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

My two have one blazer (the smelly child has hers washed at weekends, the other has his washed at half terms), 2 pairs of trousers/skirt, 3 shirts (that I was and tumble midweek).
They could probably survive with one pair of trousers / one skirt tbh.
I’d recommend looking on eBay for 2nd hand football/rugby boots if your child will need them. They’re only worn for 6 weeks at our school but still required

Both my DS’s are ridiculously messy so I bought them 1 blazer, and 6 shirts and 6 trousers - they came in packs of 3!

I agree with the PP with not buying jumpers, I bought 3 for DS1, they never left his wardrobe. However, with classroom windows being open all through winter due to COVID you may want to revisit this.

@RedskyThisNight ours has houses, completely different PE kit colours down to socks for each house. Girls kit different from the boys so can’t pass elder brother’s down to DD. Even their base layers have to be from school shop at £20 each. There is a different indoor kit and outdoor kit and separate trousers for dance.

Nothing can be brought from supermarkets or spots shop even bags are all from one specified shop.

I hope the schools that have different uniform for different houses at least make sure siblings go to the same house so uniform can be reused.

@Sirzy

I hope the schools that have different uniform for different houses at least make sure siblings go to the same house so uniform can be reused.

Yes, siblings always together at our school. Plenty of second hand uniform available too. Games and PE kit are single supplier but would easily last a few children two years each, second hand is indistinguishable from new.

@Eightiesfan

Both my DS’s are ridiculously messy so I bought them 1 blazer, and 6 shirts and 6 trousers - they came in packs of 3!

I agree with the PP with not buying jumpers, I bought 3 for DS1, they never left his wardrobe. However, with classroom windows being open all through winter due to COVID you may want to revisit this.

Unless your school is one of many who's jumpers are compulsary even in the summer. You don't want your children getting negatives and detention for failing to wear it. Again check with school not randoms who don't know how your school works

1 blazer, 4 shirts, 3 trousers, 2 ties. Pe hoodie, shorts, socks, x2 different style tops for different sports and pe trousers which he never wore

they are just called year groups in my kids school.

[quote BooksAndHooks]@RedskyThisNight ours has houses, completely different PE kit colours down to socks for each house. Girls kit different from the boys so can’t pass elder brother’s down to DD. Even their base layers have to be from school shop at £20 each. There is a different indoor kit and outdoor kit and separate trousers for dance.

Nothing can be brought from supermarkets or spots shop even bags are all from one specified shop.[/quote]
The only things that have to come from the school shop are the P.E top, the P.E sweatshirt (but its not mandatory you can wear a long sleeve thermal under the P.E top instead), the bag, the blazer and the tie.

everything else can come from where ever you like but has to match the school colours, no big nike logos etc on them.

so my sons P.E kit came from Decathlon except the top, and they all wear the same top/sweatshirt.

Watching these replies with interest. DD starts in September, was all set to raid the 2nd hand PTA sale. School is changing its name, logo and uniform. Joy. Currently the kilt is £47. This is for a bog standard secondary in a slightly rough town. I'm hoping they make it more affordable and bits that can be purchased at supermarkets. I'm planning on 6 shirts, 5 million pairs of black tights and enough clip on ties that they'll be one in every drawer

@Hellocatshome

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

Same quantities but I do buy a jumper (2 from M & S) now as DS likes one under his blazer.

[quote BooksAndHooks]@RedskyThisNight ours has houses, completely different PE kit colours down to socks for each house. Girls kit different from the boys so can’t pass elder brother’s down to DD. Even their base layers have to be from school shop at £20 each. There is a different indoor kit and outdoor kit and separate trousers for dance.

Nothing can be brought from supermarkets or spots shop even bags are all from one specified shop.[/quote]
I think it's appalling that state schools do this - there shouldn't be so many hoops to jump through just to provide your DC with school uniform! What on earth do those from less affluent backgrounds do? (or does the school hope to discourage them from applying by making up such stringent rules)

Check out whether you can buy things like school socks and ties from the school. It’s useful to know you can pick up replacements if necessary.

I blazer, six shirts, two pairs of trousers. 2 ties, 1 of them safely tucked away. Ours have clip on ties and I got mine into the habit of clipping the tie to the blazer pocket when they took it off. School jumpers were social death when my older two were at secondary, but my current year 7 wears one every day. He has two. I do generally have the next pair of trousers ready to go; as a PP mentioned, these can become necessary overnight!

PE kit - we have one set. Read the policy carefully - the provider will have everything available but you don’t necessarily need to buy it all from them. The guidance on logo uniform has changed recently, requiring schools to keep it to a minimum.

In terms of keeping it all fresh, the main factor here is the child inside it. If they’re not already, get them to shower every morning, wear deodorant. Change out of uniform as soon as they get home.

Finally, check to see if there’s a footwear or haircut policy before you shop for shoes/get a back to school haircut in the summer.

Dd has 2 x blazers (one new, one second hand emergency one) as not having one on is an instant detention. So if one person loses one even if its not your child there is domino effect of 'acquisition' of one that looks like it might fit.. it takes about a week for most of them to get back to the rightful owners provided you have pretty much super glued about 6 name tapes in. Also 2 x PE kits as they are always being lost or stolen ( again I got 1 new, one second hand - the second one has 'embarrassing' supermarket plain black trainers in to encourage care of the first ! ). We have 3 pairs of trousers but if you can't do a mid week wash get 6. DD walks in along a rural lane and gets utterly filthy every day with mud up to her knees plus whatever she has fallen over on. She has 3 jumpers. Some kids refuse to wear them but she hates being cold and is happy not part of the cool crowd so doesn't care. We have dark polo shirts (yay !) So can get away with 3 as not yet smelly. And more tights/socks than you can ever imagine possibly needing. Look carefully at what type of bag/coat the younger kids use as this appears to be the biggest social issue in some schools..not so much ours thank god. Some friends have kids in schools the children will only use a sensible bag/ rucksack if it needed a small mortgage to buy...

5 shirts, 2 jumpers ( they had to wear the jumper if it was -10 or 20 degrees outside 🙄) , 1 skirt , 1 pair of trousers, 1 tie, 5 pairs of socks , 5 pairs of tights. One rack of the pe kit, skort, hoodie & poloshirt.

Three pairs of trousers, three jumpers (compulsory), five shirts (so I can do one big whites wash on a Saturday), three ties in lower school, two now he's in upper school and slightly less prone to losing them. One set of PE kit (he lost the PE hoodie after his first PE lesson though and I never replaced it). He also needs two coats, because he comes home muddier now in Year 10 than he did in Reception!

3x children , last one finishes yr11 this summer.

4 branded jumpers in total between all 3.
1 tie each
Supermarket white shirts about 5 a year each
2 x trousers/skirts a year.
I think I have spent only around 300 for all 3 over five years.
(Not including the bloody shoes)

I'd look at your washing turn around. Work full time and washing/ironing only at the weekend?

5/6 shirts, 2/3 trousers/skirts 1 blazer 1 jumper (initially) we have no blazer and a very messy "always cold" child - she has 5 jumpers!

2 pe kits (except the rugby top/hoodie/top layer) as they will have muddy pe 2 days running.

If you wash/iron every day you can get away with alot less but it depends on how much you keep on top of these things.

Also where your kid is in the size range. Mine is already in adult sizes and actually has had 2 years out of uniform and most of it will do a third I suspect - so I don't mind having extra for the week. Unlike my primary aged weed who I've just had to upsize for a second time this school year!

3 shirts, 3 trousers, pack of socks and 1 of everything else. There’s no way I’d be able to afford more than 1 of everything else, the PE kit alone was £150.

[quote BooksAndHooks]@RedskyThisNight ours has houses, completely different PE kit colours down to socks for each house. Girls kit different from the boys so can’t pass elder brother’s down to DD. Even their base layers have to be from school shop at £20 each. There is a different indoor kit and outdoor kit and separate trousers for dance.

Nothing can be brought from supermarkets or spots shop even bags are all from one specified shop.[/quote]
If this school does not have revised policies in place for September 2022 they are likely to find themselves in breach of the new statutory guidance for state school uniforms.

@SartresSoul

3 shirts, 3 trousers, pack of socks and 1 of everything else. There’s no way I’d be able to afford more than 1 of everything else, the PE kit alone was £150.

I wouldn’t have been able to get 2 sets of PE kit if it was £150 either - DD’s is just a hoodie and a polo with badges, the rest can be supermarket/stuff she already had from football, so only about £25 per set.

Do they have a second hand system ? our new PE kit was £100 but I picked up a full second hand set for £25 !

1 blazer
2 skirts
3 blouses
1 tie
3 pairs tights
1 set PE kit

I wash on Tuesday evening so Mon & Tues' clothes can be worn on Thurs & Fri. Skirt lasts 2-3 days.
PE days are Mon & Fri so time to launder kit in between.

Blazer and tie are only washed every couple of weeks as don't really get dirty or sweaty. This may change as DD gets older / weather gets warmer but it comes out of the washer almost dry so isn't a hassle to wash more often.

Thankfully my DD prefers the boys PE tops, the fleeces are unisex and she has chosen unisex joggers over leggings and just has the girls skort. So I can pass down to her younger brothers. Phew !

My first child didn’t really wear the jumper because the school was so hot but since Covid they have all of the windows open so our second child says the jumper is essential.

I think the uniform requirements also depend on your child’s character. Some children seem to lose a lot of PE items in Year 7 so it might be handy to have spare socks and shorts. Or get some second hand backups.