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?

@hangrylady I don't think it brings equality at all.
I live in London where parents get to choose 6 schools on their application. I know of some parents who purposely don't put specific schools on their list because the uniform is too expensive and/or all branded stuff. This is state 'comprehensive' schools (well academy schools - they're all bloody academies).
How can it be equal that a child could miss out on going to a school five minutes from their home because their parents can't afford the £200 (or more) to kit them out for Year 7 and they end up having to travel half an hour on a bus to a place that allows generic trousers bought from a supermarket.
We have gone back in time. It's like it was 100 years ago. To attend secondary school (in England) in 1922 there were 2 ways - pay for it or pass a scholarship. But so many children had to turn down scholarships because their parents couldn't afford the uniform so they stayed at their Elementary School and left at 14.
Every school should be equal. But they aren't. Uniform can be a barrier to which school a child attends and it's shouldn't.

Trouble is I remember when our local comp was trousers, sweatshirt, no tie trainers and it just looked awful. New head and it got branded and actually the school turned around a bit. London sink school.

Equally, I shall never forget how scruffy the PHS girls looked in the 80s in their expensive purple striped frocks, ankle socks and doc martens.

Perhaps it's all a bit irrelevant.

@mumsys sadly a lot of the primary schools where I live have the blazer/tie combo. Normal regular state primary schools in an area of mix demographics.
It's depressing.

I love school uniform. My DC uniform is gorgeous, so smart.

My d attends a school with no uniform. They all seem to manage to get there dressed in clothes fit for purpose regardless. It even ends up seemingly a uviform as they all wear hoodies. t shirts, jeans, joggers or leggings and trainers/converse style pumps.

I hate school uniforms, hated it when I was at school and hate it now my dd has to wear one!

At a push I could agree with a relaxed, comfortable and practical uniform.

The fact that uniforms are uncomfortable and not practical in the slightest (especially for girls) is infuriating.

And I feel the same way about secondary uniforms - they should be eg any black bottoms with a logo t shirt or hoodie if insisted upon. No reason why plain black trainers can't be worn and I've never known children be bullied for having the wrong trainers - if this was an issue I'd have to question the mentality of the children doing the bullying as many children from a variety of backgrounds wear Primark (for example).

I adore school uniforms because I have no doubt my kids would stand out as not very well dressed, clean but all hand me downs, sometimes too big etc, also the amount of clothes we'd go through etc but totally agree. My 3 primary ds' are so lucky in that they wear aertexes and no ties etc but I really feel for ds 14 who wears a shirt and jumper even in the summer. As for the trousers on all, yes, I don't know how they play at lunch break in them!

School uniform should prioritise comfort, practicality, affordability and functionality.
Joggers, trainers, tshirt and hoodie, in a set colour of course, possibly with school logo, would be great.

Yeah it's pointless and impractical. Kids wearing dress shoes is just bizarre.

Wish they could wear joggers and a t shirt at least in infant school. Uniform is much harder to get on and off.

Comfier to sit on the floor in too. What makes me
laugh is that at my DC’s school the kids are in tailored trousers etc and the teachers have sweatshirts and leggings on 😂

I don't support school uniforms and I don't really think dress codes are necessary either. Grew up in the nordics and there wasn't too many rules and we still managed to grow up ok.
It's really weird when a toddler is the only one in the family leaving the house in a shirt and tie. I can be ok with uniforms if I had to (isn't a plain t-shirt and flexible material trousers good enough?) but I can't get behind all these additional rules about shoes, socks, hair ties and nail polish.

I'm not in the UK but from what I see of primary school uniforms here they are comfortable and practical, which is how it should be (can't speak for private schools).

I agree. I think DC would be more comfortable in P.E kit all the time. I think all school uniform should be able to be bought from a supermarket. Luckily, my DD's school are laid back about uniform. Trainers of any colour can be worn every day (i.e not just for P.E) and there is no need to buy items with the school logo on, just a set colour. They also have a permanent school shop selling 2nd hand uniform for 50p a piece. Although, if a family needs it, it will be given for free.

My DD is quite sensitive to clothes and prefers wearing P.E kit but can tolerate the pull up trousers and summer dresses. She also sometimes wears leggings which are not officially allowed but the school doesn't make a fuss as long as the clothes are suitable for school i.e no open back sandals. I'm dreading high school, though.

There is no way that DD would have wanted to wear a PE kit all day. She wore jeans in 6th form.

If uniform was so critical to learning, it'd be required at college/uni level too.

At most schools there is abundant second hand uniform. Some parents choose not to take up the option, I never understand why - it’s better for the pocket and the planet.
At my school we have such poor uptake on second hand uniform we have to throw it away. We have loads and loads of it. It is offered for free to some families and even some of these turn it down.
And yes, it’s in good condition.

@NightLightComfort my daughter's old primary school does run secondhand uniform sales but it's all PTA run and getting volunteers isn't all that easy which I think is a shame.

@NightLightComfort and I find many secondary schools don't even have PTAs.
But I do know of volunteer groups that run secondhand uniform exchanges for any school in their area so that's good.

Primary school uniforms around here are fine - grey trousers (which are mostly pretty hard wearing, and can be bought from any shop), white polo (again, any shop is fine), school jumper or fleece (which are both cheap), any black shoes including trainers. And honestly the teachers don’t give a toss if they turn up in different shoes or joggers occasionally - DS goes in his joggers when he has sports club straight after school, and it’s fine. Outstanding rated school.

Secondary seems mental - expensive blazers and ties, detailed shoe instructions, isolation for infractions. But all the secondaries around here are academies. Ironically the local private schools are much more relaxed, and happy if you are following the general spirit.

And everywhere else in Europe. Or alternatively UK should be the gold standard of education in Europe.

Yes that is the same as where I live. In fact great swathes of the world manage beautifully without school uniform, it is a bizarre British obsession.

And to whoever it was upthread who actually wrote “all children should look the same”, that is probably the most ignorant thing I have ever read.

Black trousers or skirt, polo shirt and hoodie (with logo). Plain trainers.

Practical, comfortable and has school identity.

If I were a head not a lowly teacher that's what I would do

My DCs currently go to a uniform free school, their last school had a very smart shirt & tie uniform, it was the most expensive primary school uniform out of all the primary schools in the area. It looked smart and tidy. I don’t think it was restrictive at all. But I did not like the cost of mainly the PE kit, including poor quality logo’d T-shirts and tracksuits. The uniform has absolutely no impact on my DCs enjoying school or their education.

Their current school is very multicultural with a number of international refugees attending but you would have no idea which kids were struggling financially or not, most of the kids live out of leggings and hoodies. A lot of the younger girls like to wear pretty dresses, just like most little girls. I’ve never seen any competitiveness with logos or brands. The school asks for an oversized tshirt to be left in school to protect clothing when doing messy activities.

I don’t think the kids look scruffier than kids in uniform and it’s a dam site cheaper to maintain.