To think school uniform policy should be enforced?

[Runoverbyllamas]

Otherwise what’s the point?
Why bother to have a uniform, state it in detail online and in welcome packs, and then say nothing when kids aren’t wearing correct uniform?
We’re talking a state school with nothing needing to be logo, supermarket brands are fine and the colours are easily available.

A friend has had enough because she made sure her kids were dressed correctly and then others in the class were wearing leggings, trainers, wrong colours etc, and her kids were getting cross about it. On approaching the Head all she got was ‘be glad you can afford to get the correct uniform’. The kids who hadn’t were in premium brands ffs! Plus my friend actually saved to make sure she had the right things, she doesn’t have a lot of money to spare.
The school PTA also does preloved at very small cost to parents, so there’s just no excuse.
One of the more annoying parents of the kids in trainers told her that ‘PFB doesn’t like school shoes’ as if that’s a good enough reason.
This has been going on for at least a year now, and friend is getting more and more frustrated that nothing is being addressed.

AIBU?

Why is your friend worrying about what other children are wearing??

Not her business

How do you suggest it is enforced?

Send the children home? It isn’t their fault.

Because her kids are kicking off about not being allowed to wear their trainers or leggings. Relentlessly.
If school don’t care then why even bother?
Detention seems to have worked at my kids school. It’s enforced and parents are told to sort it out.

As long as kids are at school ready to learn, I couldn't give a crap what they are wearing tbh.

If the school isn't bothered about uniform why is she buying it? Sounds ideal to me: no need for extra clothes. Unless she likes buying uniform? In which case she can still continue to enjoy buying it even if other people don't.

Sounds like she's more concerned with what they are wearing than the school is?

Personally I'd go with it.

Maybe teachers have decided it's a better use of everyone's time to spend the hours in school doing teaching.

Sometimes the wearing of different clothes is a reasonable adjustment due to special needs.

Because her kids are kicking off about not being allowed to wear their trainers or leggings. Relentlessly.

Her problem is her kids, not other peoples.

I don't get this thread. If the school are ok with her kids wearing trainers and leggings and they want to wear trainers and leggings, why is she buying uniform instead?

Her kids bad behaviour isn't anyone else's problem.

If she'd that bothered about other kids' trainers then she can get some for her kids?

Our school didn't enforce uniform last year which I was grateful for . Couldn't get any jumpers at one point for the older one anywhere so he wore dark hoodies for months

I'm not sure if they'll be strict this year but my uniform hating hoodie lover was told he was going in school jumpers this year regardless of what everyone else was wearing. Your friend should try telling her dc the same thing

Why bother to have a uniform

This is the key point from your OP. The drawbacks far outweigh the dubious benefits which is why most world class state education systems do not do have a uniform.

I prefer a relaxed attitude to uniform.

Oh and the same with trainers now he's got a pair of school shoes

@Runoverbyllamas

Otherwise what’s the point? Why bother to have a uniform, state it in detail online and in welcome packs, and then say nothing when kids aren’t wearing correct uniform? We’re talking a state school with nothing needing to be logo, supermarket brands are fine and the colours are easily available.

A friend has had enough because she made sure her kids were dressed correctly and then others in the class were wearing leggings, trainers, wrong colours etc, and her kids were getting cross about it. On approaching the Head all she got was ‘be glad you can afford to get the correct uniform’. The kids who hadn’t were in premium brands ffs! Plus my friend actually saved to make sure she had the right things, she doesn’t have a lot of money to spare.
The school PTA also does preloved at very small cost to parents, so there’s just no excuse.
One of the more annoying parents of the kids in trainers told her that ‘PFB doesn’t like school shoes’ as if that’s a good enough reason.
This has been going on for at least a year now, and friend is getting more and more frustrated that nothing is being addressed.

AIBU?

Your friend should remember that "The kids who hadn’t were in premium brands ffs!" May have gotten those premium brands from charity shops, from catalogues on a pay minimum agreement or as a handed down item etc. Seems a bit judgey to me.

I'd rather schools employed a basic uniform policy of clean bottoms, clean tops, clean shoes. Done.

I think it’s rather poor of the school to have rules that aren’t enforced, as it sets the wrong precedent. If pupils don’t need to abide by the uniform rules, what other rules do they think they can break?

I think primary schools often have rather overzealous uniform requirements but I agree with you - either have a policy and enforce it, or don’t have the policy.

DC school has a uniform policy but its optional. Provided the children are dressed in clothes that are comfortable, suitable for the weather, and allow freedom of movement then school don't mind. In the words of the headteacher - "you can learn maths and English just as easily in a hoodie as you can in a shirt and tie". They'd much rather children were in school, relaxed and learning, than lack of uniform (or unwillingness to wear uniform) becoming a barrier to accessing education.

I much prefer this sort of policy to one like my other DC school which micro-manages over whether or not a pair of shoes is actually a trainer and what shape of skirt constitutes "pencil skirt", and how many inches of tie are hanging below the knot. Lots of kids rebel about the uniform policy there and they seem to hand out countless uniform based demerits whereas at the school where its optional most of the kids wear full uniform by choice and, for those that don't, it's a non-issue.

DDs primary school apparently has a strict uniform policy. Polo shirt (with logo) is only allowed on pe days and must be shirt and tie other days. Fine, I agree with uniform but not at her age. She's 4. I was also told all polo shirts must be with a logo. They were 10 a pop! I bought the same colour plain ones from asda, think it was a fiver for 6!

I think as long as they look smart and clean there is no need for a strict uniform, especially not at 4/5 yo!

The headteacher has said why it is not enforced for some families.Can't you, sorry your friend, grasp it?

What sort of culture are you establishing when it's about compliance and conformance instead of comfort and expression. I think uniform is bullshit. I'll toe the line for the kids who can't afford cool clothes or who are anxious about impressing their peers or whatever, but I really really don't see the point in forcing rules about earrings or hair dye or shoes onto kids. Let them be free.

One of the more annoying parents of the kids in trainers told her that ‘PFB doesn’t like school shoes’ as if that’s a good enough reason.

You seem a little over invested in the behaviour of a random family that you’ve never met who happen to be at a school your friend’s children attend. What’s a ‘school shoe’ anyway? If they wear trainers to school, trainers are a school shoe and very practical for the sort of games boys play at lunchtimes.

Uniform is ridiculous.

Your "friend" has two choices.

"It doesn't matter what Bob is wearing, you will abide by the rules as we are able to, and thats ot" then shut down further conversations

Or
"You're right. So tomorrow you can go into school in your leggings and trainers" and see what happens.

Either way, it isn't her job to police it. A girl in DSs class was in blue flowery leggings for a year. Everyone else in blue or grey. At least she was in school.

*black or grey