Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think high schools should have a summer uniform like primary schools?

105 replies

Serrina · 13/09/2023 20:23

I mean, it gets really hot in the summer and they get uncomfortable in thick material especially when stuck in a classroom all day. Those gingham style summer dresses they have in primary school are thin cotton and help keep them cool. Why don't high schools have a summer uniform like this?

OP posts:
CruCru · 13/09/2023 20:26

I like the gingham dresses but you would need darts in the pattern to fit senior school girls.

I suspect that wearing a gingham dress would be seriously uncool (worse than wearing a coat in winter).

PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 20:27

At a time when schools are being asked to reduce uniform items... this suggestion is to increase uniform items.

It would make more sense to just drop the blazers and make sure skirts aren't thick and heavy all year round, with shorts added to uniform as an option for everyone too.

Taylorswiftserastour · 13/09/2023 20:30

I saw teens going to school in jumpers and blazers during that hot spell in June. I concluded they don't feel the heat.

I always wanted a summer dress at secondary school like the ones on Home & Away or Neighbours.

NuffSaidSam · 13/09/2023 20:30

I think they absolutely need to, particularly with summers becoming hotter than ever.

I don't think a school dress is practical, but I think there should be a short sleeve shirt and skirt/shorts option as part of the uniform.

Or they should be allowed to wear their PE uniform for the entire summer term.

memememe · 13/09/2023 20:31

Shorts available for both boys and girls with a short sleeve shirt and no blazer would be amazing. Not just the summer. All year round would be nice, with the blazer added in the winter. Makes total sense!

Dottiespotty · 13/09/2023 20:31

Personally I don’t think high schools should have uniforms at all.

exLtEveDallas · 13/09/2023 20:32

Why? Because the kids wouldn't wear it.

Even back in the mists of time when I was at High School (80s), we wouldn't wear it. In a school of 1200 remember one girl who wore it, in first year, and after relentless piss taking I think it was gone within a week.

You are right, it would be a lot cooler and less sweaty, but it will never happen.

I'd relax the usual uniform to be open neck shirts or summer blouses, and let both wear shorts or skorts and do away with the blazer.

LimeCheesecake · 13/09/2023 20:33

in my area, the schools that have a kilt for girls (both grammar and non-grammar ones) have a summer dress option. The two that just have a black pleated skirt don’t have a summer option.

one mixed sex non-grammar that has a girl uniform of kilt in winter, cotton dress in summer, does allow boys to wear smart knee length shorts in summer too. (Girls can wear trousers in all the schools near us)

however, all the summer dresses are a set check for their school- pretty much the pattern of the kilt, you are looking at around £25 per dress. (Although in all the local schools the 2nd hand uniform shops are good).

non of the male single sex schools seem to have a summer uniform or allow shorts. When it’s very hot they go into school in their PE kits.

AvengedQuince · 13/09/2023 20:34

exLtEveDallas · 13/09/2023 20:32

Why? Because the kids wouldn't wear it.

Even back in the mists of time when I was at High School (80s), we wouldn't wear it. In a school of 1200 remember one girl who wore it, in first year, and after relentless piss taking I think it was gone within a week.

You are right, it would be a lot cooler and less sweaty, but it will never happen.

I'd relax the usual uniform to be open neck shirts or summer blouses, and let both wear shorts or skorts and do away with the blazer.

Why wouldn't they wear it here when it works fine in Australia?

raynedeer · 13/09/2023 20:34

I think it all boils down to what's best for the kids. On the upside uniforms make it easier for kids to fit in, but on the downside they can be expensive for parents. I remember my DCs uniform full set was like £200! Tough on parents with low income..

ConnieTucker · 13/09/2023 20:35

PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 20:27

At a time when schools are being asked to reduce uniform items... this suggestion is to increase uniform items.

It would make more sense to just drop the blazers and make sure skirts aren't thick and heavy all year round, with shorts added to uniform as an option for everyone too.

Knee length shorts, short sleeved shirt / blouse and remove blazer when hot. Option not to wear knee length socks too.

no idea why slt and governors are so against any alterations. I absolutely dont believe it is concern over the cost.

I suspect that wearing a gingham dress would be seriously uncool
i absolutely believe ours would love this. Just because our standard uniform is awful.

worse than wearing a coat in winter
wearing the ‘right’ coat is cool. Lots of boys refused to take theirs off last week at 30 degrees.

LimeCheesecake · 13/09/2023 20:35

Oh and @exLtEveDallas - the girls in all year groups do wear the summer dresses, but they aren’t just gingham ones, they are individual to each school.

Tacocatgoatcheesepizza · 13/09/2023 20:36

Not gingham dresses! But no blazer, shirts for boys and polo T-shirts instead of actual shirts definitely!

ConnieTucker · 13/09/2023 20:36

raynedeer · 13/09/2023 20:34

I think it all boils down to what's best for the kids. On the upside uniforms make it easier for kids to fit in, but on the downside they can be expensive for parents. I remember my DCs uniform full set was like £200! Tough on parents with low income..

That was the cost of the pe kit and trainers for each of my dc this year. Not including football / rugby boots.

lljkk · 13/09/2023 20:37

DC primary school didn't have summer uniform, polos & gingham dresses were allowed year round.

DC high school Does have summer uniform (shorts & polo shirts). hth.

imnotwhoyouthinkiam · 13/09/2023 20:39

My DS' old school has changed their uniform this year. There's no girls/ boys list.

They can wear skirt, trousers or shorts.
Logoed Polo or shirt/blouse with long or short sleeves. Tie (might be optional, I'm not sure)
Logo jumper/cardigan/blazer or a combination of.

When DS was there the polo could be plain provided it was under a jumper. I presume that's the same as no-one would know otherwise.

When I started secondary school in the 90s I thought gingham dresses should be allowed but in any colour rather than the set one we'd had at primary. Mainly because I'd always been upset I had to wear red when I wanted yellow.

Princessandthepea0 · 13/09/2023 20:39

I know of a school that does. It’s shorts/trousers/skirt choice of with a school polo shirt. Much better.

BettyOBarley · 13/09/2023 20:39

I agree...
The kids at our local high school have to wear their blazers at all times and girls have to wear tights year round! Ridiculous.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 13/09/2023 20:41

Do they do them in sizes to fit a six foot two, fourteen stone 15 year old?

Somehow, I doubt that they do. It's hard enough to find suppliers for larger girls as it is for standard uniform skirts and blazers/jumpers/blouses and the cost charged by uniform retailers for the larger sizes is absolutely ridiculous (more than double the cost, which, combined with the additional expense of them needing to have shoes in larger than standard women's - or men's - sizes and everything else they wear, puts a far greater burden upon them for things that are not within their control).

Separates are easier to find in appropriate sizes. It's supposed to be about reducing barriers and costs, not finding new ways to marginalise girls.

LimeCheesecake · 13/09/2023 20:42

Actually thinking further for those saying they couldn’t see the girls agreeing to wear the dresses, all the schools here that have a summer dress are making girls wear kilts the rest of the year, which are uncool and frankly hideous. If you’ve got to wear a hideous and uncool uniform, might as well be the comfy option…

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/09/2023 20:42

I agree OP - last week we were in the 30s in London and I felt so sorry for the secondary kids in their stupid blazers and jumpers. They should be allowed wear shorts and shirt or one of those uniform dresses like in Australia. They could be cheap and standard, available in the supermarket.

thentheycameforme · 13/09/2023 20:42

They do in summer bay

GeraltsBathtub · 13/09/2023 20:44

The school I went to did - polo tops in the summer instead of shirts, ties and blazers. This was less than 15 years ago and I think it’s still the same. Shorts/skirts allowed as well but not dresses. I doubt teens would want to wear those gingham dresses though, they’re rather babyish.

exLtEveDallas · 13/09/2023 20:44

@LimeCheesecake Our High School has an optional kilt. It is generally worn by a couple of Year 7s in September, and then never seen again. I bought one for DD. I think she wore it twice. Obvs the girls here must be harsher than yours!

alloalloallo · 13/09/2023 20:45

My girls have left high school now, but I don’t think they’d have worn a summer dress willingly.

If their school had dropped their ridiculous insistence in everyone wearing sweaty, polyester blazers at all times in all weathers, the rest of the uniform would have been fine