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?

School prepares us for work. At work we can't wear what we want.

Only if school is preparing you for work where you wear a uniform.

Yet for some reason schools - mainly secondary so far in my experience (and not private/grammar) still have very rigid uniform policies and parents still choose to use these schools.

You seem to think parents have a choice - I'm killing myself laughing here. Most parents do NOT have a choice - they have to accept what is nearby, and given that the trend is for all secondaries to have insanely strict uniform policies, they're stuck with it.

And given that there is nothing in the law which prevents schools from implementing a uniform code that is all about expensive logo items, it isn't surprising that parents kick off. This stuff costs £££ and there's only toothless 'guidance' on the way schools should make uniform affordable.

You seem to think parents have a choice - I'm killing myself laughing here. Most parents do NOT have a choice - they have to accept what is nearby, and given that the trend is for all secondaries to have insanely strict uniform policies, they're stuck with it.

Very little choice here. We are rural so just about all the children round here go to the school in the next market town where school buses are provided. The logictics of going to a different state comprehensive are not great unless the parents are willing to drive them there. A minority of children go to a couple of private schools in the next city.

There isn't a single school in my city that doesn't have a uniform.

But I think a lot of parents still buy into the idea (maybe even subconsciously) that smart uniform = good school and well-behaved kids. Schools want to attract the kind of parents who care about that sort of thing, so it's in schools' interest to have an 'aspirational-looking' uniform. It's pure marketing.

Teachers don't believe the hype that heads and slt peddle about uniform improving behaviour and attainment - we see evidence to the contrary every day. Uniform creates more things for kids to get in trouble about. Chasing up uniform infractions is a waste of staff time and just pisses kids off. They say (politely and with no expletives if you're lucky) 'But miss, how does wearing black socks instead of grey or wearing trainers instead of leather shoes affect my learning?'. And they are absolutely right. Does their learning suffer at university when they can wear what they like? Nope.

You seem to think parents have a choice - I'm killing myself laughing here. Most parents do NOT have a choice - they have to accept what is nearby, and given that the trend is for all secondaries to have insanely strict uniform policies, they're stuck with it.

Maybe pp is suggesting that your occasion is a decision and you could just move to a place with the uniform code that you like /s (sorry, couldn't help it. In mn "just move" seems to be solution).

My bf is British and I'm not. I've learned through the years that we both strongly believe a lot of yhings to be better because it is familiar/norm. My bf supports uniforms but I've yet heard a reason that I can get behind. I think it's just familiar to him and he has been repeatedly told the same reasons. Where as I don't think any of it is true since we don't have uniforms and we still managed to grow up OK. Same the other way around.

There is no secondary that I know of anywhere near me or in neighbouring counties which does not have a uniform that I could opt for. It's not really about parental preference or choice. It's just a social norm in this country which harks back to old public schools.

@DorritLittle it's not just uniforms that parents have no choice over. I live in an area of South London that is dominated by a certain Academy chain (begins with H... rhymes with Paris) who all have a similar style of expensive branded uniform which looks smart at the beginning of Year 7 and urchin 6 months later. Some areas don't have any Local Authority run secondary schools. They are all Academies and if you're don't want your child to go to that specific chain you have little choice.

I would imagine most parents like myself have very little choice around uniform especially at Secondary. In my area all the schools wear blazers and most a shirt and tie too (except the girls' grammar.

I wonder when/if the uk will get rid of school uniforms?
DT’s, international school in the uk and their cousins in Canada, France and Belgium have never worn at school uniforms and they were all high achievers with no bullying around what everyone was wearing - no one was interested.

I don't think the UK will ever get rid of uniform. It's a weird cult based on no research whatsoever - people just believe it makes everything better. Until parents stop fetishising it, we're stuck with it.

I don't think the UK will ever get rid of uniform. It's a weird cult based on no research whatsoever - people just believe it makes everything better. Until parents stop fetishising it, we're stuck with it.

Yes, this, unfortunately. Heads of individual schools aren't going to stick their necks out and abolish uniform, because there are still parents who would incorrectly see that as a sign of an inferior school with lax attitudes to behaviour etc 🙄 and schools want to attract those parents.

There is a non uniform secondary locally. Every time it is mentioned in the local press etc, a big thing is made of it being non-uniform (while ignoring the other more radical parts of its curriculum).

@Tolson - DT’s went to a non uniform school. They got all A’s at GCSE and A levels and both got 1st in their degrees. High achieving London international school. Their cousins in the US, France and Belgium all went to top rated Uni’s.

Most of Europe, the US and Canada don’t have school uniforms - are these all poor schools?

Exactly. It's just nonsensical!

I'm all for a uniform. I can understand parents complaining about the costs of some items though like blazers and so on.

Apart from that uniform is a good thing. I could not think of anything worse than a whole school coming in all types of different clothing... looking not very presentable.

I think a uniform is smart and I think it instills in children from early on some morals. There's a few parents at DC school that do pick ups/drop offs in PJS. I'm sorry but I think it's a disgrace... Next thing you know kids are rocking up in a onsie.

@Tolson many countries in Europe do not have school uniform at all and yet manage to have higher workforce productivity and better educational outcomes as well as having lower levels of bullying than in UK schools. Please explain how this is possible?

Also as someone who grew up in a non uniform school country, I love the idea that Dutch kids can't possibly have had any morals instilled in them. Not at all offensive or arrogant, no.

@Tolson - a very small number of schools in Europe have a school uniform.

Having a school uniform has no affect on behaviour or academic results.

@Countdownis35 - why do you think having a school uniform helps with morals?
DT’s seem to have turned out ok having never worn a school uniform.

@Parker231 I just like that put together look. Yes I have read a few comments stating about Canada and other places.

From what I observe in my own DC school.. I can honestly say I think it would be hideous. Morally I think it encourages children to dress appropriately and it's unacceptable to be leaving the house any how.

The thing is though MAYBE the uniform is different here... old school like it has been stated already. I would be interested to know if in the European Countries... parents turn up in their PJS?

Wearing a formal school uniform isn’t appropriate for children. I work in the City but jacket and ties are never seen now so why force them on children.
DT’s wore jeans, T-shirt and a hoodie - practical and appropriate for being comfortable in lessons, break time and travelling to and from school.