarket.

All the children who came in had clothes. The only reason they needed the uniforms was because the schools say so.

AIBU to think that really, when families are struggling this much, uniform just isn't that important?
YABU - uniform is important
YANBU - I agree with you, it shouldn't be needed

Anecdotes of kids taking ages to choose their clothes is not evidence that this is common nor is it evidence that this would happen with such children if they didn't have a uniform. Did you ever think that school uniforms in and of themselves drives this behaviour? By that I mean they are so unused to choosing what to wear they struggle when they have to.

My kids never struggle to know what to wear so should I conclude that they are representative of all kids. No I can't cos it isn't evidence.

It would be easy to do the research. There are enough sixth forms and non uniform schools to do the research.

I do think that the ridiculous competitive designer clothing on non-uniform days is a direct response to the fact that the kids are in uniform the rest of the time.
Really, here (not UK) kids just wear regular clothes every day, there are no discussions or anything. Some kids care more about what they wear and yes, they may well have trendier brands etc. But the majority just wear regular high street jeans and t-shirts 90% of the time. Exactly as you do at college or university or many (if not most?) jobs. There are guidelines for what is acceptable and what is not, but beyond that it really really really doesn't matter.
And as so many pp have pointed out - uniform isn't really a leveller at all. I bet you anything that even with a uniform, most kids will know who in their class has money/branded stuff and who doesn't.

I agree @ExpectTheWorst. None of the parents I know whose children are at non uniform schools complain about them taking ages to pick clothes/get ready & all of those parents tried their hardest to get their children into the non uniform secondary schools too.
We do get a grant for low income families for uniform where I live regardless of whether they go to a uniform school or not. It’s £120 I think & hugely helpful for those who receive it. A couple of friends have had to take out loans for their DCs uniform.

My sons current primary school requires a logo jumper, logo top (in light blue, royal blue or white), a pair of black or grey trousers with black or grey socks.
PE is a royal blue top with logo, black or grey jogging bottoms for winter, a black or grey hoodie (must match bottoms) with logo, plain white or black trainers and football spikes for boys for the winter only, for all other terms they require a logo royal blue tshirt, a pair of black shorts and white knee high socks (with logo) and plimsolls.
It’s daft, but I am lucky enough to have a family member who embroiders school uniform, so I buy it all in one go from a generic shop like asda or Tesco and ask my relative to embroider the logo on.
School are none the wiser and I get the uniform on the cheap, which is great because we can’t afford to spend the £300 it would cost us otherwise. Especially when my oldest is only 6 and grows about 6foot every summer!