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?

My 5yo has to wear shirt and tie when it isn't pe days. On those days it's leggings and a polo shirt. But has to be a branded one.

I agree that all children should wear the same but haven't we moved on now from formal shirts and ties and blazers ? It's 2022! What's wrong with a simpler uniform of leggings, t shirt and plimsolls and a hoodie in a house colour. I realise I have just described a PE kit there !

When my DC were in primary school they wore navy joggers, white polo shirt and navy sweatshirt for the first two years and then grey trousers or navy skirt on non-PE days for the rest of school. Only the sweatshirt had a logo. For the last week of term everyone wore non-uniform and brought in washed, out-grown uniform. There were marked tables in the hall (eg trousers age 7/8) for people to leave things and anyone could help themselves to what they needed.

Secondary school uniform is a flipping nightmare though. It cost me over €600 to fit out DD for her first year. There is summer uniform and winter uniform and three different sports kits for different sports including different socks at €11 a pair (although I've only ever bought the general PE kit for her as she doesn't play on any school teams). Everything has a logo so has to be bought from the school supplier. They do have a thriving second-hand uniform sale every August though, which I always miss as we are away.

I can't see the need for kids to wear ties at all. I always hated it and the use of ties is much less common in the adult world now.

I'm not a fan of uniforms in general but in DS's primary school they can just wear a tracksuit and polo shirt. They have a proper mini suit and jumper style uniform and special school logo tracksuits, but the principal doesn't care if those or any other same coloured tracksuit is worn. Most kids just wear tracksuits every day, either official school ones or supermarket ones.

Whenever the weather is wet but dry dry enough for them to play out at lunch/PE break, my DS comes home covered in grass stains. So I find it easier to have 5 cheaper tracksuit bottoms at all times, so I don't have to stress about washing them through the week. He'll happily wear his uniform for the day, though I make him change it if it's clean enough to wear the next day or if we're going somewhere after school.

When he's older, I'm really hoping he gets into the secondary school near us with no uniform though. I really, really don't want to have to be dealing with the much stricter uniform policies that the secondary schools have.

Our primary school doesn’t have a uniform. Clothes are not an issue and there is zero bullying about what children wear. We’re an inner city school so not leafy lane at all.

School uniform is a simple way to make children feel part of the school community, gets them into "work" mode, helps with safe guarding, helps identify pupils outside school premises in the local community/at shops (at lunch for example), ensures children are mostly presentable and if done right should save parents money.

ds's secondary school has always been generic black trousers/skirt, generic jumper, black shoes (they turn a blind eye to all black trainers) white shirt and school tie. Prefects are asked to wear blazers, for other years it is optional. His primary was black/grey trousers, white polo, red sweatshirt (polos or sweatshirts could be logo'd at local shop for £1.50 (8 years ago) each if wanted, but not mandatory).

Where we are (Scotland, outside of the cities), none of our 3 very large secondary schools have overly restrictive or expensive school wear and parents would simply not accept it if they did.

I agree with school uniforms as the school day would become a fashion parade and would cause a split between haves and haves not. I do think uniform should be unbranded for jumpers, blazers, skirts, pe kits etc…. As the costs are ridiculous.

In secondary schools and top years primary dress codes will not work. A uniform is a great leveller where there is a disparity in socio-economic groups. Besides ‘normal’ clothes are often more expensive than providing a uniform, where a white shirt is a white shirt.

But they're KIDS. They should be playing, getting muddy, digging up worms, doing cartwheels on the grass. They will learn to have good interpersonal skills, be resilient and have a good work eithic by doing all of the above. To my knowledge there's no evidence that forcing them to dress like a mini bank manager makes them any more likely to become a bank manager in the future. This is my point. I agree that having a collective uniform that gives them pride and ownership of their school and makes them easily identifiable to the public is important but I just don't think the current uniform is fit for purpose for many reasons that is my point

There is an argument for this but I would argue that this says more about our own miserable values as a society. Kids don't see class/creed/colour/any other difference until we raise them to....

it seems to me it's entirely for the benefit of the school and their pockets not the children

you think schools benefit financially from school uniforms? how?

The ‘competition’ between the children and the have and have nots does not appear to be an issue here

It's easy to say that when it isn't your family that is struggling financially and which is able to purchase the good quality clothing you mention. If it is you dressed in the same clothes everyday, that go unwashed for several days, you might feel a bit differently. I do agree school uniforms can be restrictive but having children all dressed the same is about way more than avoiding 'competition' amongst students.

Ds has to buy his uniform from one of 3 places. They have to wear blazers, which means most kids don't wear coats cos they have nowhere to put them. Which means they get soaked in winter.

They're allowed to wear trainers for school which, to my mind, makes a mockery of wearing a blazer and tie. I'd rather they were allowed to wear boots.The school trousers are also more expensive than supermarket ones, but don't last as long.

At our school, the uniform is very casual and comfortable, and can be bought from anywhere. I don't think it's time for a blanket ban, just ask your governors to tweak the policy.

My kids primary school inner London, has exactly the uniform you want OP, tShirt (no horrible polo shirt), or long sleeve tshirt, sweat shirt, hoodie or cardigan, then any plain trousers / skirts / pinafore / shorts etc its super fab, the branded tshirts and sweatshirts are inexpensive and we also have loads available second hand. Kids get to be kids.

It's not really restrictive?

The trousers basically all have elasticated weight, they are only restrictive if they don't fit properly.

The dresses are just loose fitting gingham, perfect for warm summer days.

DS also prefers the shirts to the polo shirts because the shirts are cooler. They are easy to wash too, thin cotton dries fast.

I have zero issue with it.

Kids work just as well in leggings as they do a skirt/formal trousers. Uniforms are for the parents.

DD’s HT told parents not to buy new uniform during lockdown since we didn’t know when they’d be going back.

she suggested joggers/leggings, polo or T-shirt’s and hoodie or sweatshirt so that they were clothes that could be worn if it was all home schooling again.

They haven’t gone back to “normal” uniform yet and I believe she’s planning on keeping it as an option.

Funnily enough behaviour standards haven’t crashed, the kids haven’t forgotten that they’re in school to work and learn and nothing has gone crazy.
there is less time wasted searching through 6 identical ridiculously expensive identical jumpers because black hoodies from different places have slight differences so the kids recognise theirs instantly.

the only parents objecting to the changes are a small handful who would quite happily see any child from a poor family leave the school anyway so no-one is particularly bothered by their opinion.

None of the primary schools around here have very rigid uniform. Plain black, grey or navy trousers/skirt/shorts (elasticated waste so comfortable), school polo shirt and either sweatshirt or knitted jumper or cardigan, it doesn't seem hugely restrictive. Blazers and ties for primary school seem a bit much, secondary school they just need to get on with it, lots of us can't wear whatever we like for work or slob around in trackies all day.

@Ahurricaneofjacarandas 'mini bank manager' !! I was just about to post the exact same thing. Also the poster saying school is a place of work, it so isn't! Let kids be kids.

^AndAsIfByMagic · 24/04/2022 11:48
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

Except in the 1950’s very few primary schools had uniforms! I’m not sure where uniforms at primary crept in. These days, they are pretty universal. Those of us who didn’t have them are getting quite old now!

Having said that, primary uniforms in my area tend to be just sweatshirts and polos with the bottom halves taking care of themselves.

I agree with you but sadly I have found that is not the case, it would lovely if society was like that.

@Tolson kids don't need to dress smartly or professionally for school, it's a place of learning not a job interview.

*It's not really restrictive?

The trousers basically all have elasticated weight, they are only restrictive if they don't fit properly.

The dresses are just loose fitting gingham, perfect for warm summer days.

DS also prefers the shirts to the polo shirts because the shirts are cooler. They are easy to wash too, thin cotton dries fast. *

It is for sen children. My dd won't budge on the uniform even though they are well aware of her sensory issues. It's all wrong.

I completely agree op. Why does my 5 year old need to wear a tie to learn. Stupid. I have raised it in a school questionnaire (along with the amount of homework). Seems I'm on my own!