To think school uniform has had its day

[Grumpybutfunny]

Okay I'm northern like this poor kid, tho not that close to the Scottish border. Is it unreasonable to say, when schools start saying kids should wear an inappropriate coats, just because it is school uniform that its time for parents to fight back.

I've left for work at 7:30 and it has been minus 2-3 all week. When I'm scraping ice off the car, a kid shouldn't be walking to school in a summer fleece with a rain jacket over the top. I've been freezing in my duvet coat.

Uniforms were a great leveller, but in the age of social media they still see what kids are wearing outside of school or what car the parent does the school run in. Surely what's more important is that they are comfortable and warm.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/jesmond-park-academys-uniform-policy-26016890

People wear coats in Newcastle now?

Not on a night out!

My area too. I know loads of people who have issues with this school and the teachers.

Basic uniform needs to stay but not fucking coats! Not the rules that children can’t take a jumper off in he corridor or in class unless given permission. Fucking bonkers

Yes, I agree with you, school uniform in its current form has had its day. Little kids in those horrible nylon trousers and washed out white polo shirts. Then seniors in nylon blazers and this very smart shoes with the slippy soles, to me they’re totally impractical and a waste of money. If we must have uniform at all, why not move with the times and let them have something that’s practical and warm like hoodies, joggers and trainers.

School uniform should stay but definitely shouldn’t extend to coats. Ridiculous.

School uniform should be abolished completely. And as for some 6th forms and their ridiculous business dress rules. Thankfully the 6th forms here don't insist on that bollocks.

Exactly.

Just let the kids where whatever coat.

Outside of the private sector uniform coats aren’t usual because of cost.

@IForgotOurSong interesting you say that - my sons primary school changed their uniform post covid and they now wear hooded zip up fleeces, soft tracksuit bottoms and trainers! They don’t have to change for PE which saves time (& washing!) and the headteacher told me they’d noticed a big reduction in sensory issues because the kids were more comfortable.

Yes! I live in Portugal- no uniforms here. My kids are in primary school, no clothing related issues yet. My boys couldn't care less atm. I have always thought it ridiculous and expensive re: uniform in UK and after moving here it's got even worse. Kids will always bully and the logod things are expensive and often only bought in 1 place

Because they’d look a complete mess? School uniforms are supposed to be vaguely smart, so hoodies joggers and trainers are as bizarre as the ties and blazers at the other extreme. There is a middle way..

I think uniform has a place but it shouldn't extend to coats.
If a child needs a uniform coat for school, they also need a normal one for use outside of school... not everyone can afford 2 coats.
My kids are also at a school in the cold North East. Their coats don't have to have a school logo, but must be black. Their coats are not allowed to be seen in school - they must be removed before pupils enter the building & cannot be carried around school, coats must be put in a bag. With the amount of books they have to carry their coats don't fit in their bags. There is no jumper in their uniform, so the kids spend the day in a shirt & blazer, outside & inside, in winter & summer! It's ridiculous.

The whole crap coat is ridiculous! I would be complaining to anyone who would listen at school highlighting that children not adequately dressed for weather can be child abuse under neglect- (as an ex Social Worker I would be hammering this home)

My D.C. are allowed coats at school- ie there’s no uniform coat. Not one kid wears one. Theyd rather freeze in their blazers 🤷‍♀️

If we have to have uniforms, why are skirts included?

Or shirts and ties?

Why not tracky bottoms and sweatshirts? Plain black jeans and a plain jumper? That's pretty much what I wear for a professional job these days.

I think some schools wrongly think the stricter their uniform rules the better the school and some parents fall for it. I was always more interested in the quality of teaching and the pastoral care rather than the stupid waste of time policing if a kid had the right coat on.

@Luredbyapomegranate my kids don’t look a mess in their hoodies and trainers, they look warm and comfortable.

I agree.

Mercifully I left before my school brought in business attire for sixth form.

In spite of my semi-goth appearance in sixth form, I managed to work out how to Google business wear when I got a job and dress appropriately. It's not rocket science. And not one of my very high earning friends twats around in a suit all day.

Wow that school sounds absolutely pathetic

I like uniforms - I buy them secondhand and makes my life so much easier when it comes to washing, choosing clothes in the morning and saving money on clothes shopping.

But our school is very relaxed. Really no need for schools to be pedantic about uniform rules.

Every school I have ever worked in has fairly flexible uniforms (eg shirt and tie or polo shirt, jumper/cardigan/blazer, skirt or trousers) yet the girls almost always choose the skirts. And then choose not to wear tights. And then choose to wear converse and not “sensible” shoes.

After 6th form if you go to university you can wear what you like so I've never really got the reason behind the business suit stuff,

i Agree with school uniform but it’s ridiculous refusing to allow children to wear coats and then forcing them to wear blazers in peak summer

We are one of only a few countries in the world where children wear a school uniform. And all the petty rules around them, not those shoes etc must be maddening.

I was just wondering to myself the other day why we make children wear shirts and ties and blazers. It seems to be based on the idea that they should aspire to jobs that require a shirt and tie but honestly so many professional jobs don't these days. If you have to have a uniform then surely polo shirts and sweaters (like primary) are fine? Our local school has polos for the summer anyway so why not just have them year-round? And secondary schools are just weird about coats and not being allowed to wear them inside (just walking into the classroom). While I'm on it, in primary kids would be better wearing joggers and trainers on the bottom. Much more practical for playing in and no need to change for PE.

When did blazers become a thing anyway? We didn't have them when I was in secondary.

Most primaries are sensible, especially since Covid with all day pe clothes days. Sadly ours is not, I've been arguing with the Head all week to allow them (esp if walk to school) the option to wear boots in the freezing north weather this week, for warmth and grip. They said no, and refused to allow them out to play in bright snowy sunshine for 3 days in case they slipped in school shoes.