School uniform policy

[CuntyMcBollocks]

I'm interested in people's opinions on this.

A couple of years ago my niece got into trouble at school and was put into isolation for taking off her school blazer. It was in the middle of a heatwave and she took her thick blazer off as she was too hot. The schools policy is that students must wear them at all times, which I personally find ridiculous for reasons such as this.

I understand that the school wants students to look smart and abide by their rules, but surely a bit of common sense should be used also.

I think there is a sensible middle ground, with uniform.

I had dses at selective grammar schools, with very strict uniforms, and then we moved house, and their new school had more relaxed rules - there was a school blazer, but it was optional, and the children could wear a jumper, cardigan, fleece, sweatshirt or zip up sweatshirt, as long as I had a v-neckline or could be slightly unzipped or unbuttoned, to allow the tie to be seen. The girls had the option of trousers if they wanted to wear them.skirts, trousers, jumpers were black, shirts were white. Heels couldn’t be too high. It was a comfortable, sensible, reasonably relaxed uniform. It was practical too - I could buy fleeces for a tenner, and if they got dirty, I could wash them and dry them overnight, whereas the blazers they’d had to wear at the grammar schools cost upwards of £40 and were dry clean only.

This is a school that was near the top of the league tables in Scotland - the pupils were happy, well behaved, and did well at school - they didn’t need to have strict uniform rules to achieve what they achieved.

It is ridiculous for any school to prioritise the ‘look’ or uniform smartness of the pupils over their comfort - being able to put a coat on if the classroom is cold, or take a blazer off in hot weather. They are there to learn, and will learn best if they are comfortable. And I think it is perfectly possible to formulate a uniform policy that combines reasonable smartness with comfort and common sense.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius completely agree and it makes it more affordable for parents with less money.

Luckily my DS secondary school are pretty sensible when it comes to stuff like this and in heat waves they wear their PE kits in to school, so shorts, t-shirts and trainers. So much more comfortable.

Don't schools have summer uniforms anymore?
Ridiculous.

I've taught in quite a lot of secondary schools over the last nearly 30 years and I've never encountered one that had a summer uniform. Primary schools often still do have summer dresses for the girls, and the boys can usually wear shorts all year round anyway if they want.

Ours were supposed to ask if they could remove their jumpers.

After a few times of being told ‘it’s not that hot’ I addressed the school directly and informed them that my teens are quite capable of judging whether they’re hot or not. They don’t really need telling that they are not. No more asking, they regulate their own temps!

2 years ago??? Why ask now then?

Some schools have reputations around rules, uniforms, etc and I’m a strong believer in parents taken g this into account when applying for schools rather than sending their kids then whining that it’s too strict or the uniform policy doesn’t make ‘sense’

I don’t believe that there wasn’t more to it, sorry.
Our school Also has a strict blazer policy, but the kids can take them off under certain circumstances.
One kids dad took to the local paper complaining similar about our school policy is a head-wave but after investigation it transpired that his little Princeling was I trouble for other things that day and was BS-ing re when the kids could and couldn’t take off their jackets.

My ds used to only be allowed to remove jumpers when told , that said during a heatwave they used to send home a letter saying they could not wear the jumper for whole week due to heatwave, which seems sensible

@user1471443411 around by me all the secondary schools are now Adding blazers , a couple incl my ds were jumpers and ties only and the kids looked smart , they are now academys and have added blazers , luckily mine have left as its another expense for parents and quite frankly they look hideous as different colour to rest of uniform
The jumpers and ties looked perfectly smart enough and was also cheaper for the parents

This is the sort of bullshit that turned me against school uniform. When it is enforced to ridiculous levels with no application of common sense at all.

I used to support school uniform. How naïve was I!? By the end of my children's school careers I would have preferred to have seen it abolished.

Im not against school uniform as i do think its better for many as kids do judge and those who can afford designer etc against those that can't
That said black/ grey trousers / skirt/ white shirt a jumper in school colour and tie is adequate , pe kit coloured t shirt and black shorts , maybe socks to match
Sell logo uniform but also badges so people can buy generic as well if they wish.
Sensible rules in hot summer that short sleeve white shirts or maybe a logo polo shirt is adequate

My kid's school likes to go the full hog with this: not only blazers, but jumpers under them (over the shirt) are compulsory at all times. Many teachers follow this rule. My sons have gone in today wearing 3 layers of clothing and have absolutely no autonomy to self regulate. My eldest has ASD and finds too many clothes restrictive - school don't care.

BUT then when we go past the Easter holidays, the jumpers become optional. Not before, no matter the weather. Only after.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

Mine is sick or faints if too hot.

School uniforms are fine, in my opinion, but only if they are comfortable, cheap and practical and adaptable for weather conditions. I don't think anyone, child or adult, should have to sit in a jacket if they're too warm.

I think it's good for all the kids to wear the same thing, but I don't see why that can't be something a lot less restrictive than a blazer, shirt and tie. Given all the different activities kids do at school beyond just sitting at a desk - art, cooking, drama, science lab work, DT, kicking a football around at lunchtime etc - I would personally have them wearing t/polo shirts and sweatshirts.

My old school, where my friend's daughters go now, insists that girls in the sixth form wear tailored suits in all weathers 'to prepare them for an office environment'. Who says they're going to work in an office ffs? Why can't they be prepared for working in a laboratory or a studio or a hospital or a workshop?! (And in any case, in my 24 years of office work I have literally never been required to wear a suit.)

Apart from anything else, can you imagine the stench in a hot classroom with 30 teenagers all having worn a blazer all day!
In my dcs school you can remove a blazer with permission if its really hot. I hate the blazer and tie school uniforms, it looks smart from a distance but kids should be able to move at break times in joggers, poloshirts and sweaters. I would have them in sports gear. The argument about preparing them for the workplace by wearing a suit is outdated, the people I know who make real money wear casual.

It seems like a few parents need to get together with other parents and petition to the governors for changes to the rules.

In heatwaves DDs' school put out messages saying blazers need not be worn to school at all.

@PutinIsAWarCriminal

Apart from anything else, can you imagine the stench in a hot classroom with 30 teenagers all having worn a blazer all day! In my dcs school you can remove a blazer with permission if its really hot. I hate the blazer and tie school uniforms, it looks smart from a distance but kids should be able to move at break times in joggers, poloshirts and sweaters. I would have them in sports gear. The argument about preparing them for the workplace by wearing a suit is outdated, the people I know who make real money wear casual.

I often send DD straight into the shower when she comes home, air the Blazer and hope for the best.

@Allandnothing we had the choice between two schools and got the one where no tie had to be worn by girls. I would love to have had the chance to choose a school with a relax dress code, non exit in our area.

The obsession with school uniform in the UK is totally bizarre. Other countries manage to have schools without uniform and they don't raise wild feral animals any more than they do in the UK.

I do like school uniform personally. But I like it to be sensible and comfortable. At my daughter's school at the moment (not in UK), they have a simple uniform of school polo shirt in 2 colours and a choice of school skirts, skorts, shorts or trousers plus a school sweatshirt or cardigan and cap or hat as needed. I think it hits just the right spot of all the benefits of uniform without the stupidity.

I hear some nightmare stories from friends in the UK about uniforms and punishments for the silliest transgression. Honestly, I'm all for strictness but it should be sensible and about things that actually matter like good behaviour.

Totally silly to have to ask permission to remove a blazer. Talk about disempowering kids from making the most basic decision about their comfort.

It's ridiculous. We had a strict uniform abs it was adhered too but if we got hot we took a layer off. No body got to play ego power games over whether Jess had asked nicely enough or was hot enough. To performing state school my year too so clearly didn't harm us to be able to know when we were physically uncomfortable

@incognitoforthisone Our sixth form was the same. They did NOT adequately prepare me, in any way, for the reality of my office, in which people sit on massive gym balls and wear jeans and Converse. I feel duped.

@PutinIsAWarCriminal

Apart from anything else, can you imagine the stench in a hot classroom with 30 teenagers all having worn a blazer all day! In my dcs school you can remove a blazer with permission if its really hot. I hate the blazer and tie school uniforms, it looks smart from a distance but kids should be able to move at break times in joggers, poloshirts and sweaters. I would have them in sports gear. The argument about preparing them for the workplace by wearing a suit is outdated, the people I know who make real money wear casual.

I used to volunteer in the library at ds1's senior school, and in the summer, the air even in the corridors was so thick with a mixture of BO and Lynx Africa, that you could have cut it with a knife. I dread to think what the classroom air quality was like!

It’s utter bullshit. My primary age daughter is autistic and has quite severe sensory needs. She was having massive meltdowns every morning and literally smashing up the house because she had to wear a school tie. I fought for months for her to not have to wear it, it took a GP letter, the involvement of the school governors, endless meetings with the head and SENCO and me having to point out they were breaking disability discrimination laws before they finally relented.
I fucking hate rigid school uniforms, what’s wrong with polo shirts and trousers/shorts or skirt in a certain colour? There is no need for bloody logos, special uniform shops and embroidered pe kits.

@Allandnothing I'm asking now because things don't seem to have changed much in 2 years. It's not a crime to have a discussion about something that has already happened, and judging by the responses on here I'd say that a lot of people have had similar issues.

I very much doubt that my niece was a Saint at school, but I could give many more examples of similar issues from friends and their children too, and it's not just as simple as choosing a school whose policies you agree with. Some people don't have that luxury.

Its all stupid. Uniform should be much simpler than it is, or optional