Just read the bloody uniform policy!!!

[flingoringo]

I've just read an article about a school in Gateshead where lots of kids were sent home or out in isolation on day one of term because they were wearing the wrong shoes. The offending shoes seem to be mainly a Vivienne Westwood ballet flat (with a big silver VW emblem on the front) and a Nike walking boots. Lots of kids wearing the same, from yr7 to yr11.
Parents are up in arms, obviously. One mentions the CoL crisis so the need to scrimp and save to spend A HUNDRED QUID on the Nike shoes. One mum said her yr7 daughter won't be going back she's finding her a new school.

The school (taken over by an academy in 2019) says the policy is clear, plain black shoes with no logos. That they have done their best to help yr6 parents understand what was to be expected once on yr7.

Now I don't necessarily agree with schools being overly strict with uniform policy. But I do accept that I have to agree to follow the rules at the schools that I chose to send my kids to and if we chose not to then of course they'll be consequences.

AIBU to think it's it's completely ridiculous that this happens every bloody year?!

They’re identifiable as Nike - school policy is no logos.

Yes it's about control
It's about learning self control

We need to learn control , we need to learn how to behave in a way that doesn't disadvantage others, we have to learn to be ready for work and that includes following rules about clothing , be it for safety reasons or public image reasons or

I have an autistic child too and the uniform policies are so rigid they don’t take account of sensory issues. So apparently it’s about protecting poor kids but not disabled ones.

I accept I’m a minority but I’m all in favour of strict smart uniform policies which don’t allow expensive labels. One of the reasons I’m keen on private school. Frankly the kids going to some of our local secondaries look utterly awful - scruffy, no consistency or pride in how they’re turned out. There’s a massive psychological link between dressing smartly and respectfully and learning with that attitude. And it doesn’t have to cost money, it’s the ones with flashy brands and labels on show that look worst. In contrast our local private school requires, for example, plain dark coloured coats, no branding to be on show. Clearly not relevant in a private school setting where almost all kids are financially privileged, but in any school setting I don’t believe clothes should be a way that kids are allowed to show off their relative wealth and make poorer kids feel shit.

Not everyone can afford VW flats or expensive Nike trainers. These things don't only get stolen (leading to endless complaints) but other children without are affected.

Children need to know that there are rules to follow if life. You can't just turn up to work and do as you please - you get fired.

Imagine spending £100 or more on some unsupportive, flimsy ballet flats (or any school shoes for that matter). Hilarious.

Serves the dumb parents right.

I went to a non-uniform school on the continent and wasn't bullied, despite being a 'poor' student. I bought most of my clothes from C&A, not exactly known for being fashion forward.

DH who went to a uniformed British school was mercilessly bullied.
This idea that uniforms prevent bullying is ludacris.

Tracksuits are comfortable, practical and durable. Most secondary school uniforms are none of the above.

I don’t know many workplaces that require you to wear a polyester suit and ask permission to take your jacket off.

most workplaces now have virtually no dress code. I can wear what I like as long as it isn’t offensive. It’s such an old fashioned view.

again how to children in Europe learn this self co merlo without uniform?

Totally agree. My high school had no uniform policy in the 90s and I spent years being bullied as my mum refused to conform to brands so I was ridiculed for my crap brand trainers etc. The whole point of uniform is to stop this happening and make all kids equal so the irony that parents are spending a fortune on branded gear when they don't have to is ridiculous. And then citing Cost of Living. Give me strength.

The counties I know with limited bullying and no uniform tend to be very socialist counties - less egotistic than the uk

I mean why should it mater what shoes you wear works both ways doesn't it ? If it doesn't matter then just wear the uniform

By refusing to wear the uniform you are making a statement that it matters to you what you wear on your feet beyond confront and practicality ( ballet flats !)

Loads of countries don’t have school uniform. I never did. Uniforms create far more problems than they solve.

My kids school are strict within their rules, but the rules are, IMO, reasonable.

Softer soled shoes, rather than "dress shoes" are allowed - my kids walk 2 miles each way, so there is no way fancy shoes would last 5 minutes. No logos and plain black. Those with kickers just cut the little red / green label off and they're fine. We've found Clarks have the best for mine after some trial and error.
Only thing with logo required is the blazer, and they sell the badge cheaply that you can iron onto any blazer you want as long as navy blue. They encourage the logo'd tshirt for PE, but this is only £5.50 so not budget breaking, but plain white tshirts also allowed. No designer "handbags" allowed, but this was due to a lot of bullying that went on with the girls around bags - so the kids own fault!

I went to a school with very lax uniform - white or pale blue shirt, dark grey skirt, dark grey jumper. This was always pushed to the max and was such a huge competition it was hideous. A friend went to a high school with no uniform, and it sounds like it was even worse there - daily arguments over the days outfit choice with parents, bitching about labels amongst the kids. I'm totally pro sensible uniform.

I can turn up to work wearing pretty much what I like? How do children in other countries learn?

There could be a uniform that allowed for disabled pupils and sensory needs. That wasn’t so uncomfortable.

Workplaces with wired uniform rules and horrible materials?

Supermarkets , building sites ( the footwear and headgear there can be most uncomfortable especially in warm weather )

This is about shoes not asking to take a jacket off which is a different issue

Every year we get this. The school publish the school rules. If you don’t like it go to another school. The logo ones cost so much more so it isn’t like parents can’t afford correct shoes. The uniform policy is done to make sure kids look the same and no child feels left out as they haven’t the designer clothes, wearing designer shoes defeats the object. Follow the rules and don’t moan when you don’t and get pulled up.

Nope, happened to me for years. Bullying was rife in my non uniformed school. Because it didn't happen to you, it doesn't mean it has never happened.

Tbf lady term I bought mt daughter a pair of girls black patent schools shoes from Clark’s who h has this fine Pokémon ball silver thing on ( it was tiny ) and I was rang to bring new shoes in asap as they were logo 🙈

I'm a teacher and I couldn't agree more
We give out our uniform policy from May onwards, in assemblies, by multiple parental emails with staff reinforcing to students in their form groups. AND STILL parents act like we are unreasonable and little Johnny can only wear those branded trainers etc etc

Every year the papers run these stories.

Why don't they run stories about how schools across the country blithely ignore government advice around uniform costs? Or stories about how ridiculous it is to make children wear dress shoes to school? Schools and education officials are always banging on about how children need to be more active, should walk to school yadda yadda. And then make wearing dress shoes compulsory.

Perhaps they wear less branded stuff ( certainly in Germany that's true )

Perhaps the whole culture is different

Just west plain black shoes - why is that so horrific ?

You can't complain about uniform costs if your are sending your kids in £100 shoes !

But that has to do with the culture in the school, not with the uniforms.

@SocialistSally my dd is ASD and has sensory issues. I got it written into her ehcp that she'd need to wear certain clothing and school have had to accept that

This is categorically untrue. Far more problems with non uniform than uniform