Thinking having a uniform in sixth form is pointless

[Hja12]

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?

Yes I think it's silly. DS was so glad to go to a sixth form college with no uniform.

I went to a grammar school sixth form. The boys had to wear a uniform (or a suit! - DH's school was the same) but we just had a wear a grey skirt and a choice of colours for tops, which wasn't too bad. Now they are slightly less strict in that you can wear any colour, and they allow trousers.

I don't think the OP has much of a choice if her DD didn't get the grades for her first choice.

Our nearest grammar school has a sixth form uniform (basically the same uniform as years 7-11 but with a different colour blazer). At the comprehensive school however the sixth formers can wear what they like, which seems a much more appealing prospect.

I think all school uniform is pointless.

But especially irritating to have to buy a particular uniform for just 2 years. Wasteful.

Your DD has every right to refuse to attend that school.
She deserves your full support.

Two years

Yes, plenty. It's useful as a way of ensuring nobody external with less than admirable motives gets on site undetected, as they'd need to have the correct uniform as well as somebody's lanyard (if they're used, not all schools have them).

Hopefully she never gets a job where they have a standard of dress of which she doesn't approve!

Yes, it’s quite normal. My comprehensive had a uniform in sixth form - same as the uniform in the lower years - of kilt, shirt and jumper - just a different colour kilt (or tie).

Give over with the dramatics. She's 16 and doesn't want to wear formal wear if she doesn't need to. I was the same and chose college for that reason. I've been a job with a uniform for the past 13 years.

6th forms local to us have always had uniform. I'm glad about it tbh. Far easier

My Girls Super-Selective had no uniform or business ware... most wore jeans and a top. No drama whatsoever

It was only a few years ago on Mumsnet that I found out that any sixth forms insisted on uniform, let alone business wear! I just think it's preposterous.

Oh don't be so dull. There are a million jobs which don't have a dress code for a start. And, secondly, she's got all the rest of her life to conform and be a wage slave. Let her be young and an individual for a few years at least.

I’m laughing at the thought of my DD wearing a business suit to do her art A level tbh.

Post 16 is college here and no uniform. There is a dress code but it's not very prescriptive at all just clothes should be suitable for the course (eg not dangerous for practical work) and should not be indecent or offensive or related to any gangs or prohibited groups. I'd find being at school and having a uniform at 17/18 really strange. I know some areas only have college for vocational education though.

All the sixth forms round here have a uniform. Ds attends a grammar school and will stay for sixth form. The uniform is the same, except for the tie. The girls grammar have business wear for 6th form, but all the comprehensive schools have school uniform. Only the college has free choice clothing.

All uniform is pointless. Our local 6th form has none and it was a huge relief that my DC could wear clothes they already had. It was also an excellent time for them to use their budgeting skills. There weren't nearly as many fashion victims in 6th form either and the students showed a lot more individuality.

I think it’s good that the 6th formers are expected to dress smartly. My children were all at grammar schools in TW ,all have to dress professionally for their jobs now they are in full employment .

We don't have 6th forms here as part of schools. All colleges so no uniform

DD's grammar had dress code of no strappy or crop tops, skirts/shorts/dresses had to be no more than 10cm above knee, no leggings (unless eg under a skirt), no heels above a certain height, no sandals or flip-flops. She lived mainly in jeans, t-shirt and trainers, with occasional skirt or dress in summer. She liked it, it was easy as fitted in with her style (except hard to find denim skirts that were no more than just above the knee but weren't maxi) and she wasn't too bothered about looking cool. But it did mean she needed more clothes as quite reasonably she didn't want to wear the same things all the time and neither of us wanted to be washing clothes more frequently than we normally did.

DS's comp has sixth-form uniform - same as Y7-11 except different coloured blazer and tie. It will definitely be cheaper for us. He'd prefer to wear his own clothes (would have been just t-shirt, jeans or joggers, hoodie in winter, trainers, as that's all he ever wears!) but isn't bothered.

My niece's comp required "business dress" which they said was jacket/blazer, shirt/blouse/smart top, dress/skirt/smart trousers", and both my two agreed that was the worst possible option. 16/17/18 boys in suits really look like they are dressing up as their dads, plus it costs more than either uniform or wearing the same clothes you'd wear at weekends anyway. But agree with a PP who pointed out that for many "business dress" now means casual or smart casual - certainly I only wear the above if I'm meeting clients, not for normal day in office (or WFH).