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.

It’s this outdated “office ready” mantra

When you ask what happens if your child wants to become a plumber/plasterer/dancer the HT I asked couldn’t answer. (He actually said he hadn’t thought of alternative careers)

Why are they being forced into another “uniform” in 6th form they won’t ever wear and like the school uniform, will end up in land fill after they are done with school

Yes,, schools that rely on uniform tend to be very weak in character.

I'm living with the long term effects of not having had access to regular dental care as a child. We went as and when. Once damage is done it's hard to undo. I also have a really bad dental phobia but, despite that, I go regularly as an adult.

The school went to the 6th form expects the students to wear smart clothes and shirts need to be tucked in. Even in warm weather.

No wonder a few of my friends’ DC decided to go to FE colleges instead

Sorry, I prefer school uniforms. One less thing to think about and they have a lifetime to express themselves. Also helps kids who can’t afford the latest trendy “gear”.

This and my kids like it. They like feeling part of the school community and wearing the same as their friends.

Our kids primary uniform is relatively stricter - ties etc and the kids genuinely like it. Eldest is quite proud of doing his own tie & likes to look smart.

The school my son went to had no 2nd hand uniform shop

HT said it was to make sure children didn’t feel worse about themselves that they weren’t in new clothing.

DDs private school had a thriving 2nd hand uniform shop which was thrown open to new parents and it cost 1/6th the amount to kit out dd for her uniform as opposed to ds’s secondary modern

2nd hand shop was run by a couple of parents in the lunch time at school and if dd needed a larger size school jacket she could buy one at the shop for £20. If she then took her old jacket in the next time she needed anything she would get £10 off her next purchase

No one looked down on anyone for doing this because every child did this.It was just a normal thing to do

Of course it’s is going to cost more if your child is trying to dress to impress but from what happens in other countries without the uniform standard, most people wear jeans, t/shirts and hoodies.

DS's (primary) uniform is polos, sweatshirt (with or without logo) and trousers. I think it's great...washes up really well, no thinking in the morning, practical and only costs the same as your average, normal stuff.

I can see both sides of the argument for secondary. I'm fine with the above applying to secondary too although I think there should be freedom of trouser styles to suit different shapes etc. so kids feel comfortable.

There are lots of generic statements about non-uniforms in other countries not being an issue for bullying on this thread. But then plenty of people who have lived experience of this absolutely not being the case...so on balance I would go with supporting the latter. I wonder if it's a case of the first year of scrapping uniform causing an issue with brands etc..but then it would calm down long term.

I actually am anti most jewellery for health and safety and theft reasons..teachers have enough to do without having to check jewellery is off for PE/hear about so and so's lost or stolen bracelet etc. People will say health and safety has gone mad, but necklace injuries are a real thing...happens in healthcare settings.

What I do feel really strongly about is an ultra smart dress code and specifically a blazer...I am very anti these, hideously expensive, unnecessary and uncomfortable.

Our eldest DD picked a sixth form specifically because it had a uniform.

I suspect your state school experience was in primary? Secondary school requirements for state school is a whole different ball game - the sports requirements down to school-branded socks, leotards, outdoor wear had to be branded too. I think I ended up paying nearly £300 to get them set up for state secondary - not peanuts to most people especially when they grow out of the branded polyester tat.
Our school insisted on suits for sixth form, the kids spent most of the time at home during lockdown - they went back to sit their A levels - the school insisted parents bought new suits if they had grown out of the old ones - or they couldn't sit their exams. What a waste for the environment and for the parent's pockets - those suits will not be worn again.

Personally I like uniforms and so much of the world has them. If nothing else makes it easy in the morning. but then I run a company and we all wear a uniform out of choice.

they should be practical

Yes I dismiss them all. SEND/temporary injury aside, I have yet to read, hear or see anything that isn't basically wasaahhhhh I want to wear what I want and how dare you stop me.

The primary my dd is at has no second hand uniform sales. Which really surprised me when we first moved here as it’s a really deprived area.

We lived in a very affluent area before this and the second hand uniform sales were heaving, everyone bought secondhand.

One of the teachers explained to me it was a pride
thing here. No one will have second hand. Same reason everyone is dripping in designer trainers - I honestly don’t know how they afford it.

They put out all the lost property and uniform items that people have given the school at the end of the year in the playground for people to help themselves too, all washed and sorted into sizes. it’s a big school so there is lots. No one takes any, it’s like there are lions guarding it, no one will be seen to go near it. It’s madness (and yes, I kit my children out for the next year from it, why wouldn’t you?)

Yanbu.
They should be allowed trainers as they are better for walking in. School polo shirts and hoodies would be nice. My DD started giving up on secondary once they went back to full (uncomfortable) uniform post pandemic. She used to love the cosy PE kit days.

I think uniforms are good but old fashioned items like ties, blazers etc are OTT. DH rarely wears a tie to the office these days meanwhile DS has to wear one to school! DD17 wears her school skirt very short which technically is against the rules but nobody ever says anything and I couldn’t give a toss frankly.

There is an alternative school near me with no uniform and it is obvious most of the kids put a lot of effort into their clothes. Lots of artfully arranged accessories, hats etc and everyone in expensive trainers or Doc Martens. I’m happy my kids just throw their uniforms on in the morning rather than creating outfits to impress.

I am a fan of uniform. One less thing to think about. For parents and children.
Anyone else struggle to pick out their child though. Not saying my son is ordinary looking but waiting for him outside school and squinting at all the average sized white boys with short brown hair to pick him about of hundreds of others wasn’t easy!

Ha, I think my husband would agree with you! His mum is a wonderful woman, but I reckon she's been 75 yrs old for the last 40 years. And she liked to make her boy's clothes... There are some crackers in the family photo albums 😄

I'm a secondary teacher and agree that uniform can be a great leveller and I do think it's important for pupils to have some form of uniform. However, since Covid we have struggled and struggled to get pupils back in to uniform, it's an uphill battle with little support from many parents unfortunately

Yes 🤣

My eyesight isn’t the best and every other girl in dds year seems to have mousy blonde, shoulder length hair. The amount of times I’ve been waving to random child and dd will have already come out the door and be like, “um, mum, I’m here!”

You are in for a treat when your child gets to secondary school where every logo, shoe style and blazer which costs 3 figures for something made with the cheapest material gets inspected.

It’s not a myth at all. I was poor and went to grammar school. Uniform super strict including bags and shoes and even hair bobbles. I didn’t know how rich some of my friends were until I went to their houses.

I don’t know why people go on about the price of uniform- what good value it is “per wear” etc. These are clothes you have to buy only for your children to attend school. You have to buy other clothes too, right?! They also need stuff to wear at the weekends and during the holidays- different shoes, other coats, more formal things for family parties etc etc etc. I think what people are missing when they talk about what good value uniform is, is that the clothes you buy your children anyway, THOSE are the clothes they’d wear to school if there was no uniform.

When my children were at a school with no uniform, it was WAY cheaper. They literally had one coat (seasonally appropriate) and one pair of shoes (again seasonally adjusted, sandals and flip flops excepted). They wore those clothes to school, and they wore them at the weekends and during the holidays. When their feet grew, I bought one pair of new shoes, not one for home and a separate pair for school.

Uniform makes life more expensive for parents, not less.

I know! It annoys me that all that stuff about uniform needing to be accessible came out and yet from what I can tell, absolutely nothing changed in reality.

Uniform rules often aren't about the uniform. They are able making sure children follow rules. And, let's be realistic, they are pretty easy rules to follow.

I have a uniform for work. I love it. I don't have to buy clothes for work or think about what I'm going to wear everyday. And I feel the same about school uniforms.

Plus the kids all look the same and are easy to identify on trips etc. There's no one trying to outdo anyone else by showing off designer clothes etc. It isn't easy to identify families who can't afford lots of outfits. I'm fully behind uniforms.

I prefer a uniform - it is easier to not have to think about what clothes our DS needs to wear.

I think keeping shirts tucked in etc is also good for kids to learn about looking smart and having pride in your appearance. Polished clean shoes etc...

I'm a secondary teacher and I feel it's time for a big overhaul on uniform rulings. I'm not against having a uniform but the amount of school-labelled items is ridiculous, and the petty uniform rules I have to enforce drive me to insanity. I honestly don't care if the girls socks have frills, or if the boys are wearing black socks instead of grey. There are so many arguments with students that could be avoided and then the invariable detentions that follow. Also, I'd scrap isolations/reflections (whatever you want to call it), for haircut and uniform infringements. I teach Year 10 and I'd rather the students were with me, prepping for GCSEs.
Having said all this....I just don't think it's going anywhere unfortunately.