No uniforms and first names

[SailorStow]

My DD is only 2 but to get a head start we have been looking at schools locally.
One of our closest schools is massively over subscribed, the last distance offered has been as low as 300/400m and we fall within this.
It has a great local reputation, Ofsted good (assessed in 2022) and great KS1 and KS2 results (obviously these are a bit dated now).
Putting all of that aside, this school has no uniforms and the children call teachers by their first names.
I haven’t been able to find any reasoning from the school for these choices, it seems to have been that way for a while at this school.
I’ll be honest I was looking forward to DD having a uniform, picking clothes for myself everyday is exhausting enough!!
Excluding everything else about the school would no uniform and calling teachers by their first name be in the pros or cons list for you? How much would it bother you either way?

AIBU to view these as negatives in what otherwise seems to be a great school?

Not fussed about the names but I would want some sort of uniform, just not a really expensive one.

It can be awful to have such a visual reminder of the 'haves and have nots' when it comes to clothing.

Couldn't you just create a uniform of sorts, leggings, T-shirt and a hoody, so she wears them in repeat. It would be such a small thing to me in comparison with a good school where kids are happy and being taught well.

On the surface those don’t sound like issues but like you I’ll want to know details. I wouldn’t be happy with such lax attitudes in other areas.
You can create a “uniform” to save yourself the trouble - get lots of cotton leggings, t-shirts and jumpers and do the same outfit in different colours ever day.

I would not see these things as negatives. Great schools can be hard to find.
There may be no uniform, but it would be worth you just buying some items of clothing that will be his school wear, and treating them in the same way you would a uniform. Less faffing about choosing in the mornings.

Ofsted “ good” isnt a great school
Id be looking at “outstanding” schools first, plus the other issues you say

There is no uniform at my son's secondary school, and the primary school only had a tops with logos on (which weren't compulsory). It's quite normal where we live though.

So you’re dealing with a groovy school, a ‘woke’ school. I’d go for it. But it’s up to you. If you feel your kids need a traditional level of formality and control, look elsewhere.

I've worked in a school where given names were used rather than MsMrs/Mr X, it worked well. The respect shown to the people in the school doesn't come from how the staff are addressed.

I was schooled in Scandinavia and this is common, no uniform and first names for teachers.
those were two of the reasons I didn’t send my children to English school, I hate the surname thing.

My daughter goes to a school like this (the similarities are so great, I'm wondering if you're talking about the same school!). We absolutely love it. They have a strong culture of inclusion, celebrating differences and individuality. You get used to the first name thing really quickly, and while it can seem like fostering too much of a "friend" relationship at first, it actually just creates a really collaborative environment. The teachers still have authority and expect the respect that they also give. And I love the non uniform as I really enjoy dressing my kids, but one of my school mum friends just has a set of uniform clothes for her son (polo shirts and trousers etc). It's great seeing the older kids being able to express themselves too. I couldn't speak more highly of it.

Not just common, I mean the only way. Doh

The two outstanding schools in our area don’t meet our needs at all. One is very religious which I’m not interested in and the other has a terrible reputation for awful behaviour and bullying since Covid, neither have been assessed in a while and one has had a change of leadership. The two massively oversubscribed, great reputation, large number of kids going to grammars or selective Indy’s are both rated “good”.

I’d see this as a positive. There’s a few schools like that where we are and they are highly regarded and over subscribed. Unfortunately the other side of town otherwise I would have applied.

The majority of primary schools around me don’t have uniform and I really dislike it. It may or may not be linked, but the behaviour I see on the pavements/in the park is not good, and I strongly feel that if they were less ‘anonymous’ they wouldn’t behave in that way.

I think if you like everything about the school apart from the two issues you mention then it shouldn’t be a deal breaker, but if it wasn’t already a school that was top of my list then it would probably bump it further down, if that makes sense. I would also want to know their attitude towards homework - does it align with your own family attitude? In my experience, in schools like this, homework is optional. That may or may not be a good thing for you.

I’m not fussed about the uniform as I’d guess they just wear sensible and practical clothes. The teacher name thing might mean they find the transition to secondary a bit odd.

Growing up in the 70s primary schools where lived didn’t have uniforms and - as it was the norm - no probs

I'd be really happy about a school like that. DS5's school doesn't have a uniform either and we love it! I think it tends to be a sign more child centric school. I think first names is lovely too. I know of other schools that do that and it works well.

Teachers by first names would be fine with me. Uniform on the other hand is a priority for me. I went to school in a country without school uniform, and it was hell from as early as 6/7 years old.
If you are prepared to spend A LOT of money on the “right” clothes and shoes, you’ll be fine, but otherwise it can potentially get ugly really quick. Have a good look on what the kids currently are wearing, and if you see a lot of branded and themed gear, run!!!!!

Both my children had uniforms in primary school but not in secondary. I don't remember it being too much of an issue beyond the constant battle to stop girls wearing minute tops in summer that showed their bra straps and boys wearing jeans so low slung that they showed half of their backsides.....

I'd hate this too. I'd miss uniform if it wasn't there at DC's school

Go and visit and get a feel for the atmosphere there.
You could still put your child in a sort of uniform and have a few pairs of bottoms and sweaters she feels comfortable in for school. However by 4, my DD was resolute in dressing herself.

My kids went to school at secondary age with no uniform and first names and I'd list it as a pro. It's also the same at their sixth form colleges.

I went to a no-uniform primary. I hated it. My parents had little money - I got FSMs. All my clothes were second hand (well actually about 5th hand as my 4 cousins wire them first). The bullying I got was horrible. And I just felt so different all the time.
This was decades ago, before social media and body image and 8yo being into fashion. I hate to think what it would be like now.

Using first names and no uniform wouldn’t bother me. But it does indicate the style of the school - would you be comfortable with that?

No uniform - I quite like uniform, I think I would create a quasi-uniform so that particular clothes are names and school ready, whilst nicer pieces are kept for non school days.

My dc went to a primary school where teachers were called by first names. It's an Irish language school (Gaelscoil) and this is the norm for them. They start off referring to them as "Múinteoir (teacher) x, but it's usually just x by the end of the first year. Respect not am issue at all.

Dc went to an English language secondary school where all teachers are addressed as Ms/Mr. There was no issue with the transition at all although one teacher did give out to me at the parent teacher meeting because my ds forgot a couple of times she had changed her name when she got married and used her old name. While initially sympathetic to her and agreeing to remind him, I quickly lost interest as she kept referring to me as Mrs DHName rather than Ms MyName, despite me correcting her.

Dc had uniforms at both primary and secondary. Ds1 and dd started primary with a more formal uniform (trousers/gymslip, shirt, tie) which was awful. Much better when they changed to tracksuit only.

In my kids school they use first names for teachers. They changed a few years back. It was a bit odd at first but everyone soon got used to it. It's a lovely inclusive school.

The majority of the world manages without uniforms. I'm in Ireland my children attend Educate Together no uniforms, everyone is on first name terms.

The nonsense I have heard about how it is woke, raising brats. Nope it raises active engaged respectful citizens.

Clothing isn't an issue simple fill wardrobe with practical comfortable clothes. Tell child to pick from selection night before, done! It is part of the process of raising children where when appropriate they make choices.

99%of them wear joggers and sweatshirts and signs on them all the children are involved in active play longer.