How many of each Secondary school uniform item did you buy

[user1461609321]

Hi all

Planning ahead for September when first born starting year 7

We need to buy blazer, jumper, shirts, tie, trousers etc

How many of each item did you purchase and was this enough to ensure they were well presented and fresh eg not smelling of BO due to repeat wear of blazer and jumper etc

1 blazer, 5 shirts, 2 trousers no jumper cos no one wears them (try to check this before you buy one)

1 blazer, 4 shirts, 2 skirts, 2 jumpers, 2 ties, 1 scarf.

1 blazer 3 shirts 2 trousers. 1 jumper though never worn after year 7.

1 blazer, 6 shirts, 2 ties, two sweaters, 2 pairs trousers, 5 pairs socks.

I usually have a pair of trousers of the next size up on 'standby' as well. DS sometimes seems to grow an inch in a long weekend.

1 blazer, 6 shirts, 3 trousers, 2 ties, 1million socks, 1 jumper (not worn). But the biggest thing.... 2 full sets of pe. DS has pe 3 days in a row so I'm very glad I did! But it was a tip from a parent at the school. Also added onto the pe, 2 of those days there are usually rugby/football training on one day, match another 🤦‍♀️

Also kitted out several thousand kids belonging to other people over the years -

6 shirts (if they come in threes/pairs). If they are small/v slim, 2 need to be the next size up.
2 ties (keep the second one hidden).
3 pairs of trousers/skirts. Like with shirts, 1/3 needs to be the next size up.
If they aren't allowed coats (and most do seem to think that they are an instrument of torture), 2-3 jumpers to allow for natural wastage.
1 blazer.

25 pairs of identical socks. Which should last about a week and a half if you're lucky.

3 pairs of PE socks. Keep 1 pack in your room until there are holes in the single manky pair you will see from day 2 onwards.
2 pairs of anything PE related that is worn next to the skin.
If this is a girl, 3 sports bras, regularly check size and replace, even if they don't look like they've got a great deal yet. And underwear that covers the backside so it doesn't cut into her legs or disappear with movement.
2 pairs of shorts, 2 PE tops.

The blazer doesn't smell unless the shirts underneath smell. And they only smell if the kid underneath them smells.

There may be other compulsory items, but those are what you need for practical, calm organisation - if the washing machine packs up at the weekend, there's always one clean shirt already, if it pissed down on Tuesday during lacrosse, there's a clean PE top, socks, underwear and shorts ready at home for Thursday - that kind of thing.

@dizzygirl1

1 blazer, 6 shirts, 3 trousers, 2 ties, 1million socks, 1 jumper (not worn). But the biggest thing.... 2 full sets of pe. DS has pe 3 days in a row so I'm very glad I did! But it was a tip from a parent at the school. Also added onto the pe, 2 of those days there are usually rugby/football training on one day, match another 🤦‍♀️

I can tell you have experience...

I still maintain 3 jumpers, as if nothing else, the goal needs to be marked on both sides.

I would suggest asking a parent with an ilolder child at the school, each school is very different.
I wash the blazer weekly, trousers usually get 2 days wear, shirts fresh each day.

DS (14) rarely wears his jumper or blazer. Complete waste of money but I'll pass them to younger DC (who probably won't wear them either!) Ge has 4 shirts and 4 pairs of trousers (wears tracksuit one of the days) because he needs a clean shirt every day (sweaty) and they play football at lunchtime and/or after school and he comes home filthy most days! I will buy the same again next year as he'll have outgrown them. I wish they didn't have a uniform!

2 ties, 5 shirts, 5 skirts/trousers, 2 blazers, no jumpers

One blazer, two trousers/skirts, five shirts and PE kit unless your school has other requirements. Be grateful you are not in Aus where it is common to have completely separate Summer and Winter uniforms!

1 blazer, 5/6 shirts, 3 trousers, 2 ties (agree, hide the spare one), no jumpers.

PE kit: just the short sleeved shirt and shorts, don’t bother with the special socks or long sleeved shirt as they’ll never be worn. Stick a can of Lynx in the PE bag.

DD’s school doesn’t have blazers. 3 jumpers, 2 ties, 6 shirts (packs of 3 so couldn’t get 5), 3 pairs of trousers, 2 sets of PE kit.

Blazers are usually compulsory, not usually a choice not to wear them.

Don’t bother with the jumper if you can help it

DD is year 11 - she has 1 blazer, 1 tie, 6 shirts (2 x 3 M and S packs) 2 skirts (compulsory school shop) and 2 jumpers. She resisted jumpers for the first 4 years (I ended up giving some away, new and unworn) but she has relented this winter when they have to have all the windows and doors open!

DS year 7 has 1 blazer, 1 tie, 5 shirts , 4 pairs of trousers and 2 jumpers that he has yet to wear!

DD has had the same tie throughout school and 1 set of PE kit. DS is more sporty and does extra clubs and actually puts effort into lessons so considering buying a 2nd pe kit.

Ds never had a blazer - so 5 black jeans, 5 shirts 5 jumpers 2 ties

I used to keep a full set of the next size up uniform under plastic for photo opportunities and concerts at the end of the year when their ordinary uniform was looking tired and tatty.
The following year it went into circulation. It also meant I wasn't panic buying uniform in August.
Grey polo shirts at Primary were a good idea. They can be washed as whites OR coloured.

My DCs school doesn't have blazers, they have hoodies instead - so, 1 hoodie, 2 trousers, 2 jumpers (compulsory) 5 shirts, 2 PE kits.
From experience, I've started ordering two different length trousers for DS(14). The shorter length pair does him from Sept until Jan, then the longer length pair do him until July.
I can't afford to order a huge outlay at the beginning of each year, but I wash regularly so minimal uniform order works fine for me.

1 blazer (washable - result!), no jumper (no-one wears them), 2 ties(always getting lost so very handy to have spare), 5 trousers & 5 shirts (clean every day) and 2 PE kits (again - gets lost - need spares).

1 blazer washed weekly never smells of BO, 5 shirts clean one every day they do get smelly, 2 pants, 1 tie no jumper they never wear them, 1 pe kit he only does pe once a week.

1 blazer
never bothered with a jumper
1 tie - this has always been fine, never lost, but would probably be a good idea to get 2 when starting out as you never know
5 shirts just in case you don't get chance to do a wash during the week, then can wash them all together at the weekend
dd wears skirts so 2 has been enough, but if wearing trousers I might get 3 just in case

My son started yr7 in September. I started off with 3 long and 3 short sleeved shirts but once it got colder bought another two pack of long sleeved so he has five - I do wash midweek but I find it easier to wash all the whites once a week. I make sure I will be able to tumble dry them straight away and hang them straight from the dryer so I don’t have to iron them! I bought two pairs of trousers in his current size and two a size up/ but he still gets them dirty every day and now halfway through the school year the bigger ones aren’t too big any more so he wears all four pairs through the week. I bought one new blazer but got a spare second hand. My plan was to wash the blazer every half term but I’ve just washed it today, two weeks after half term, as it was filthy again… I bought two ties but asa PP advised I have hidden the second - it’s a spare in case he loses the first. I didn’t buy the jumper at first as it was£20 and he was always losing jumpers at primary, but then on some chilly mornings he needed one so I bought one. Then he lost it… so I bought a second, but then he found the first so now has two.
I bought the full PE kit which cost more than the rest of the uniform at £50, and since half term he has managed to lose it. I’ve bought a replacement t-shirt at £15 but he’ll have to make do with an old pair of generic PE shorts and no tracksuit for now. Hopefully it will turn up…

One of each item of bare essentials , with the exception of 5 shirts.

2 trousers for son, 2 skirts for daughter, 3 shirts each, 2 jumpers each.

The main uniform thing is a fresh shirt everyday.