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, 4 shirts, 2 jumpers, 2 ties, 2 trousers.
DS often comes back with muddy trousers though from the walk home ( through some woods/a park!) so we do have to do a wash mid week.

Depends if you are willing to wash midweek and how easy it is to get more if you’ve not got enough.

Start with what they’re using now, plus a blazer? You’ll have a feel for how messy they are.

If you can, find out if there's a second hand sale before the end of the school year.

There are often loads of blazers to fit year 7s which are in good condition (because so many grow fast, so they're outgrown before shabbiness). Then get them a new one later, when they're no longer growing fast, and that'll see them though.

You can often pick up things like jumpers and sports kit too. I like to have a spare of every item if at all possible, but try to avoid buying new.

Yes I take the points about it being more expensive at secondary and also about them not throwing glitter/ paint over themselves daily. Some of the comments are still surprising though, I mean “ 1 blazer, it only needs washing once a half term” - once per half term, really??

PE kit is specific/branded so he has 2 tops, 2 shorts, 2 socks and some baselayers for warmth.
Would recommend 2 ties -
You don’t want the panic hunting around for a tie in the morning!
We have lots of shirts because they have to wear a blazer all day long so clean shirt keeps it fresher…

@LimeSupper

Yes I take the points about it being more expensive at secondary and also about them not throwing glitter/ paint over themselves daily. Some of the comments are still surprising though, I mean “ 1 blazer, it only needs washing once a half term” - once per half term, really??

Yes - you can sponge it between times, and wash only when needed. Unless you have a particularly stinky DC, it'll be every few weeks, which is pretty much half a term

I love uniform! Some people
Complain about the ‘expense’ but it’s way easier, and cheaper, than if DCs were wearing branded clothing like Hype, Nike, or whatever to school.

I think a second secret tie is a good idea. It's only for total emergency, rather than "Where's my tie?" as they do need to learn to not lose them.
Also depends on how frequently you plan to put a wash on.

@AuntieStella I wear a blazer every day to work - absolutely no way would I wear the same one unwashed for weeks on end. Sounds grim.

My daughters blazer lasted her through all of high school (just kept letting the sleeves down. (Smug mum alert!)

Oh yes, I only washed blazer every half/end of term (I suspect thats why it lasted so long as washing in machine does its own damage over time)

1 blazer
2 trousers
6 shirts
2 ties
1 pair school shoes
1 PE top
2 PE shorts
2 pairs PE socks
1 trainers
10 pairs school socks

In year 11 now and only had to replace PE set once as he grew
3 blazers in total as he grew
New trousers and shirts every year
Shoes as and when

At my DC school several items need to come from the compulsory supplier. Girls uniform is a pleated skirt or school trousers (which very few girls wear because they are so unflattering) , both of which have to be purchased from the supplier at approx £25/item. Boys however can wear trousers from anywhere, provided theyre the right colour. So DD has 2 skirts and DS has 4 pairs of M and S slim fit trousers (for less expense) .Although he does get them muddy, which obviously isn't a problem with the skirt. Another nearby school has blazers that are £98 and skirts for £38. Getting spares would work out v expensive.

The blazer (if worn) becomes a life support system - bus pass, cash/card, pens, calculator, snacks, tie, hair bobbles, keys, lanyard.

this it was like Mary Poppins bag last time I asked DD to empty her blazer pocket so I could wash it. There was probably 50 items in there! Although I have to admit I wash the blazer a lot less frequently than everything else.

Uniform is a god send for girls.. I'd hate to have to police an outfit everyday. Yes it's cheaper, school PE shorts are about £8. Of course they can also wear sports leggings. One of mine wanted Nike ones (£40) she bought he own.
Apparently I'm tight as I offered to buy primark ones.

Some posters have mentioned not buying pe shocks, long sleeved or tops etc. Check this with individual schools as in my child's school this would lead to negative comments which then leads to detention. Also in many schools sweatshirts have to be worn every day so ignore the my kid never had a sweatshirt comments. ALWAYS check with your school first.

Is the blazer washable?

We bought bare min as even the shirts are £20 each, from specialist supplier. It was hundreds of pounds just for the bare minimum.

We have two shirts each in long sleeve and two in short for the few weeks they are permitted to wear them.
Two pairs of trousers
One jumper
One blazer
One Indoor or kit
One outdoor pe kit
One tie

PE kits and shirts get washed every day and dried overnight.

Seconding ask someone with a child already there about what actually gets worn. DD Y7 has 5 shirts, 2 skirts, 2 jumpers. 3 pe tops ( worn 3x per week so a week's worth), 3 pe leggings ditto. One pe hoody. Was advised girls don't wear the pe shorts so didn't get her any. No blazer in the uniform, they wear polo shirts and jumpers.

I like to have a week of uniform in case I have a mad busy week and don't have time to wash mid week. I bought some of it new and some second hand, still needed a gin after paying for it all!

My DS had 1 blazer (machine washable), 5 shirts, 1 tie, lots and lots of black socks, 1 pair of shoes, football/rugby boots, tracksuit and rugby top, 3 pairs of trousers, bathing suit, sports shorts.

I've always done laundry most days so we could keep on top of it. He also ended up with spares from lost and found and friends.

Just buy what you can for now. My DSs school had a shop that also sold second hand very cheaply. I gave anything that was any good back to the school for others.

5 shirts
2 jumpers (no blazer)
1 skirt
2 trousers
1 full PE kit (increased to 2 sets when she was wearing it all day on 2 consecutive days last year)

1 blazer
2 school jumpers
5 trousers (generic supermarket)
5 shirts (generic supermarket)
1 tie
Pe kit was one set but ended up later in the year buying 2 more sets as dc does sports everyday

@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

One blazer, one tie, one jumper (never worn), two pairs of trousers, six shirts (two packs of three)

We also got loads of extras from the school uniform bank later in the year once dc had started

One PE kit and one games kit (school specific, expensive) which dry in no time at all

IF you can at least double if everything
including ties / lanyards / PE socks

Also get another locker key cut!

School shoes - get an 'emergency' pair and also one in the next size up
(Thinking if dashing round looking for a pair at 10 pm on a Wednesday night)

Tights - many pairs!