To think that secondary school uniform rules are ridiculous?

[TrulyFlumptious]

Just for transparency, my DC are nursery and primary school age, so I currently have no skin in this game.

When I was in school (I’m in my late 30s, for reference) primary and secondary uniforms were very similar. Shirt and tie, branded cardi/jumper, plain black shoes and black or grey skirt/trousers. This was the standard from reception up to year 11.

Over the years, primary uniforms have gotten a bit more casual. Branded polo tops in place of shirts and ties seem to be the standard now. I have 3 primary schools near me and I can’t remember the last time I saw a small child in a shirt and tie.

However secondaries, even the local community schools, now seem to be channelling private school style uniforms as standard. My old school now insists on blazers, school issue tights, and uniform skirts in a school-particular check pattern. This seems to be standard process across most senior schools now. You also barely go a week without seeing a story about a child getting into trouble for not wearing the uniform tights, being put in a weeks isolation for forgetting their jumper, or children being forced to keep their blazers on in heatwaves whilst their teachers are in short sleeves or summer dresses.

AIBU to think this is completely ridiculous and getting out of hand? The argument of “this is preparing them for work” is totally arbitrary now - the world has changed, especially since covid, and barely anyone wears a shirt, tie or blazer to work any more. Most office workers are in smart casual and can adapt their dress for their own comfort levels, and even in the jobs that do require uniform it usually consists of branded polos/tees, or a tunic. What exactly are these students being “prepared” for? Yes, there should be some uniform rules in place to ensure students are not inappropriately dressed, but as far as I can see, these ridiculously over-complicated uniforms are out of touch, out of date, and do not fit in with modern society. I feel they are used simply as a means of control.

And don’t even get me started on the cost.

What do you think?

YANBU – senior school uniforms are ridiculously over-complicated, out of touch, and need to go back to basics
YABU – school uniforms are as strict and complicated as they should be.

A beret! If I saw a small child in a uniform beret I’d assume they were at a v v posh private school. That’s ridiculous.

Super outdated since in many workplaces, inc law firms etc you can now wear jeans and T-shirts to work. Excluding if you’re going to court, clients obviously. Hardly a soul wears business gear in my office now.

Yes my town has them too and they tend to have the strictest uniform policies ime,.

I would rather wear a skirt and tights in the winter than trousers, I've never understood why school uniform irks so much, it's for such a short period of life

Yes my town has them too and they tend to have the strictest uniform policies ime

Imagine if they didn't have a uniform and had to find another way to make it look like they were doing something.....

I wore a beret,in the winter and boater hat at my primary school and the boys wore,caps
it wasent private but it was a very strict convent primary school.this was in the 70,s and 80,s though and I don't think kids that go there still.wear them.

I’m a teacher and I think blazers are stupid. I’ve never had to wear a blazer as a teacher which makes it seem extra silly to have to enforce it.

I totally think schools are getting a bung from the sale of certain uniform pieces.

It started under new labour and the drive for better standards and higher aspiration in schools, taken up as academies took over.

The idea being that making kids look smart communicates to them that they can achieve and should have goals, where more casual clothes communicates that they can slob about all their lives and won't add up to much. It's quite an easy rapid measure for school management to make it look like they're having an impact.

Not sure if I agree with it really, especially now work dress has gone much more casual.

I was at school in the 90s when my school switched from acrylic crested jumpers to polyester crested blazers, I preferred the blazers as pockets, less clingy, less static.

I'm in NI where, as is well known, the grammar school system still operates. I went to a grammar myself and my mum had to buy me a specific and very expensive pure wool blazer. Luckily there was no rule about wearing it all day in school and it was great on winter days when I became far too cool to wear coats. The school DS1 attends expects him to wear his blazer all day, although thankfully it's one of those polyester jobs. Even so, the weather was blistering hot last week and the kids all had to swelter in their blazers. Ridiculous rule. I can see some argument for wearing it to and from school - representing the school/good impression, all that jazz - but how does it make a difference IN school? DS1 sweats like a pig - he's 14 'nuff said😅 - and the pong of those armpits would put you out of the house!!

My DDs uniform is a lot more relaxed and cheaper than mine was. Her blazer, tie and skirt cost less than my blazer did!

Primary uniforms should be designed for play not smartness. Leggings/joggers/shorts, school tshirt, school jumper sort of thing. Maybe with a sun hat.

There is an argument for a fairly rigid uniform policy, as then the young people can "push back/rebel" at flouting these harmless rules.

Take away a formal uniform and a rigid policy and they'd just look for other ways to rebel. The uniform is a buffer. Gives them something to push against.

Military women often wear proper ties

My issue is forcing pupils to wear blazers when it’s really hot weather. My daughter also has a really thick heavy tartan skirt and thick itchy knee high games socks the school insist pupils still wear during hot weather.

I’ve heard teachers (SLT) say this and I have never understood where they got the idea from. Having worked in countries with no uniform I think it’s completely made up.

Ours are

Black trousers, shorts or skirt
Black shoes
White shirt
Black jumper
Tie

Blazer only in S6 and there is strong encouragement to buy from school pre-loved stock.

I'm perfectly happy with that.

They are strict and will send people home for not wearing it. But everyone should be able to comply with it.

I'm in Scotland

My school didn’t have a uniform primary school did, academy didn’t.

my sons in primary wear joggies polo shirt and jumper only jumper is branded with school logo. Cheap and comfy.

high school is a nasty polyester blazer some wear but as long as they have it on them it’s not pushed. My son wears shirt, tie and school trousers. Trainers as long as they are completely black. Only tie/blazer is tied to school. It’s not super strict - no having to wear it in 27 degree heat etc

youngest goes to high school this aug (same school as older bro) will be wearing non school uniform uniform so joggies, school T shirt and/or hoodie with school logo. He has asd and it’s nice that he can be accommodated. He’s not good with laces or ties and can’t change himself for pe so he can wear what he has on if needed. Definitely prefer this more laid back attitude than the strict you must wear a branded wool blazer etc all day and thick tights even though it’s roasting hot and we will not bend for you attitude.

Imagine putting on a job application or CV that you have relevant experience of wearing a uniform. As a child. So very possibly with mum sorting it out.

Even for uniformed services.

Who could take that seriously?

There are some arguments in favour of uniforms (and some against) that I could go along with, but that one is ridiculous.

I wore uniform v happily as a child because I had no confidence in my dress sense. Nor had my closest female role models in theirs. No uniform would have been better professional training for me, if anything. I made some silly choices starting out at work, and these days I'm just scruffy.

Agree, it seems to be the academy chains quick fix, eg its too expensive to fix anything meaningful so we'll insist the kids wear blazers in the hope we can fool the public into thinking 'oooh xx school has really turned around, look at how smart the kids are' its expensive and completely impractical for the school day, not to mention so out of touch with how people dress for the working world now, I have a corporate office job, no suits and ties here.

One of the schools near us has got ridiculous.

Grey trousers or skirt - but a very specific shade of grey that is only available through a specific shop.

white shirt with 3/4 sleeves - bugger to find, but helpfully the aforementioned shop sells them.

slightly different tie every year.

Expensive blazer - must be worn. No other coats allowed to be seen. Not even in winter. Despite the fact a lot of kids walk a fair distance.

Black shoes - boots are not allowed even in winter. If they wear them to school then they have to change in the playground. Even in winter.

There’s been a massive push on the uniform over the last couple of years and they were the only one that insisted on full uniform through the whole of lockdown.

The head was adamant it was necessary to set a “tone” - though given they’ve absolutely flunked their Ofsted and there’s all sorts of ructions going on I think they’ve realised that uniform isn’t actually the be all and end all.

On the other hand the other secondary has stuck with black trousers, white or black polo shirt or shirt and grey, black or red hoodie ever since lockdown had their best exam results last year and by all accounts is hoping to do better again this year.

Last year I bought the following uniform for my dd
Blazer £35
Shirts £18 from tesco
Skirt £12
PE kit - wore last year's
Tie - same one since y7
Tights £8 every couple of months
Leather shoes £40

She wears that on repeat every week for a year. Big outlay IN September for sure, but the cost of providing a different outfit for every day for even a fortnight doesn't bear thinking about. She'd want logo'd stuff, fancy trainers and at least 10 complete outfits, the rage in the morning would be unbearable.

Uniform all the way for me thanks

Practical, comfortable, cheap uniform = yes absolutely.
Expensive & uncomfortable, branded Shirts, blazers, ties = unnecessary

Our local school even released pictures of acceptable shoes. If it wasn't on the list, you got sent home.

Our school preloved is also free so plenty choice everyone hands stuff in I’ve got a pile of stuff from my son that my youngest won’t wear that I’ve to take along.

I agree.

In my view there is no need for blazers or ties.

I don't disagree with uniforms in principle, but I do disagree with the way in which they are implemented. And they are way too expensive when you can get generic uniform for much less money in supermarkets, M&S etc.

Teachers should teach rather than having to waste time policing uniform.