To think schools shouldn't be making an income from uniforms

[Mountaingoatling]

I buy my nephew and my niece their school uniform. I pay for it and take them Back to School shopping. They are 9 and 7.

I have found out that for each item I buy (we have to shop at their official supplier), the school receives 50p per item. It's £1 for a blazer.

One part of me thinks, this only means me contributing to the school about £25 a year. It's a state school.

Another part thinks this is really dodgy! The school aren't upfront about it and the official supplier is expensive. Not all parents can afford this (the reason I buy school uniform is my brother and SIL can't easily afford it).

Is this the normal??

YABU - it is normal and not a big deal; schools need the money

YANBU - parents shouldn't have to subsidise the school unless they want to voluntarily and these deals don't help parents

I disagree that geographical location is the best allocation method. Children should have access to schools which best meet their needs. That would be a truly child-centric education model.

It might be wonderful in theory, but HOW would that even work?

Increasing the funding to improve the existing facilities is a given, but allocating a place based on your address is the only way to keep it fair.

I don't like it but I don't begrudge it.

Our local secondary stopped having their own blazers and jumpers in the official uniform shop as it's was 40 quid for a blazer! And 20 for a jumper. They decided to provide the badges for sewing into the front of a plain black blazer (12 quid in Asda), plain black jumper and a tie for 3 quid. The kids look just as smart but it's really helped the parents in these times especially

@wingsofsteel

I think most Uniform suppliers offer this sort of deal, and I don't think there's an option of charging less and not passing some on to the school so if the school want to use a supplier for logo items etc I'm not sure they have a choice.

Personally, I think schools should be moving away from logo items/single suppliers. The items I've had to buy from these suppliers for my DC have always been poor quality and/or difficult to wash (in my opinion hand wash only clothes are not suitable for school uniform!) and expensive.

Being a cynic, I think that one of the reasons schools want logos on uniforms is so that parents haveto use a uniform supplier and the schools make money from it (or strictly speaking, from the parents).

It's a scam and I agree the items are overpriced and poor quality.

Parents should be able to buy the basic items from chain stores and buy a badge from a supplier that they can sew on imo.

Of course, it goes without saying that if schools were adequately resourced to start with, they wouldn't be reduced to running what amounts to a side hussle.

I also think there should be a limit on how often a school can change uniform. Someone I know had to buy all new stuff for a child going into year 9, who was changing schools for GCSE (her options weren't offered at the existing school) and would need a different uniform a year later.

The year after that, her youngest two's primary school changed their new uniform and she had to fork out for 2 more. It nearly bankrupt her.

In both cases, the new uniform was introduced by a new HT.

uniform change should be 2 years minimum from the start of next academic year so if it was changed in April 2021 it is only fully compulsory by August/ September 2023 old uniform ceases to be sold as from April 2021 but both worn together until 2 years passed not every child needs new uniform every year especially as they get older a blazer could easily last 3 years to be honest I'm not sure why a uniform needs to be changed at all maybe a subtle change to aid economies like going from blue stripe shirts to plain blue ( not vice versa) but no uniform needs to change from black and red to blue and silver
The cost of full uniform should be obvious
at senior level 2 pairs of trousers/ skirts, 3 shirts, 2 jumpers or sweatshirts. 1 tie and 1 blazer, 1 PE kit should be stated
There shpould not be any substantial difference in cost between boys and girls ie £40 skirt versus £10 trousers or football boots as well as trainers

there should be no rules about bags ( big enough for carrying what is required) coat ( warm and waterproof) shoes/ trainers ( black flat not fabric or sandals) no offensive words or political symbols no large branding

uniform change should be 2 years minimum from the start of next academic year

I don't think 2 years is anywhere near enough to phase out the old uniform.

You are forgetting the 2nd hand shop, and the families with siblings.
It's a waste to have to throw away so many clothes when some of the schools can have between 500 to 1000+ pupils. That's a lot of jumpers in the landfill, my youngest always have 1 full set of uniform per day.

@Mountaingoatling

I buy my nephew and my niece their school uniform. I pay for it and take them Back to School shopping. They are 9 and 7.

I have found out that for each item I buy (we have to shop at their official supplier), the school receives 50p per item. It's £1 for a blazer.

One part of me thinks, this only means me contributing to the school about £25 a year. It's a state school.

Another part thinks this is really dodgy! The school aren't upfront about it and the official supplier is expensive. Not all parents can afford this (the reason I buy school uniform is my brother and SIL can't easily afford it).

Is this the normal??

YABU - it is normal and not a big deal; schools need the money

YANBU - parents shouldn't have to subsidise the school unless they want to voluntarily and these deals don't help parents

As long as people keep voting for a government that is utterly disinterested in funding education properly this will keep happening.