School uniform costs

[Hippybottommoose]

In April, MPs agreed to pass a new law to make school uniform more affordable and accessible to all children, regardless of circumstances. Guidance will be published in Autumn.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-law-to-make-school-uniform-costs-affordable-for-all

I have one child in secondary, and another starting year 7, and a third in primary. We've received guidance from both primary and secondary as a reminder for uniform standards from September: Primary - logoed cardigans, logoed polo shirts, logoed PE top, logoed PE hoodie, logoed school satchel and recommendation to buy logoed skort/shorts - with everything else not branded and can be bought wherever; and Secondary - logoed tie (different type for each school house and different again for yr11 so unlikely to be passed down!) logoed blazer, logoed skirt, logoed PE top, logoed rugby top, logoed PE waterproof top and strict guidelines for other items such as black socks only, no woolly tights, no skinny trousers, PE leggings/joggers to be a specific type with no branding on them.

All of the logoed stuff for both schools is available at one shop only.

The kids look great, all matching, nice and smart. But it feels like nothing is going to change despite this new law. Yes, some stuff does need to be logoed such as the blazer, but does the school really need 5 different types of ties? And primary, do we really need the thick cardigans, unshapely logoed cardigans that go bobbly and shrink in the dryer, rather than supermarket ones that cost a quarter of the price, and frankly actually fit better.

I'm really strongly doubting anything wil change even once the government publishes guidance. Has anyone actually found this new law had made an iota of difference to their school's uniform policy?

Totally agree smashing.

The schools performing well don't need an image hike because they are well known to perform well.

Those who aren't try and attract parents from 'wealthier' areas by having this posh image and advertising they are strict and expect high standards.

The truth is they spend the who,e time dealing with uniform infractions, ignoring pastoral issues and by the results they have to publish even less actually educating the pupils.

There is a massive gap and widening gap on our education system. Something that's also related to year on year funding drops.

It's not something that will be solved by having a detention for not having a pen, your trousers not fitting your thighs properly so being excluded or wearing a skirt with a logo embroidered on the waistline that costs £20.

@Etherel

To offer a different perspective (having just spend over £300 on two sets of uniform myself), the reason why so many schools insist on logo-ed everything is because too many students in secondary school push the boundaries of acceptable too far.

We see it with shoes all the time, despite clear guidance saying plain black, low-heeled (fake or real) leather shoes too many turn up in black trainers, embellished shoes, high heels, suede and will argue the toss about how it fits in.

One of my previous schools had to intruduce logo-ed trousers and skirts after too many girls turned up in skin-tight leggins and skirts, or jeans, or skirts so short it was difficult now knowing what underwear they were sporting that day. Leafy middle-class area with lots of money.

So when letters/ calls home, regular reminders and punishments don't work and when teachers are spending more time having to argue about uniform than getting on with actual form time/ lesson tasks, some schools go down that route of ensuring everyone can only buy a certain type of clothing by requiring a logo from a specialist uniform shop.

I see why it happens. Even though I am not a fan of uniforms at all, having been raised in an environment where pupils could wear whatever they wanted, including hair styles, and it made no difference to our learning other than missing out on being able to rebel, as any teen would, against strict, conformist rules.

Do jeans affect ability to learn?

Or leggings?

Or a short skirt?

Nope!

The reason teens rebel is because they have a strict uniform to rebel against.

If they are just allowed to be comfortable with a logos polo and jumper/hoody there is little to rebel against.

And if they wear really short skirts they are more likely to stop when no one says anything. No one walks around with their handing out for fun (especially in this weather!) and when it stops being fun they generally stop.

Dt's started at different secondary school... dt1 full uniform including pe kit and shoes trainers and astros was just over £500, the other was around £200 (no blazer and tie just jumpers and cheaper pe kit no astros ) dd also grown out of her secondary uniform so needed new bits. Spent £750 in the uniform shop.

All 3 in different schools so can't share uniform. Dd school is new so very limited secondary hand available and none in bigger sizes. Dt1 is teeny so had to special order at uniform shop, as nothing in his sizes secondhand from his school shop.

Been saving up since year 5. Allways thought there should be a discount for twins :)

This all scares the crap out of me, as the mother of a DC with serious sensory processing issues regarding clothing. Starting Year 6 this year, so one year from now I'm somehow supposed to get her into a stiff buttoned shirt with collar, tie, blazer etc and as she doesn't even have a formal diagnosis at this point I doubt there will be any room for negotiation. Not that she'd want to look different to her peers, anyway - but wanting to blend in won't make her any more able to tolerate the horrible clothing.

And one of the worst things is trousers/skirts - just impossible to find anything that she can tolerate at the best of times! Both of the two schools she's most likely to wind up at for Year 7 have one particular kind of formal trouser that has to be bought from the official supplier. They will be scratchy polyester and there is no way that the fit will be good enough on her to work. I am honestly worried that I won't be able to get her into school - something that's been a frequent battle for years due to anxiety levels - and the main reason will be the damn clothing!

And that's before you even start with the pricing of it all. Official logo-ed EVERYTHING at both possible schools, including PE kit. One's a grammar school and one a comprehensive (academy) and I had at least hoped that the comp, with a broad intake including a lot of families in receipt of benefits, would have a more sensible uniform policy. Maybe an official blazer (although a sweatshirt/cardigan/hoody would be WAY better) but get the rest from Asda. But no, apparently the uniform requirements there are now just as stringent and unaffordable as any private school.

If there was a local high school that didn't have a uniform at all then I would be sending her there, even if their results were shit. Because no matter how bad the school, she'll do better physically in school wearing the specific leggings that she's able to tolerate than she will having a panic attack at home and refusing to leave her room because she literally can't get dressed to attend school in the required 'costume'.

Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.

Her primary school have been pretty great, though, as a contrast - white polo shirt that can come from anywhere (so she can wear soft jersey ones instead of the scratchy aertex ones), the official school jumper which is comfy and well-priced but also totally fine to wear an Asda one with no logo if you prefer, and bottoms that can come from anywhere and be pretty much any style as long as they're plain and black. Trainers also perfectly acceptable, as long as they're mostly black.

If your school doesn't have a 2nd hand uniform shop then try talking to the PTA and offering some help with setting one up.

I guarantee they'll bite.

Even secondary, we set one up as an experiment and parents loved it. Raised around £600 in its first year and around the same since, even better when the school uniform shop was closed, all the kids had shot up in height and the parents needed to rekit them for the open, closed, open, closed, open covid situation.

I mean, you could gnash your teeth with the rest of mumsnet about the cost - or you could do something practical to help you and the other parents.

I mean, you could gnash your teeth with the rest of mumsnet about the cost - or you could do something practical to help you and the other parents.

There are quite often various bits of school uniform on our local facebook pages, but almost never any skirts (from any school - I think people must keep them until they are worn out!) and someone at my DC school said they would set one up (on facebook, rather than at school) . I've bought and sold various bits and pieces.

There is a school near here that bans second hand sales if uniform on the basis that it’s not smart enough. Obviously they can’t stop private sales between individuals but they have banned any sort of organised sales. 😮

@Peaseblossum22

There is a school near here that bans second hand sales if uniform on the basis that it’s not smart enough. Obviously they can’t stop private sales between individuals but they have banned any sort of organised sales. 😮

Are you in an affluent area? Is it an academy? That's utterly reprehensible and they should be shamed in the local press. Schools around here have stocks of second hand uniforms for those in need as they aren't unethical shitbags

Our school seems to be somewhere in the middle. They have to have a blazer, tie, logo jumper and logo PE top. Everything else just needs so be the right colour. Not including shoes I've probably spent about £100.
At the primary most kids wear the logo-ed polos and jumpers but they aren't compulsory, they just need to be the right colour so can be bought from any supermarket.
I could not send my DC to an academy (as it always seems to be academies that are the issue) that disciplines kids for minute uniform infringements.

My sons school provides logod uniform to PP students every September, so blazer, jumper and skirt for those who prefer skirt to trousers.

I’ve spent about £150, but I do buy five shirts, two jumpers, two shorts and two trousers. He’ll wear it five days a week, so price per wear is pretty reasonable.