AIBU to not want to buy branded PE kit

[uniform]

Usual PE kit at our primary school is regular polo shirt (2 for £4 from local supermarket) and jersey shorts (2 for £5) and has been for at least 10 years.

Have had several children at the school and uniform gets passed down as long as it's not worn out.

Been told this week that from September it will be compulsory for all pupils (except year 6) to wear branded school PE kit, that needs to be bought from the school supplier for £20+ (depending on size).

The idea is that it looks smarter when pupils go to sports activities outside school (inter school competitions etc).

PE kit is worn all day on PE days, so often gets dirty/covered in lunch etc. PE is twice a week, sometimes on consecutive days, plus any after school sports) so we're likely to need two sets, making the cost £40+.

AIBU to not want to buy this when we have perfectly adequate generic PE kit that's been good enough for years?

There's no phasing this in - been told it's compulsory from September for all R-y5. This is all despite the ruling last year that school should reduce the amount of branded uniform!

Can they send home my DC for wearing the old PE kit?

There is online Statutory guidance about the Cost of school uniforms. Main points I have pasted below.. I suggest you refer to that and write a letter to the school and highlight everything you feel is contrary to the guidance.

I cannot see how a primary school can possibly justify branded PE kit. When they provide their response I would then counter advising that you do not feel that meet the statutory guidance and you will be sending your child in with non branded kit as usual. If you can get a few likeminded parents to do the same all the better.

Main pointsParents should not have to think about the cost of a school uniform when choosing which school(s) to apply for. Therefore, schools need to ensure that their uniform is affordable.

In considering cost, schools will need to think about the total cost of school uniforms, taking into account all items of uniform or clothing parents will need to provide while their child is at the school.

Schools should keep the use of branded items to a minimum.
A school’s uniform policy should be published on the school’s website, be available for all parents, including parents of prospective pupils, and be easily understood.

Schools should ensure that their uniform supplier arrangements give the highest priority to cost and value for money (including the quality and durability of the garment).

Single supplier contracts should be avoided unless regular tendering competitions are run where more than one supplier can compete for the contract and where the best value for money is secured. This contract should be retendered at least every 5 years.

Schools should ensure that second-hand uniforms are available for parents to acquire. Information on second-hand uniforms should be clear for parents of current and prospective pupils and published on the school’s website.
Schools should engage with parents and pupils when they are developing their school uniform policy.

A well trodden point should be that sport should be inclusive rather than exclusive, and you are disppointed they are putting up financial barriers purely for the purpose of looking smart.

Thanks both - I completely agree.

Contact the school in the way suggested.

I agree this is unenforceable and discriminatory and would be pointing it out with all the advice above.

Also, suggest to them investing in a set of school colour with logo bibs for inter-school competitions, that's what ours do and looks smart.

The idea is that it looks smarter when pupils go to sports activities outside school (inter school competitions etc).

The majority of children will probably not be invited to join such teams and the kit will fade and look tatty after a year or two of wearing twice a week. Our school instead had team PE kits which were lent out to pupils attending external events, after the event they were returned to the school and they washed them ready for the next event.

The primary school my dc went to hot round this, by having a school set of T shirts and hoodies in various with the school logo on, which they lent out to pupils going to interschool sports matches.

Why don't Y6 need to do this?

I am assuming that y6 don't have to do this as it would be an expensive outlay for only one year of use.

DC's primary school doesn't even have a PE uniform, you just send them in whatever joggers or suitable shorts and t-shirt you please. It was the same at my primary in the 90s-00s. When I went to secondary, the PE kits were "shiny shorts in blue, netball skirt in maroon, polo shirt in blue". Fucking crazy that you now see schools with logoed shorts and skirts etc.