School uniform costs: un-necessary items

[LLWK]

I was reading the recent news of Mike Amesbury's private members bill, that seeks to reduce the cost of school uniforms. It looks mainly at the "single supplier" issue that drives costs up, sometimes to a ridiculous level. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56376138

I also got to looking at uniforms for some local secondary schools (although my children are still at primary). What struck me was that costs could be reduced by not only increasing suppliers, but by cutting out items that aren't strictly necessary. One local comprehensive requires a branded PE kit (fair enough); but also a dance kit of a different polo shirt, with school and departmental logo; and them for that polo shirt to be worn for drama lessons, with regular uniform trousers or skirts, and the pupils in bare feet. Can dance not just be done in PE kit, and does drama really require a different top and no shoes, socks or tights? Or am I stuck in the past?!

@Londonmummy66

PE kit really is the absolute killer - I think all the PE teachers go on a power trip when it comes to uniform. DDs last school required:-

Logoe'd and flashy coloured polo top - for netball, hockey tennis and dance
Logoe'd football shorts - for athletics and dance
Logoed skort for netball and tennis
Logoed skins type leggings for hockey and cross country
Logoed skins type top for cross country
Logoed tracksuit top and bottoms - for wearing on the mini bus to the sports field
Special three coloured striped socks for hockey etc
Logoed white socks for tennis
Logoed swimsuit
Logoed swiming cap
Logoed PE bag
Logoed swimming bag
Plain black footless tights for dance (couldn't use the logoed skins leggings)
Black velour long sleeved leotard and matching overshorts for gymnastics
Astro trainers for hockey
White trainers for tennis
Black trainers for most other sports
A further pair of indoor only trainers to wear between the changing rooms and dance/gymnastics.

Woe betide them if they didn't have the correct kit - eg daring to play netball in shorts or hockey in a skort or skins as it was cold etc......

Trainers to wear between the changing room and the gym? Possibly the most ridiculous thing in the whole thread!

Our school's PE uniform is awful - a different outfit for every type of sport - logo'd long track bottoms and a waterproof jacket and fleece are optional - in the sense that you don't have to have them - you can freeze outside in your shorts and t shirt instead. Girls are only allowed logo'd trousers and the poor buggers have to wear a suit for sixth form - and I thought uniform was bad - the suit was even more expensive and not machine washable - they are the only buggers wearing a suit at the moment. Shoes have to be black and not look at all like trainers - I have kids with skinny feet - finding shoes to fit is a bloody nightmare - not allowed to wear boots in the winter- why? My kids walk over a mile to school - boots are the footwear that's needed over the winter. I do think schools are wrongly being allowed to let their vanity run wild - there is no need for the ridiculous uniform rules and they are getting worse all the time - it really does need to stop.

@Blueskyredcloud

Our school's PE uniform is awful - a different outfit for every type of sport - logo'd long track bottoms and a waterproof jacket and fleece are optional - in the sense that you don't have to have them - you can freeze outside in your shorts and t shirt instead. Girls are only allowed logo'd trousers and the poor buggers have to wear a suit for sixth form - and I thought uniform was bad - the suit was even more expensive and not machine washable - they are the only buggers wearing a suit at the moment. Shoes have to be black and not look at all like trainers - I have kids with skinny feet - finding shoes to fit is a bloody nightmare - not allowed to wear boots in the winter- why? My kids walk over a mile to school - boots are the footwear that's needed over the winter. I do think schools are wrongly being allowed to let their vanity run wild - there is no need for the ridiculous uniform rules and they are getting worse all the time - it really does need to stop.

I think the no boots rule is also stupid. I work in an office, we're allowed any smart black shoes or boots, I wear Chelsea boots and never had a comment made, same as my manager. So why can't my DD wear similar at school?

YANBU
Uniform, if schools have one, should be easy to buy, affordable and then whatever fairly simple rules they choose (eg no leggings, no jeans, no trainers) need to be consistently enforced by all members of staff.

Mouth guard, branded hoodie, swimming costume, pe too, blazer - jumpers not allowed. Total cost around £250 plus school shoes. A lot!

I don’t mind a blazer but I do object to a navy v necked pullover with one thin grey stripe around the neck. That pullover costs £20 when I can buy at least three plain navy v necked pullovers at the supermarket.

@LLWK the £5 socks are everyday ones, boys need long and short ones! Then the older kids need special sports ones too which are probably even more

School uniform should be scrapped

My DC’s school - nothing was branded except the tie, which was in school colours, and a blazer. My DC’s blazer lasted them all five years at secondary.

DD goes to junior school in Sept and it's school logo cardigans only (which is annoying as at the moment I have 5 cheap supermarket sets, so no mid week wash needed) and it's also branded indoor PE top AND shorts and then a branded outdoor kit as well - ridiculous for junior age!

I went to the same secondary my DD is attending currently. Back then it was a white shirt, navy cardigan/jumper, navy skirt/trousers and black shoes. PE kit was whatever.

Now its cost me almost £450 to kit my daughter out and shes hardly been there! Not to mention the vile, wicking PE top is the awful material that just soaks up sweat. And let's be honest, teenager sweat is vile. So it stinks! Same for the polyester blazer, I just febrezzed it to within an inch of its life

Another issue with all the expensive PE kit is that if you have PE twice a week (or after-school sports) you have to ensure it is all washed and ready (or have 2 kits at twice the expense).
Same with expensive logo items generally, if you can only afford one, you can't let it get dirty.

Our washing machine broke - fortunately I could afford to replace it straight away, but we still waited a while for delivery and I was tearing my hair out trying to handwash 2 dc's muddy kits ready for multiple different days.

How about people that have to use the laundrette? Having to pay for multiple small loads of washing all the time.

Sports kit should be wear whatever you want that's appropriate for sport- and if you are on the school team, kit should be provided by the school.

@LolaSmiles

YANBU Uniform, if schools have one, should be easy to buy, affordable and then whatever fairly simple rules they choose (eg no leggings, no jeans, no trainers) need to be consistently enforced by all members of staff.

Don't know why the schools are so anti-trainers - they are such a practical form of footwear. School uniforms seems so out of step with the modern world...actually I think that's schools in general.

The bill doesn't go nearly far enough. Schools should only be allowed to dictate colours, and should be forced to provide iron /sew on logos for those items which need logos. And these should be provided at cost. No more profiteering off the backs of parents.

That's second best, of course. Best would be the UK getting over its uniform fetish.

I'm quite struck that the local private secondary school has a second hand uniform shop- but not any of the state schools. Heaven knows what happens to old blazers from my kids' school because they're never being sold off on FB

Fruitloop I reckon the reason you don't see many secondhand blazers for sale is because parents buy one to last the full five years. That means it looks stupidly large in Year 7 and is threadbare and the sleeves halfway up the arms by Yr 11. They are only fit for a bonfire by the time your kid leaves (well rag recycling - but many 16 year olds probably like the idea of a bonfire....)

FruitloopI reckon the reason you don't see many secondhand blazers for sale is because parents buy one to last the full five years

Nah its cos they are Shite. Buttons come off lining rips etc

Suppliers cottoned on to parents who tried to buy big so they only had to buy once. Theres shoulder pads. To ensure your kid is so completely swamped and unable move that u have to buy the right size.

Currently looking into Irish schools. Uniform there for primary is ridiculous! Like 30 euro for a (compulsory) logoed jumper and 40 euro for a compulsory.PE tracksuit. We should count ourselves lucky here (slightly tongue in cheek).

@Fruitloopcowabunga

I'm quite struck that the local private secondary school has a second hand uniform shop- but not any of the state schools. Heaven knows what happens to old blazers from my kids' school because they're never being sold off on FB

If they're anything like the high school here the supplier suppiles shite blazers that aren't fit for anything other than the rag bin.

Our infant and juniors are fairly laid back about uniform - specified colour tops, bottoms, don't be ridiculous with the shoes or boots and for gods sake send them with a coat.

The secondary are one of these academy chains that change their logo and branding every few years - loged jumper, logoed blazer, logoed skirts for the girls (but the boys get to rock supermarket black trousers), logoed PE tracksuit bottoms, expensive as fuck logoed PE rugby style top, logoed PE skorts, logoed PE t-shirt... and no one can hand shit down cos of the logo changes.

Then they threaten to issue uniform infringements if you buy from the "other" uniform supplier around here rather than their named one they're in cahoots with.

@Fruitloopcowabunga

I'm quite struck that the local private secondary school has a second hand uniform shop- but not any of the state schools. Heaven knows what happens to old blazers from my kids' school because they're never being sold off on FB

My friend said she wouldn't give me her dd's old uniform because it was only fit for rags - it's seriously poor quality despite the high price.

@Ilovemaisie

Fruitloop I reckon the reason you don't see many secondhand blazers for sale is because parents buy one to last the full five years. That means it looks stupidly large in Year 7 and is threadbare and the sleeves halfway up the arms by Yr 11. They are only fit for a bonfire by the time your kid leaves (well rag recycling - but many 16 year olds probably like the idea of a bonfire....)

DDs one already has threads pulling out of hers and she's only done one term! They're such shit quality.

Some items of uniform are quite mad, but second hand is your friend. I have very occasionally had to buy my DC something new - but otherwise it has always been a mixture of their schools' second-hand shops and things given to me by friends (and I have in turn handed loads of stuff on to parents with younger DC: some items of uniform survive the attentions of at least four children).

@Whatwouldscullydo IME, it's absolutely not the case that schools don't want "paupers". What I find strange is the idea that independent schools have a thriving second-hand uniform market, but state schools apparently don't.

At some of my DC's schools, having all-new uniform would suggest PFB or only child.

Our secondary doesn't have a second hand sale but does allow pupils to buy unlabelled stuff from lost property. A blazer is something like 50p. Unfortunately it's only open to pupils on the third Tuesday after a full moon at first break and doesn't give change so you've got to have the sort of child who has never lost a jumper every two days to actually make use of it.

My friend's boy goes to a private school where uniform is included in the fees or scholarship - they are kitted out in yr7 - some brand new, some second hand - and get to swap back clothes that they've grown out of, or worn through. I like the idea of that. It's in the school's interest to supply itself with a well made uniform that's not extortionate expensive, and all the kids regardless of background wear the same stuff.

Well those at private schools usually have money don't they. Many have entry exams. I guess the grades won't be dragged down by anyone who goes there regardless of whether or not they are second hand.

Ironically the worse the school, the stricter amd more expensive the uniform. Why is it schools that serve deprived areas, especially when the top students have been siphoned off to grammar schools, seem to want to make life difficult for their students.

Either they are desperately trying to attract those that have money in the hope they will bring the grade averages up, or they dont want any child who ( based on stereotyping) who may potentially bring the grades down due to not being able to afford resources ( some schools eveb require ipads or chrome books upon entry ) and tutors.

What's the other explanation ? Supermarkets sell everything at 1/3rd if the price.