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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Thinking having a uniform in sixth form is pointless

70 replies

Hja12 · 30/08/2023 19:38

DD got her GCSE results last week. She missed on a grade she needed for her original sixth form choice, but another in a town over only required a 6 for the subject instead of 7 and had space. It's part of a grammar school.
The school requires they were basically the same uniform as the Y7-11 only the blazer is a different colour and jumper a different colour. Other than this still a tie, tartan skirt etc.
We are now scrambling last minute to get these bits. At the one she was due to go to the dress code was business casual.

AIBU to think this is a bit silly and pointless? Anyone else know of a sixth form like this?

OP posts:
cobden28 · 30/08/2023 21:30

Local schools in my area don't have a sixth form; if pupils want to do A-levels or the equivalent they have to go to a further education college.

At my all-girls grammar school in the 1960's, when it was changed over to a sixth form college fron the 1967-68 academic year onwards, compulsory uniform was abolished for fgrls at 6th form level. Of course the school tried to make the girls dress in something like what their mothers would wear instead and whilst trousers weren't forbidden specifically it was considered rather strange that we should want to wear trousers - most girls opted for jeans of some sort because the wooden stools that were in most of the classrooms were murder on our tights of we wore skirts !

DappledThings · 30/08/2023 21:33

I really missed having a uniform in 6th form. I changed schools after GCSEs to another school where the 6th form was new and they had decided it should be non-uniform. It was really tedious having to pick clothes. Quite a few of us said we missed having proper uniform (blazers, ties, the works) and would have voted to keep it.

Canthave2manycats · 30/08/2023 21:34

I am a huge fan of school uniform for all ages.

No thinking about what they are going to wear. No refusing to wear a particular item/outfit. Wanting multiple different outfits because God forbid they'd been seen on Insta twice in the same one.

Cost per wear - excellent value.

IVFbeenverylucky · 30/08/2023 21:39

I find it weird too. My sixth form (part of a comp) was non uniform and no business dress either, although denim and trainers were very banned. I find it bonkers that 18 year olds can be forced to wear a school uniform. Personally I would have gone to an FE college if my school had made me wear a uniform in sixth form. I'd hope my own kids would do the same.

DanceMumTaxi · 30/08/2023 21:50

Tbh I’d prefer a uniform to business dress that some 6th forms do. That’s just a pain and expensive. It’s mainly colleges round here so the kids wear really casual things - jeans, leggings, hoodies, trainers etc. That would be my preference because at least then they can wear the same stuff on weekends and school holidays.

IVFbeenverylucky · 30/08/2023 21:55

@Hja12 Do they seriously require girls to wear skirts? If so, that's unlawful and you (and your DD) should challenge them under the Equality Act to allow trousers too.

Original poster
Hja12 · 30/08/2023 21:56

IVFbeenverylucky · 30/08/2023 21:55

@Hja12 Do they seriously require girls to wear skirts? If so, that's unlawful and you (and your DD) should challenge them under the Equality Act to allow trousers too.

No they can wear plain black trousers too but the skirt is part of the uniform if they want it. DD won't wear trousers so skirt it is.

OP posts:
drspouse · 30/08/2023 23:16

I had not thought about this but interestingly we ONLY have the local FE college which doesn't do A levels or the sixth forms of schools locally. No sixth form colleges. Some 16 year olds move to a different school for A levels but is this unusual? We are slightly rural, but I know two more isolated areas have 11-16 schools and then a huge college for A levels.

I have younger DCs but it looks like none of the school sixth forms require actual uniform, it's all "business attire" or a very specific list of what suit or nearly-suit they can wear.

ErrolTheDragon · 30/08/2023 23:22

DDs girls' grammar didn't have uniform in the sixth form, just a not very onerous dress code (iirc not just leggings as the bottom half, no strapless or spaghetti tops... that was about it).

I don't think dd would have cared much either way, she pretty much stuck to black skinnies, shirt and a jumper in cool weather.

Canthave2manycats · 30/08/2023 23:27

IVFbeenverylucky · 30/08/2023 21:39

I find it weird too. My sixth form (part of a comp) was non uniform and no business dress either, although denim and trainers were very banned. I find it bonkers that 18 year olds can be forced to wear a school uniform. Personally I would have gone to an FE college if my school had made me wear a uniform in sixth form. I'd hope my own kids would do the same.

None of my three ever questioned it, because it was the norm in their school, which has an excellent reputation/results.

It was the norm in my day as well, for all schools - except the local 'tech' as it was then.

Canthave2manycats · 30/08/2023 23:29

IVFbeenverylucky · 30/08/2023 21:55

@Hja12 Do they seriously require girls to wear skirts? If so, that's unlawful and you (and your DD) should challenge them under the Equality Act to allow trousers too.

Nobody where I live cares enough about this to make it an issue.

BoohooWoohoo · 30/08/2023 23:32

My son goes to a sixth form where you can pretty much wear anything- no ripped jeans or midriffs showing sort of thing.

His brother went to a Sixth form where it was business suits. Not wearing a tie and suit jacket would result in a telling off for looking sloppy. Strangely the students looked much smarter than the teachers who wore open neck shirts without a tie (which is fine for a teacher imo. )

Plasmodesmata · 30/08/2023 23:39

Business suits are a pain in the arse. I have two sons who have been through sixth form and I had to buy them pointless suits. I think uniform would have been easier.

Totaly · 30/08/2023 23:45

DH and I work for large blue chip companies - neither wear business dress - everyone has jeans and hoodies!

IVFbeenverylucky · 31/08/2023 08:36

Canthave2manycats · 30/08/2023 23:29

Nobody where I live cares enough about this to make it an issue.

Show quote history

It only takes one. And there are campaigners (including me) who will take this on.

Canthave2manycats · 31/08/2023 15:33

IVFbeenverylucky · 31/08/2023 08:36

It only takes one. And there are campaigners (including me) who will take this on.

Show quote history

I think I'd find a way more worthy cause tbh...

DinnaeFashYersel · 31/08/2023 15:36

We don't have separate 6th Form schools in Scotland but our high school requires blazers in 5th and 6th year.

They make a big thing of selling pre-loved blazers as an environmentally friendly option which means nearly everyone does this.

Rest of uniform can be bought in the supermarket.

budgiegirl · 31/08/2023 15:50

I think uniform for school in 6th form is fine, as long as it's not an expensive one. My DD went to a 6th form with uniform - black blazer, black skirt or trousers, white blouse and a school tie (only worn on special occasions). I think it was great - it was cheap as you could buy the uniform anywhere. They all looked smart in it. And it stopped the whole problem of competitive clothes wearing among teenage girls. No hours of deciding what to wear in the morning. Much cheaper and easier.

Alicetheowl · 31/08/2023 16:30

My sixth form, attached to a comp, only insisted on no jeans. Although they allowed denim jackets (it was the 80s) so that was a bit pointless. As for making the boys wear suits, unless they want to work in certain businesses like banking or law they will never have to unless it's a very occasional formal client presentation, and most people going into those professions will have spent three years at uni wearing what they like, with blue hair if they fancy.

sillyuniforms · 31/08/2023 17:24

16-18 year olds look Wierd in school uniform. Like adults dressing up

CuteCillian · 31/08/2023 17:31

Personally I would have gone to an FE college if my school had made me wear a uniform in sixth form.
Exactly, what suits one may not suit another. (Forgive the pun!) I think choice of institutions is the ideal.

TeeBee · 31/08/2023 17:34

My sixth form was like this. It was easier than having to consider what to wear every morning. I don't really see the big deal.

TorroFerney · 31/08/2023 17:36

Yes grammar my daughter goes to has this. It’s a black skirt (just covering your bum!) a black jumper , tie but no blazer. Different colour skirt tie and jumper than main school.

Sleepyblueocean · 31/08/2023 17:36

The last school I taught at had white shirt, black trousers or skirt and the sixth form jumper. This seemed a sensible compromise between no and full uniform and many would wear similar at weekend jobs. They have to wear suits now because the new headteacher wanted business wear.

CalistoNoSolo · 31/08/2023 17:41

At DD's grammar school sixth form the girls wear whatever they like. Business suits sounds so last century, and why are boys required to wear suits and girls not?