Schools insistence on uniform rules are behind the times

[spanieleyes22]

I know I will be slated for saying this but just reading a thread from a poster who is disappointed that there is not a more formal dress code at work and so many people saying everyone is more casual in offices all over the place and suits are more worn by older people in the city. Yet schools seem to put so much faith in whether a boy keeps his shirt tucked in or how short a girls skirt is. God forbid they dye their hair or have more than 1 stud earring. Isn't it time for schools to loosen up wrt dress code? In the Scandinavian countries there is no uniform. Does this mean their teenagers are wild and don't learn anything. Why are we so hung up on not allowing teenagers to express themselves.

I live in Portugal- only private schools have uniform. My kids are in primary still but I've taught hundreds of teens who go to state- all are horrified at the thought of being made to wear uniform- behaviour is fine nothing Particularly different to UK. I agree with OP, the obsession with uniforms in UK is ott- it was similar when I was at school over 20 years ago. Cracking down on polo shirts etc, honestly polo shirt and logo jumper would be fine and comfortable in my book instead of uncomfortable shirts - most businesses I work in (I teach business English in a variety of different businesses) are all smart casual no strict dress codes just smart and comfortable. Haven't seen a tie since I left UK.

I prefer that schools have uniform but think that items should be generic as much as possible and if you do need to buy things with the school badge on that they should be well made and last until they are outgrown, within reason.

I don’t mind a school uniform, but I wish they’d change it to something comfier. The days of formal office dress are largely gone, and I think we need to move on from the tie and blazer era. I’d go to a uniform of comfy non branded jogging bottom style trousers, polo shirt and plain school hoody and plain black trainers.

No! A school is an educational establishment, not a professional work environment. The teachers are professionals the students are children.
The clothes need to be comfortable. The focus on uniform should be placed on what they are learning but the curriculum needs overhauling as well! (I am a qualified teacher and I think this)

My DS was at a non-uniform school from 14. None of them were wearing 'trendy gear' - just jeans and hoodies (my DS's were from Primark/H&M).

I agree. If we want to keep uniform make it more casual and comfier. Lots of them wear P.E kit all day on P.E days so hoodies and leggings obviously don't stop them learning!

But for those that like 'smart' - at my DD's school they have no tie or blazer. Just an open necked shirt, jumper and trousers or skirt - they are the smartest school locally. Cheap blazers and ties never look smart on teenage girls.

@DappledThings same here. I loved wearing a blazer and tie. Was gutted when I got to year ten and didn't wear a tie anymore. I hated no. Uniform 6th form. I wasn't fashionable enough. Imma nurse so like my formal uniform with strict rules. Not looking forward to the change to scrubs at all.

I like school uniform because it is less expensive than the designer clothes and shoes that most teens want; it cuts out the arguments about what to wear in the mornings; and because it’s a socio-economic leveller (although I wouldn’t have wanted to wear it myself when I was at school!). But I’m older and wiser, and can better see the benefits of it now. However, there is no correlation between bad/good behaviour, doing well at school and school uniform. Socioeconomic status, parental level of education, ethnicity/cultural background (some cultures/ethnicities place more value on doing well at school than others) are all are more important indicators of how well a child will do in school than school uniform. In many cases, they are even more important than the school itself. But there is definitely a subset of people who seem to be almost evangelical about the correlation between wearing school uniform and behaviour/doing well in school.

*theresnolimits · Today 08:03

I post this on every uniform thread but here goes. Teachers hate uniform. They hate wasting lesson time discussing trainers, blazers , shirt tucked in, skirt length etc etc*

Then why discuss it. Ignore it and get on with the lesson

Parents overwhelmingly choose schools with uniform because it removes the arguments about clothing from home to school. And because we’re led to believe private schools are the best, they like that their school mimics that ethos

But how many schools don’t have school uniform so a parent has some choice

If a good school with a uniform is the only option then of course parents are going to 100% choose it.

From the conversations I have had with dc over the years. Everyone knows who is rich and who is poor

You will get a couple of kids who will look down their noses at others because they are in designer knickers and sneer at others because they are in primark but as soon as someone points out that there isn’t anything wrong with Primark knickers they back off

If anything those who bought into the designer stuff were looked on as tragic wannabes

Absolutely! I wore uniform myself in secondary school and I'm so glad, as I'd never have been able to keep up with some of my wealthier classmates. I'm more than happy that my children had uniform too, as while it was a pain buying it in August, it then got worn every day.

I just cannot accept there is validity in the non-uniform argument. It makes no sense to me! I don't care what they do elsewhere in the world - I don't live there. And nothing and nobody will ever convince me that uniform is not a good thing!

freshgreenmintleaves · Today 21:51
I like school uniform because it is less expensive than the designer clothes and shoes that most teens want

TBH at £30 per wear for a school uniform rugby shirt that changed yearly and the £600 for the rest of the uniform which again had to be bought over and over at eye watering prices as they grew, I actually think designer stuff is cheaper.

If your child and others don’t buy into the designer brands to go to school then those trying to show off soon get over themselves

I don't recall my school uniform being uncomfortable? And we were allowed to dispense with ties in the summer term.

I think jogging bottoms would be hideous. Plus I wouldn't want growing feet in trainers all day every day either.

As for plain hoody, I think students like having a sense of identity with/loyalty to their school. And how the hell would teachers pick out their own pupils at events involving other schools if they were all dressed the same?! Or if they were seen misbehaving in uniform after school - no way of telling where they came from?!

I think FluffyDiplodocus’s uniform idea sounds really attractive. Clothes, especially for young children in primary, should be comfortable and easy to sit in and move around in. The casual (and cheap) tracksuit bottoms and t-shirts that I wore in kindergarten were a lot more comfortable, and developmentally appropriate, than the tie, polyester trousers and shirts with formal collars that my DS wore in Reception.

My three (now adult) children never complained of being uncomfortable in school uniform, and neither did ancient me!

I would hate for floppy tracksuits to become the norm! They make everyone look deliquent unless actually worn for sporting reasons! Just no!

My son's school used to insist on shoes that were suitable for a wedding. Why on earth? What's wrong with black trainers?

That is totally ridiculous, particularly for girls who might wear strappy high heels to a wedding. And for children who take their shoes off at weddings.

I never found it uncomfortable either. Never changed when I got home unless I had a club that evening. None of us did. If we were going round to someone's house after school changing wasn't a thing.

Joggers would look awful. I'd have loathed that being a uniform. Would make pupils look like prisoners.

TBH at £30 per wear for a school uniform rugby shirt that changed yearly and the £600 for the rest of the uniform which again had to be bought over and over at eye watering prices as they grew

That is not an argument against uniform, that is an argument against that uniform. My DC uniform was cheaper than normal clothes.

£30 per wear? Do you mean it cost £30 and your child only wore it once? Why?

The rugby shirt my DC had was about £15, and they wore it all term for 3 years till it didn’t fit any more.

I’m in Ireland and there’s less fanaticism over school uniform here in ordinary state schools.

A very basic uniform that can include trainers is probably the best option. No ties or blazers. If they want something to make their school stand out, they can offer iron or sew on patches for the jumpers.

That way, each item can be bought cheaply from a range of shops and it still keeps the kids looking similar.

Thankfully, at DS’s school, they don’t focus on the wrong things like policing hair colour or skirt lengths to the nth degree. My only bugbear regarding uniform is that their jumpers and school PE tops have to be bought from specialist suppliers and are ridiculously expensive.

Although far worse, is the requirement for parents to purchase a school laptop at €700 in the first year of secondary school. They explained that the school textbooks would be on it as e-books and it was secure and locked down so would be much safer for the children than using phones. We could afford to buy it but what irked me in particular, was the school Principal telling parents that they could apply for a loan from the credit union to purchase it.

It was a basic laptop running windows 10 and DS managed to jail break it within 5 minutes of purchase, trying to see if he could install the same version of windows he uses on his home computer. He wasn’t trying to do anything underhand but knows how to update an operating system, which isn’t remotely hacker territory. 😂

Although it’s obvious that senior staff don’t have much IT knowledge as their website was presumably bought from a US company as the school term dates are all American styled with the month first then day, so very confusing. 🫤

Why do they make girls wear ties and shirts? Ever seen a grown woman wearing a tie in every day life? Ridiculous. It's sexist and outdated. It's crap for SEN kids too.

@DappledThings Eugh yes. My son starts pre-school in September and their uniform is trainers, grey joggers and a hoody 🤢 They very much look like prisoners. Fortunately it's optional so son will be going in his own smart clothes instead.

How can preschoolers look like prisoners 🙄 a grey tracksuit is really practical tbh, it won't need washing at the tiniest bit of dirt and will be comfy and easy for toilets etc.

So same reasons they put prisoners I'm them then! Very pleased our school never did this stay in PE kit all day when you have PE business either.

It's obviously a personal preference but that wouldn't bother me at all. DD in non uniform school so it's not something I've had to worry about thankfully.