Is it me or are school being petty?

[stilllivingoutofboxes]

I know there's been a few articles on here recently about school standards and this definitely isn't a school/teacher bashing question. But I'm just wondering why there seems to be massive differences in expectations between schools in terms of uniform rules, etc.

For context, we moved house at Christmas. Children are at new schools, youngest 2 girls at primary and eldest daughter in Y8 at a 'good' high school. Primary school seems to be fine, and girls are happy and settled. Eldest on the other hand seems to be having trouble meeting the standards of the new secondary school, having been managing well at her previous school.

She's had uniform detentions twice already this term for her uniform not meeting the required standards. And it's (to me) seemingly petty things. Like the fact that her shirt will come untucked during the day and she'll get told off for it showing from under her jumper. So she'll tuck it back in, but later in the day it might happen again. Or the fact that she seems to keep having tie issues. The tie has a logo which must show just below the knot of the tie. She's just about mastered tying the tie to make that happen. But then she'll get told off because the tie has slipped down and the logo has gone below her jumper and can't be seen.

I don't know what to do really. She'll leave the house looking smart, but then by the nature of her being quite an active child it obviously becomes less smart during the day. And I'm concerned that she'll start to become paranoid about it.

Gosh glad I don't teach your kids.

The teachers are doing their job and enforcing the heads policy they aren't sad sacks.

Check what the school says about this on their website. If they say how strict they will be, then it is unfortunate if given how difficult and time consuming moving is, you did not notice this. If it says nothing other than what the uniform is, then grounds for complaint.

I do not agree with the suggestion of going to be 'in the teachers faces' though.

No thanks. Teachers will be held to their statutory duty to educate my children. I do feel sorry for some of them, being forced to waste their time enforcing stupid rules dreamed up by batshit head teachers desperate to make “their mark” but it’s not my fault and my kids won’t suffer due to such nonsense.

I just mean by that that these uniform nazis normally aren’t so brave when they are being told no to their face. There’s never any need to be aggressive.

No, it’s Article 31 I want. I will simply complain, complain report, report and take legal action if required.

it never gets that far.

Indeed. If they fail on either point with my kids they soon regret it and they have no defence.

Policies must be lawful. If a policy is not lawful then it will be ignored as I see fit. I do feel sorry for teachers bullied into nonsense by idiot heads. Some of them enjoy it though.

Ours have to wear a tie from reception year - now THAT’S ridiculous!

I support school uniform up until the point that it interferes with my child’s education. If they push their luck and education is relegated as secondary to uniform, there will be a problem.

Sk8terboi
Teachers do not have any choice. They are instructed to check uniform in these types of schools. They may disagree with some of the policies but they do not have the authority to disregard these rules.

Imagine if everyone who disagrees with draconian uniform rules wrote (emailed) to their MP rather than complaining about it on mumsnet 🤯. No sorry, you’re right. It’s the sad sack teachers who are at fault. They love it.

There’s nothing good about a school that focuses on uniform rather than teaching.

If you choose to send your child to a school with uniform rules what’s the point of complaining? What’s the point of “getting in teachers faces”, it’s not teachers who make the rules. This part made me laugh they would back down very quickly and would wish they had never messed with my child. These sad sack teachers and head teachers are only brave when it comes to dealing with kids and when they think nobody is watching.. No wonder teachers are leaving the profession in droves with parents like you 🙄. Perhaps keep your little cherub at home if they can’t follow uniform rules?

Edited to add while I agree that uniform is important in schools, I don’t agree with ties being worn in primary nor the pressure put on parents to purchase specific uniform from schools. I’ve seen some schools charge £20/£30 per jumper and no other jumpers were permitted. That’s absolute nonsense imo unless it’s a fee paying school as it’s normally expected.

You do realise that it’s not necessarily one or the other

As someone else said upthread you will simply be banned from the school premises , teachers don’t have to put up with moronic parents , it’s bad enough having to try and educate your entitled offspring .

If rules are not lawful it’s tough shit for the school and the teachers. If they behave unreasonably and unlawfully and will be told “no”.

there is an easy solution and it’s that these people not be dickheads.

When you pick a school, you are choosing to follow their rules. I also think this is petty. I would not have my child in this school. However, if you do not like the rules, you change school.

I’ll just make appointments, complain, complain, report, report and refuse to comply. I am not daft enough to ever be “banned from school premises”.

they will always climb down because they know they are wrong on matters such as these.

schools will push their luck as far as parents will let them, but rarely further.

No, I’m not choosing to follow rules which are not lawful. Those rules can simply be ignored as they have no validity.

and if they change the rules and I don’t like it, then it’s a simple and firm no.

You appear to have an issue with teachers. We’ll leave it at that shall we, I tend not to engage with people who have no respect for those educating our children.

The teachers at my kids’ school are great. Wasn’t always the case and on occasion they needed to be challenged.

👍🏻

Petty and pointless. Are you in Scotland? Schools have been going downhill for years.

I feel a kind of sad for your dd as it sounds like she only started at this school two weeks ago and instead of making her welcome and helping her settle in she has been put in detention twice: the new girl!! It's just terrible. I hope it's not the same teacher each time. Some kids can get a bit bedraggled without meaning to and others seem to be always pristine. You would probably notice the same with the teachers if you watched them all arriving. My dds favourite teacher was one of the worse dressed man l ever saw going to work but an amazing teacher.
Could you contact her year head and ask if your dd is doing something wrong as in her old school she was never on detention and you are shocked and want to make sure she has everything right. This will let them know you are on their case without making too much fuss.

Most of the secondary uniforms round here are shirt and tie with a blazer. They all look so scruffy! My DD wears navy trousers, a pale blue gingham blouse and navy jumper and her school look the smartest of them all by a long shot.