Can a school stipulate one certain brand and design of school bag?

[AutisticLegoLover]

We've just been informed that after several years of allowing rucksacks in juniors that pupil's must have one particular bag for school. It's not expensive but is only available from one independent shop and has the school emblem and name on it. Previous experience of these are that they are poor quality and not waterproof so reading books get wet and ruined. School have said that some rucksacks are too big and don't fit in lockers. Fair enough, I agree that they should fit in lockers so that lockers can be closed and not cause a hazard. So why not just say bags must be no bigger than xyz so that they fit in the lockers? This is the 3rd bag change since my son started school and he's in year 3. Can they insist on a uniform bag for one independent shop? They don't deliver and are miles away which doesn't help because I don't drive and there's no bus but it seems ridiculous to be so strict about a bag when they don't even enforce the rules about footwear (no boots, no trainers). I like uniforms and am strict about them but the bag thing has annoyed me today.

In this instance I would ignore tbh. No ones gonna throw out a perfectly good bag they have already to spend out money they dont have on something not fit for purpose.

Ignore it.

I think my hormones are out of whack today because everything is annoying me! Bookbags are fine for the books if they are waterproof and books are all they are required to carry. But there's kit for athletics, forest school, a rain coat for summer just in case along with their water bottle and fruit snack. Packed lunch of course so that's an extra lunch bag. They can't leave their forest school or athletics kit at school, it needs to be brought in on the day and taken home again so they need an extra bag or bags for those. Then instruments can't be left in school either and adds to the amount they need to carry in with them.

How are small children meant to carry that separately? If they want to implement book bags they need to sort their shit out and allow pe kits to stay in lockers and equipment to stay in drawers etc.

That's absolute bull shit loading them.up like pack horses carrying everything separately.

I don’t agree with enforcing a particular school bag but you can use a plastic bag inside it for the books to solve that issue.

The DC’s school has compulsory logo school bag and coats- this works well as all DC look really smart and it stops the competition with labels. I would support the school.

The lack of enforcement of school shoe rules is a separate issue that you should take up with the school. I would contact the head asking why some DC are being allowed to wear trainers as I agree this isn’t appropriate.

There have been many emails over the holidays from the school admin about the bags. The price has gone up, the design has changed to one even less suitable, and delivery is £4. Considering the cost of living crisis and environmental factors I don't think schools should be telling parents to buy a new totally unnecessary bag. Reception and year 1 bags need to fit in the child's names tray because they don't have lockers but year 2 and up have lockers so as long as the bag of choice fits in there and the door can close I don't see the problem. The year 6 children can have their big rucksacks and handbags though. Year 6 always seem to be a law unto themselves.

School rules not enforced are:
Their bullying policy-I had to threaten to go to the governors before it was dealt with
Earrings-many have them despite not being allowed
Footwear-no boots or trainers allowed but many do.
Uniform-Polo shirts worn instead of a school shirt. Joggers worn instead of school trousers.

Reasonable adjustments aside, they need to crack down on the above before they demand parents to buy new bags.

I can imagine that the first few weeks will be full of emails and inclusions in the newsletter about the bags. I think many people will ignore the new bag rule.

I would ignore the bag rule for now. If they complain then I would tell them you will purchase one when his current bag breaks and the family finances allow.

Is it a public or private school? Public you can probably get away with ignoring, private not.

Ignore it. What are they really going to do if your child turns up with a different bag. If it fits in the locker then it's fine.
I personally don't like bags that have the school logo on. I don't see why any old Tom, Dick and Sally on the street should know what school a child attends. The uniforms with logos are bad enough but at least they are usually covered up with a coat.

Every child having the same bag sounds like a nightmare in terms of them taking the wrong ones home!

I'm chair of governors for a primary school - I wouldn't have approved this kind of demand. Stipulate size maximum if lockers/storage is an issue, by all means.

School, well the TA that bullied my son last year, has mentioned the bag and said it's not his school bag. Another child has told him off about it. An email went out over the weekend again with a link to the uniform policy but the bag ISN'T included in the uniform policy. Ds's bag is the same size bar about an inch thicker than the school bag and fits fine in his locker. He doesn't have a lunch bag as he's on school dinners. You should see the size of some of the lunch bags! They'll have a school approved one of those next.
No one has approached me yet about it but if they do can anyone recommend how I should deal with it? It's likely to be the bully TA who says anything.