Rigid school uniforms

[Waitrosedisaster]

I've just had the usual letter from my child's secondary school, where it outlines all the dos and don'ts surrounding school uniform for the next academic year.

Is anyone just absolutely sick of the outdated concept of strict uniforms? The nitty gritty details of 'only black or brown hair bobbles', 'no bows on socks', 'all clothes including p.e kit must have the school logo'. Why? Just why? My personal favourite this year is the following 'any piercing other than single lobe piercings will be removed immediately, regardless of when piercing was obtained'. Also, nail varnish and shellac will also be removed immediately? Wtf?

School uniforms (other than being used as a money making scheme) were originally used for purposes not to dissimilar from uniforms for prisons, or mental health units. They were used to strip away a person's individuality and make them more likely to conform and obey as they are effectively 'uniform'. It's such an outdated concept and I find it bizarre that schools are able to even dictate which (overpriced) shops the uniform must come from.

I hear arguments from teacher friends about how uniforms are better for low income families, but are they really? Unless the parents do not work, are they even able to claim money off uniforms?

Anyone else agree?

My children currently go to a uniform free school, in some ways it is definitely easier as they can just chuck on what’s in their draws I don’t have to worry about making sure their uniforms are clean. There are also no more screaming matches while I try brushing and tying their hair up, now they can wear it down s much as they want. But in other ways it’s a pain. I didn’t see my dd before school yesterday so had no idea she’d put on a brand new top until I picked her up to find it covered in markers and all sorts of other crap. I took it out of the machine before and it’s a not going to be saved. My 9yo has also started asking for branded things she’s seen other wear, she was never interested or knew the difference with brands before moving schools.

I don’t actually have a problem with uniforms. Their last school had quite a strict policy, especially for a primary school and although it had the most expensive uniform in the area it was a very smart uniform and lasted well. Before anyone jumps on the expensive part, the school also had spares for families who needed them, there was no stigma attached to it. They would do uniform sales for £2 an item or if someone was in need they could just ask for something. There was one family who refused to buy the uniform as the school was not their first choice, they were waiting to get their child into the school with his siblings, so the school was happy to give them everything they needed until he got a place at the other school.

The problem is when schools go ott and as others have said turn it into a big money making thing and get extremely petty about everything. I also agree that there should not be one uniform provider. I remember my high school we had to wear a black blazer with school logo, but we could buy the blazer anywhere and stitch the school logo to the breast pocket. Blazers were blazers then, none of this fitted and fashion statement stuff. Everything else was non branded except the tie was fairly unique. I was a poor townie from a dodgy council estate but I looked just the same as my far wealthier and stuck up friends at school. Without the uniform I would definitely have stood out and some of my friends from my estate would have been even worse than me.

A lot also has to do with parents deliberately flouting the rules and causing trouble. You know full well the school has a uniform policy so why buy those fucking ridiculous expensive trainers you know the school won’t allow your child to wear then kick up a fuss in the media.

I could buy my daughter a whole outfit (top, trousers, shoes, jacket) for £20 if I needed to, but her whole school outfit is over £200. Children shouldn't be forced into uncomfortable uniforms that cost the earth when such cheaper, comfortable options are available.

It's also incredibly ableist to expect every child to wear the same uniform. My disabled niece can't wear normal school shoes and is regularly told off for it. She also can't wear skirts so gets told off for wearing trousers, which only the boys can wear at her school.

@LindaEllen

We were never allowed piercings at school - including lobes. You know this so you therefore don't allow your kids to get pierced except for right at the start of the summer holidays so they can heal in time to be removed at the start of term.

I don't know why you're so shocked, seems standard uniform policy to me.

Because it's 2021 and a school uniform serves no purpose whatsoever?

Some children might get bullied as they will go for Emo clothes or mosher clothes like when we were young and that is a distraction to the class.

Children get bullied here IN uniforms. Uniforms aren’t the great equaliser that some like to portray them to be or stop bullying because everyone is dressed the same.

UK uniform rules are insane. I am forever reading about kids being sent home because their hair is too short or their pants are the wrong shade of black...after a long lockdown one school sent half the school home on their first day back!

My kids all have uniforms but they don't give a crap what shoes they were or what colour their hair bobbin is. Who gives a fuck?

@LindaEllen

We were never allowed piercings at school - including lobes. You know this so you therefore don't allow your kids to get pierced except for right at the start of the summer holidays so they can heal in time to be removed at the start of term.

I don't know why you're so shocked, seems standard uniform policy to me.

Because it makes no sense.

What impact does a pair of stud earrings have on someone's education?

I get the the appeal of a uniform - so black trousers, white polo, coloured jumper, but why the need for loads of arbitrary rules that, realistically, have no impact on anything?

I remember my school allowed earrings - but only one pair in each lobe and one in your cartilage, but you couldn't have two in your lobes and none in your cartilage lol. It just made no logical sense whatsoever.

Buying uniform just means buying an additional set of clothes so that your child can attend school. In the case of secondary these clothes are significantly more expensive than many high street shops eg primark and the like. It doesn't have any benefits re results or behaviour - I mean, studies show this. So you're just buying these extra clothes because the school tells you to.

I hate it. It's stressful, expensive and pointless.

Children get bullied here IN uniforms. Uniforms aren’t the great equaliser that some like to portray them to be or stop bullying because everyone is dressed the same

Yy

So what if none.if you like looking at my goth dd with the occasional.fake.nose ring. She could he out drinking or doing drugs or being the bully. She's not. I'd be less worried about her black hair and more worried about the kids who threw her stuff around in yr 7 in uniform.

I'd still live to know how a kickers dot can he seen from 50 paces but no one notices kids getting pushed shoved or unable to work cos her stuff is being put too high up fir her to reach.

Priorities hey

Agree that if blazers magically prevented bullying then we'd have no bullying in UK schools.

But that's blatantly not the case.

I agree with uniform but the prices are insane for PE kits. My daughter puts holes in all her PE trousers and at £26 for what is essentially shiny leggings is shocking. I bought her the boys joggers in the end, she still put holes in them but they're two layer and I was able to stitch the holes and she preferred them as didnt feel her figure is on display.

Our school you can buy just the badge to stitch on any black blazer, or get the embroidered blazer which is thankfully machine washable.

Trousers were hard as the current fashion for skinny trousers when ours require nothing form fitting and must be straight leg proved difficult.

Can tell you've never been the poor kid OP, or the one with no fashion sense. They do stop you being taken apart daily by your fellow students for what you are wearing.

Those saying trousers should be the uniform...Mine wouldn't want to wear trousers under any circumstances and would be very upset if forced.

@BarbarianMum

Can tell you've never been the poor kid OP, or the one with no fashion sense. They do stop you being taken apart daily by your fellow students for what you are wearing.

Except as PP have said, it doesn't stop any of those things.

If you selected a school for your child knowing that it had a strict uniform policy, then I think you need to stick to it. It takes so much more energy not to.

Definitely doesn’t stop bullying, kids will always find some reason to bully other kids. Think schools should focus more on sorting that out and stepping in to stop it then kids wearing the wrong bobble.
I was in my final year at school when they introduced uniform. Didn’t do much to hide who was rich or poor and one girl was only given a single jumper by the school and couldn’t afford more so if it got dirty she would still have to wear it the next day.
I’m all for trainers in school too, having had foot problems due to other shoes and being recommended by healthcare professionals to wear trainers. I don’t see how wearing uncomfortable shoes really helps kids learn I’d prefer their feet to be able to develop properly. I also get my daughters clothes in the sale so it’s loads cheaper but can’t really do that with school clothes. Black branded trainers that everyone says are so expensive have actually been loads cheaper then standard school shoes for me too.
I’m fine for a general uniform in school but when teachers go around looking for tiny reasons to send people home or to detention that isn’t on. Teachers should be teaching not checking everyone’s socks.

@warmfluffytowels ime it absolutely did.

Based on a control group of ..?

I don't mind a uniform. It's a good equaliser. I don't like sexist policies though - DD is not allowed to wear ankle boots for example, and she doesn't want 'boys' shoes so she has to spend all winter in Mary Janes while the boys tear around in black trainer type shoes. We have to pack her with a few extra pairs of tights or socks because her feet always end up getting soaked in puddles if it's rained

What's so difficult about buying the correct uniform? Including the correct colour hair bobbles?

I don't think that's anything too outrageous tbh. Seems fairly standard and sensible to me.

The latest uniform policy from our primary school is that children have to wear trainers. No proper shoes allowed in September.

@MrsFin

What's so difficult about buying the correct uniform? Including the correct colour hair bobbles?

Aside from the fact it serves no purpose whatsoever, it's incredibly expensive when schools insist every item is school branded.

@MrsFin

What's so difficult about buying the correct uniform? Including the correct colour hair bobbles?

Being able to pay for it can be a huge problem.

it’s a good thing my school didn’t have a uniform policy as there’s no way my family could also have afforded clothes for me to wear out with school on top of it.

I'm a working mum. I love school uniform, although it could be less expensive. The same every day, there are no arguments. Navy trousers and socks, white short sleeved shirts, tie, maroon sweater, blazer. Black lace ups.

We have 6 shirts, 2 sweaters, 2 pairs of trousers. All ready to go on Sunday night. No need to think. Quick and Easy.

@MrsFin

What's so difficult about buying the correct uniform? Including the correct colour hair bobbles?

Because it's more expensive.

Needing certain hair bobbles means going out to buy more if they all break or get lost - you can't just use whatever's lying around. Yes, they're cheap but it's just an example.

What benefit is a logo'd jumper for £25 over a plain-coloured one from ASDA for £10?