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not inappropriately dressed, but as far as I can see, these ridiculously over-complicated uniforms are out of touch, out of date, and do not fit in with modern society.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.

I don’t like trousers for everyone either. They are very unforgiving for weight gain or loss. I lost a lot if weight and stopped wearing them as they need to fit whereas skirts are more forgiving. For teen girls where weight can be a sensitive issue or time of month bloating a skirt can be much easier.

YANBU. I'd get rid of school uniforms altogether. The rest of the world lives without them just fine.

My son (primary) wears a blazer and tie and has done since EYFS. I do actually like his uniform but it’s bloody expensive (blazer alone is £75!).

Growing up I didn’t have an official primary school uniform. As long as you turned up in a grey jumper and black/grey trousers with a white or blue shirt they were happy. Secondary school was just a jumper and tie (though they were starting to introduce a blazer just as I was leaving).

I'm not sure that it does. I got bullied constantly for my first two years of secondary, even with a uniform. And even if everyone has to wear the same clothes, they find something else to compete over. Who has the most designer bag, the fanciest phone, the most expensive eyeshadow palette, the best laptop, the most luxurious holidays... we all wore uniform but we still couldn't compete with the girl who went on a skiing holiday three times a year, and whose parents owned a boat and attended the Queen's garden party.

My opinion is the same as OPs. I don’t have an issue with uniform in theory, but it should be more casual, and cheaper. No stupid thick blazers which are useless in all weather. Too hot in summer, and absorb the rain in winter. Stupid branded skirts and tights for absolutely no reason. Ties which are just pointless. Just have something more simple.

YANBU about secondary uniforms but the historical uniforms bit varies between areas. In our area, primary schools never had uniforms until the late eighties/mid nineties when they introduced optional jumpers with everything else normal clothes. Gradually it became as it is today, polo shirts, etc.
We had a brief period, about the time the primary jumpers were brought in, when there was no uniform for secondary. It has been the way it is now with cheap black polyester blazers for at least 15 years though, in most local secondary schools. I keep thinking things go in cycles, and it will change soon, but it's taking its time...
What I think it should be:- primary - plain t shirts (school logo optional) with plain any bottoms. Secondary - either colour schemes bought from anywhere eg navy and red; the same as primary eg logo or plain t shirts, hoodies, joggers etc or just no uniform at all. I think change can only come from the top and once private schools change the rest will follow.

I like school uniform. They all wear the same, it's good.

I’m 36, still live in the town I grew up in, the 4 secondary schools here have had the same uniform since I was a teenager. All 4 wear blazers….

Taught primary for 20 yrs never saw any local primary schools with shirts and ties (not state schools anyway) .
We foster and our children's blazers (specific to the school) are cheaper than our DS34 s were 20yrs ago and MUCH easier to clean, although I think it'd ridiculous their skirts/trousers(they are expensive) have to have the emblem on, after that as long its the 'right colour ' ie pe kit you can buy it where you like.
I'm not bothered by uniform as such, I know why schools do it but yes many seem to have gone corporate image.
I hate it when parents ignore it and complain they can't afford school shoes when the kids are wearing £80+ trainers, or when their kids get called on for ridiculously long false nails/eyelashes, bright coloured hair , you know the rules either follow them or move your kids.
I hate it when schools use isolation as a punishment and I hate it when schools do not allow the kids to take off their blazers as and when they need to, classrooms get VERY hot with very little air movement even with windows open. A local school were only allowing blazers off if EVERYONE in the class took them off - it was about 'the image'. Bloody ridiculous! 🙄

My child has sensory processing issues - so I’d much rather she could wear a more comfortable and practical uniform than the restrictive one she has to wear. Sure she’d be better able to focus on lessons.

It's horrific. My child is nearing the end of primary school and I'm dreading it as I know it will have a damaging effect on his mental health, he's so scared of getting into trouble and such petty rules that it's very difficult not to break by mistake will put him into a permanent state of anxiety.

The workplace argument is so absurd as to be offensive: it's like the idea that working class children need stricter boundaries for some reason.

I went to a private school with no uniform because I refused to go to a school with a uniform. My child doesn't have that choice unfortunately.

I hate it when parents ignore it and complain they can't afford school shoes when the kids are wearing £80+ trainers,

well excuse me... all kids still need and want NORMAL clothes within reasonable fashion. including trainers, jeans, etc.

I have sensory issues and tights are my idea of hell. So is being forced into a sweaty polyester blazer in the heat!

Plus there's no way "school issue" tights fit every girl properly.

If uniform was that important to learning, every uni would insist on one!

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

Because its unnecessary and not anyhow beneficial. Apart maybe... tradition?

It’s crazy. Moved to rural Scotland from all that nonsense and my teen where’s a hoodie and joggers and trainers every day. They don’t care at all at his school and it doesn’t affect learning at all.

As for the bullying argument, why not expel bullies, rather than punish people for not having exact uniforms?

What kind of person cares whether someone has less money or scruffy clothing anyway??!!

I remember finding it incredibly patronising and silly when the rich children in my class tried to argue for uniforms in debating clubs on the grounds that they looked down on those if us who weren't rich for our less expensive clothes. None bothered to ask us less well off children, who didn't want uniforms. Said a lot about their characters.

It's bloody ridiculous. It creates a whole extra category of things for us to have to tell kids off and punish them for. It does absolutely nothing to improve behaviour (why on earth would it?!), in spite of what schools say. It's marketing pure and simple. Fool parents into thinking that the school is good and the students are middle class and aspirational, in the hope that those are the kinds of families you'll attract.

The girls' grammar where I'm lucky enough to teach doesn't need blazers to look like a good school. It is a good school. But the new Head immediately announced a uniform change - he's introducing blazers . Utterly pointless. Ironically it will make us look like we're only trying to look good, because everyone knows that schools who need an image change introduce blazers!

YANBU but secondary schools will keep on with their stupid rules cause basically they can get away with it :(

Exactly. And as a PP said, when strict uniforms were relaxed at a local school, it immediately removed a lot of conflict between staff and pupils. For students with anxiety issues, it must cause them so much stress worrying they’ll be getting into trouble for ridiculous reasons.

Leave the punishments and telling offs for actual bad behaviour. When you hear about horrific bullying being ignored and swept under the rug by schools, it leaves a really bitter taste that some children are being suspended or put in isolation for wearing a non-regulation skirt.

Sons school is black trousers white shirts tie and a blazer. Not particularly expensive at all! It’s a grammar school so a real diverse group of religions, backgrounds etc. a uniform ensures that everyone is dressed the same. No bragging about brands and trainers and all that bulls got. and when it hits a certain temp they have summer uniform which means no blazer

I agree, schools need to have basic uniform rules which can be picked up from any retailer. My DD has to wear a navy pinstripe blazer and trousers with a light blue shirt which has to have a white collar. The particular pinstripe is difficult to pickup from local retailers.
The uniform has to have the logo which is so small it's not very easily seen, think less than an inch square, but still school insists on logoed uniform.

The worse part is navy or black socks only, if they're wearing even charcoal socks they have to buy a pair of black from the school office!

I totally disagree- DS attends an excellent school with very strict uniform rules. Blazer, jumper, shirt, tie, trousers (skirts for girls), grey socks, black shoes.

They are expected to dress smartly with top button done up, shirts tucked in, blazers on at all times unless a teacher authorises remove.

It contributes to an environment of discipline and high expectations.

What has always baffled me is the approach to personal appearance and uniform rules so my older two boys always had short clean hair but on a few occasions had them sent home until the the hair around the sides had grown back as could see scalp (think a number 2 or 3) and it was distracting to the other students you could see their scalp apparently….yet boys with long hair didn’t have to tie it up. Was a battle I was never able to win and still now they are adults do not understand as they looked smart and had full uniform. Never had a bald man distract me at work because I could see his scalp 🤣

I don't support uniforms in general (grew up in a place without uniforms so I'm a bit biased anyway) but I do find it funny to watch the neighbours when the family leaves for the day and the child is the only one in a 'suit' eventhough the parents are going to a stuffy office.

I agree there needs to be a uniform and rules around it. It's not just about preparing for work place wear, it's about teaching children that there are rules to follow in the big wide world which we may not always like, or agree with but must abide by.

However, I find the flexibility of the current rules absurd. Too much need for logos. Ties, really? A nice polo shirt will still look smart under a blazer or jumper.

Plus, girls roll them skirts up so they're barely decent in length yet my daughter got into trouble for her trousers having a small toggle on the waist band which wasn't noticeable until she put her arms above her head to get a new exercise book off the shelf. Wearing them all year was no issues till now. They were smart, black trousers but girls have their butt cheeks hanging out in the skirts all rolled up!