To think school uniform is a bunch of crap?

[Ahurricaneofjacarandas]

So to be clear, I don't think the principle of uniform itself is crap. However why are we allowing our primary aged kids especially to spend the majority of their childhood in such restrictive clothing?! It's almost always restrictive trousers/dresses at least and some in my area even proper shirts and ties. We have evidence in the importance of learning by moving in this age group. Most kids this age have a degree of sensory processing immaturity. Many even have spd and this is arguably discriminating against these kids. I do understand the importance of uniform and learning to adhere to uniform standards but can anyone give me a reason why the uniform isn't just a simple pair of leggings/joggers and a tshirt and hoodie? Maybe I've overlooked something but it seems to me it's entirely for the benefit of the school and their pockets not the children.. why do we accept this?

I fully support school uniform, but not the costly badged items, not blazers and ties etc. as you say, a t-shirt, joggers and a hoodie would be far more sensible. I also think all schools should run a permanent scheme of parents bringing in items their child has grown out of. This obsession with new everything has to stop, save money and the planet!

School uniforms should be abolished. I hated them as a parent and a teacher.

Teachers have better things to do with their time than police how children dress. A dress code is all that is needed.

This isn't the 1950s

I was looking in the window of a school uniform shop (passing time while waiting for my husband) and was shocked both at the pricing and the poor quality of the garments. Nasty, cheap nylon blazers for £70! In my day you didn't have to buy custom-made things (other than school tie) - just things in the right colours and styles from any old shop. That seems a better system to me.

I think school uniform should be abolished. Serves no useful purpose.

I think some kind of uniform or dress code is a good idea, but I agree that restrictive shirts, ties and blazers are impractical and too expensive.

I would like nothing better than to ditch tailored trousers for my children. I do hate joggers but I would be OK with primary school kids wearing plain black ones, or Jersey shorts in the summer, with a plain polo and school sweatshirt. My kids are boys but if I had a girl I would happily have the same option for both.

Dress codes are better yes I get that people say it's to level the playing field with poor children dressed the same as rich but that's bullshit you can see the difference regardless we have children dressed in M&S best that are obviously dressed better than aldi trousers hairstyles that are not done by dads clippers shoes that are obviously falling apart or not fitting etc etc you can tell who the richer children are

Plain non badged joggers plain tshirts plain trainers its simple

Joggers/leggings/shorts, tshirt and jumper. In a school colour. Perfect for Primary school. My Yr4 has to wear PE kit to school 3 days a week anyway...

Then a dress code for secondary, with perhaps a jumper/poloshirt for certain events.

I think school uniform is important but that it should be cheap or free in state schools.

I think it's a good thing that all children look the same, look smart and don't stand out but that is not currently being achieved.

I help with a school uniform charity that runs over each summer holiday. We collect all the uniform we can then people come and take what they need - mostly people in need but people also use it as an eco thing, donating all of last year's stuff and collecting the next size up. This wouldn't be necessary if schools did it themselves. It would be easy enough to organise and so much less wasteful.

At DDs primary the uniform is really relaxed.

DD wears black leggings, plain white tshirt and royal blue cardi/jumper with black shoes or trainers.

They can wear any kind of trousers/shorts/skirts in black or grey, any kind of tshirt/polo shirt/button shirt in white, any kind of fleece/cardi/jumper in royal blue and any shoes/trainers in black.

PE kit is any colour shorts/joggers and tshirt.

DfE needs to enforce that schools be reasonable about school uniform and ditch the need for any of the expensive branded stuff.

I do agree with the uniforms, but if compulsory they should absolutely be comfortable and capped in price or subsidised/free

Completely agree with you, school clothes should be comfy, hardwearing and practical. I hate blazers and ties especially on younger children, why do they need to dress like a business man/estate agent/bank manager?

I think school uniform should be made of denim. It's hard-wearing and plentiful.

FWIW we had denim lab coats for science when I was at school and I thought they were a brilliant idea even as a teenager.

I used to be quite pro school uniform, but years of seeing it enforced to ridiculous levels and without any application of common sense while my DDs were in school have changed my mind completely. I now would prefer to see it abolished.

Just a sensible dress code would suffice, even though that also needs a measure of common sense to apply it, something that some schools seem lacking in.

@MrsMoastyToasty denim is awful if it gets wet though. We advise against it for camps/outdoor activities (Scout leader)

I think blazers need to go at secondary, but joggers are awful for skinny children. Mine have rarely worn them as they come with false draw strings, and so can't be shrunk to fit.

Polo shirts and sweatshirts are standard primary uniform here. Don't think that needs to change.

Hate hate hate no uniform policies. The school next to our old house was nouniform, and the (lack of) length on some of the skirts and shorts was embarrassing.

My autistic dd would love to wear leggings, tee shirt and trainers to school she would feel so much more comfortable. She hates the shirt and tie. I've been trying to get her an m and s a pull up skirt for ease but they have been unavailable for months.

I grew up in the uk and now live in Switzerland where there is no school uniform. DS will be starting kindergarten (first years of compulsory schooling) in August and it’s so nice not to have to worry about a uniform. To be honest, parents here dress their kids in simple, good quality, practical clothes suitable for the weather as a general rule and this doesn’t seem to change in relation to school. The ‘competition’ between the children and the have and have nots does not appear to be an issue here.

I think uniform should be kept., it keeps all children the same and their is no competition for who looks the best especially in high school, I can remember dress down days at school when I was younger it was like a fashion parade and it’s still the same now with my teenagers.

i have to wear a uniform to work as does dh so I don’t see any difference to school children. I don’t necessary agree with shirt and ties but a polo shirt and jumper with a logo would be better with smart dark trousers, still works as a uniform .

We are in the UK in a normal state school which has no school uniform and this is our exact experience too! The kids don’t care, there is no competition or bullying as they’re just used to wearing their own clothes. It’s so much easier to dress them for her weather or in layers etc. I was unsure when DC started as I had a uniform growing up but I love it now and am dreading high school and the uniform there!

No uniforms in my kids schools. Because there is no novelty there isn't issues with brands etc. The kids wear what they are comfortable, the rule is be able to move. Most wear joggers, t shirts and hoodies. A few fairy wings and capes on occasion over the years nobody bats an eye. Friends over the years were dismissive of it but have come round to appreciate a comfy kid is an engaged kid. Kids have formal clothes for model UN, debate club etc.

@2pinkginsplease I think uniform makes that worse not better though. I remember agonising over what to wear on non uniform days as it was your one chance to wear home clothes and people did judge. If you just wear normal clothes every day it very quickly loses it’s excitement and just becomes normal. People can then wear what they feel comfortable in.

A uniform is a good idea as long as it affordable, practical, durable and suitable for the weather. Unfortunately most schools fail at this.

School uniforms are pointless - completely pointless; and cause worry to poor families. And are a focus for aggro and for rebellion. I cannot think of anytning good to say about them.

Do college students suddenly fail to learn because they are not wearing a uniform?