Do you agree with school or the parents?

[Watermelon44]

Our high school has made the news because of a uniform dispute between (some) parents and the head who is recently in post.

The gist of it is that the school brought in a new rule in April that they were no longer allowing black leather trainers (eg superstars or nike air force) and instead the kids should be in smart plain black leather office shoes.

This appears to have caused ww3 with some parents, who despite having many months notice, still sent their kids in the banned trainers (100+ children apparently). The school has stuck to its guns and has isolated and then suspended those in the wrong shoes if they refused to comply.

The school has also banned girls from wearing socks, and have enforced a thick tights ruling, although socks are allowed in the summer term and if allowed by the head in any warm spells (eg the past 3 days).

Personally I think the tights ruling is worse and I have mixed views on the trainers rule.

I am interested in the real reasons behind these strict uniform rules as I feel if the real reasons were shared with parents they may be more on board with them, rather than the usual rubbish about dressing professionally eg like in an office, when my dp works in a head office in London and goes in jeans and trainers!

As this seems to have whipped up a storm locally, I am interested in other people’s views on this topic as some of the parents round here seem to have gone totally bats*it over it!!

Shoes I get.
Tights/no socks for girls is APPALLING and I hope that is challenged by someone.

Shoes I understand. Tights/socks is insane.

The tights rule seems unreasonable. I presume the boys uniform isn't beholden to a decision by the head? It would be better to just have everyone in trousers really. Having to wear tights in hot weather sounds miserable.

The trainer's rule I personally don't care much about. I don't really think your footwear would matter that much, but if the school gave fair warning then the parents should have got the right shoes.

I'd allow black unbranded trainers - the branded expensive fashion statement seems out of place in a school but trainers are comfortable and practical

The tights rule seems very odd - I presume they wear socks with trousers ?

Totally with the school on tights! It's probably because the girls are wearing skirts so short you can see their underwear and schools have had a lot of stick about male teachers measuring skirt lengths. If the girls were wearing decent skirts, there'd be no need for tights

The shoes I get bit fuck me it's 2023 how the heck have they come to the conclusion that socks are not ok for girls?

I guess if it's office wear, then you don't see many office workers wearing socks with a skirt 🤷

A real reason for them may not be a real reason to you though, it's subjective. You've already said that the idea of professionalism doesn't chime with you because your family don't work in a formal environment (which I agree, not many do now).

Whether you agree with the policy or not, it's there and your choice is to adhere to it, or apply to another school.

FWIW I don't agree with a super strict uniform policy but, the school have given sufficient notice of the change and if anyone doesn't like it, the time to protest it and challenge it was when it was first announced.

Shoes- fine

Tights - not fine, but I'd have no issue with a minimum skirt length or no leggings as trousers

They can wear socks in summer term

As a PP said, the tights rule will be an effort to combat the obscenely short/tight skirts.

I take it the thick, black tights rule is to offset the girls coming to school wearing pelmets.

Are the girls allowed to wear trousers?

All the girls wore tights at my dd school it wasn’t a rule but that’s what all the girls seem to choose. Given the length they seem to roll skirts too I think tights are preferable to socks.

A few years ago I bought 10 pairs of black knee high socks for my 2 x dd's.. A week in school changed to tights.. Had to be at least 60 denier.. Bonkers.. Can't even add up how many pairs they went through in their school life there. Madness. Shoes imo need to be a decent brand to last. They relented to a degree. Kickers tag had to be cut off and any others blacked out with marker pen.

I'm all for schools trying to discourage branded, expensive items, so no problem with the footwear bit.

Mandating girls wearing tights is outrageous though. And as for 'office workers not wearing skirts with socks'... fewer and fewer offices have a formal business wear policy nowadays, so the workers can wear what they like

The tights rule is ridiculous because tights are so uncomfortable.

Not everyone will be wearing short skirts. And if they are - so what? I can’t get het up about short skirts. I taught secondary for 10+ years and you always have girls in short skirts. It is totally inconsequential.

My son's school is in a very similar position at the moment, the thing causing the biggest ruckus appears to be girls turning up with Handbags when the uniform states Rucksacks.

Honestly, parents are up in absolute arms. There are community forums being set up left, right and centre to 'bring the school down'

My 19 year old went here and it was a brilliant school, albeit the odd power trip teacher, but nothing a stern word didn't sort out!

My son is gobsmacked at parents stood outside in the morning screeching and demanding to go head to head with the new Head and Deputy.

Personally, a uniform list is a list! There are standards set in many workplaces and what are you teaching your kids? Kick off to get your own way?

When it comes to trainers and shoes , people spending £100 plus on the wrong ones and then spinning off the 'Cost of living Crisis'

My son went through 10 different pairs of shoes in 2 terms last year. I bought pairs of all different makes and prices.

Finally settled on some Dr Marten shoes and hopefully won't have to buy another pair for a very long time. I've invested, and stuck within uniform guidelines.

Both are issues at my DD's school. A reason given for tights only, was so that males inc teachers, wouldn't be distracted. I know you're going to love that Mumsnet.

Shoes, I do get.

Tights, no, its weirdly specific. Presumably this is with skirts. If you want legs fully covered then only have trousers for the school uniform. Seems weird to let / put girls in skirts but they want their legs covered completely

School. The rules are clear, so parents have no excuse not to stick to them.

Are the girls permitted to wear trousers?
My DD wears socks all year round... even in show she goes to school on shorts/skirt and socks.

Trainers vs shoes... all black, no visible logo... its petty. Better than the ballet style shoes. Cheap black trainers would last longer than cheap black shoes as well.

I think maki g kids run around at break time in office shoes is madness. Kids should run around and be active - office wear shoes do not support this and can lead to injuries. I work in the city. When I started it was all dress suits, men always in a tie… yesterday a board member gave a presentation in jeans and T-shirt. Such an outdated idea to wear office wear. Learning should be comfortable- I work better when I am comfortable and don’t have to worry about sweat patches because I am in a blouse and blazer.
same for tights…

Shoes fine. Tights weird, especially as they can have socks in summer.

Strongly against the tights rule.

Shoes - school.
Tights - as long as skirts are knee length, parents.