Strict uniform policy-skirts but no shorts

[Sleepdeprived42long]

DS moving up to high school next year. Received details of the school’s uniform policy and word from parents with older kids is that it is strictly enforced.

Uniform is trousers or skirts, shirt with collar buttoned to top and tie visible at all times, blazer worn at all times outside class.

My DS lives in shorts to school. He hates wearing trousers-finds them too hot all year round!

AIBU to think that it seems unfair that girls can wear skirts and trousers but realistically most boys will be restricted to trousers? Or am I missing an obvious reason why skirts are acceptable and shorts aren’t?

My DS has sensory issues with clothing and noises (but no ASD diagnosis as no other symptoms) and is already hating the no shorts, the button to neck requirement of the shirt and the tie!

School say this is policy and children not in uniform will be sent home to change or given change from clothes school have as spare.

To be clear-this is a state school.

I don't believe uniform is enforceable in Scotland despite what they might say.

Many jobs have a uniform and doesn't include shorts (e.g. Ambulance service, waiting staff, McDonald's?)

Our school ( secondary) announced shorts last year from Easter to October half term only. They said that they wanted to be able to find them in the high street and now retailers like Next are offering them it made sense to include them. Didn’t see a single boy in shorts last year, and no one this year yet.

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Why would you want your kid to dress as a chav everyday??

horrific idea.

I wonder if this is Dunblane High School? It's notorious known for being extra strict on uniform.

Parents could call its bluff and just refuse and complain to the LA's education department that it is illegally refusing to educate their children.

But is it really a fight you would need to have? I don't get the impression that other parents would support you (many of them like its strict ethos) and you and your ds will have 4-6 years to navigate at the school.

(Having said that, my indirect experience of Dunblane is 6 years old - the SMT may have changed).

Oooh aren’t you clever with your Gotcha!
🙄

Not trying to be clever, I just think strict uniforms are pointless, especially when PE teachers are seemingly exempt. Maybe my high school was unusual but in summer people wore shorts and there were no blazers or ties. Adults are able to dress weather appropriately so we should allow the same common sense to children, no-one is able to concentrate properly when too cold or hot.

As PP's have said, it's standard for secondary schools to require long trousers for boys.

But to answer your question about jobs that require long trousers - there are hundreds of them, but off the top of my head:

Supermarket worker.
Retail in general
Hospitality - from waiters to receptionists to cleaners.
Firefighter
Doctor
Nurse
Carer
Office worker (I know you said yours allow shorts, but many don't)
Vet
Police
Teacher (for the most part, PE is often the exception).

I'd actually say it's more unusual to be allowed to wear shorts.

I find the enforced jumpers/blazers thing really cruel. Hated it as a child at school and made me feel ill/lack of control. WTAF does a child need permission to remove it or not wear it between classes in the summer or if feeling hot/running around playing?

Umm teaching? Unless they teach PE.

Have you spoken to the school about it being a sensory issue?
I worked at a school where shorts were not on the uniform (I’m yet to hear of a senior school locally to me where they are) but due to a child’s sensory needs they were fine with him wearing shorts. He was the only child to do so and he was comfortable with that where perhaps some children would not like being the only one.

It is standard but I do think shorts should be an option.

Because its comfortable, practical, easy to wash and doesn't cost the earth.

That's why.

School I worked in allowed them - smart with socks and shoes. Not one person ever wore them - when it gets silly hot they are allowed PE kits (as in heatwave not just 22)

Agree with many that no shorts is fairly standard for secondary. Interesting to see some school staff where they are acceptable.

There's a secondary school near me with no uniform (tjo I presume they have some kind of policy, no offensive slogans for example). I often see the students going in and cannot recall ever seeing one in shorts.

I also agree with those who say shorts are not common in workplaces, even if allowed. I work somewhere with the most relaxed dress code ever but barely anyone wears shorts.

Last workplace was an NHS office - no shorts; before that a school - no shorts apart from PE staff, and men had to wear a tie. Before that, newspaper offices, no shorts, men in ties, women in tailored clothes (ie no joggers). Same is true of many uniformed workpkaces as others say.

I think you need to prep your son to go along with this rule tbh.

It's sexist. To be honest being among the youngest in school and only one wearing shorts could just make him a target. I'd go with trousers for his sake but get the lightweight kind. Light short sleeve shirt and tie seem common.

In the secondary school my DD is going to they have to wear tights at all times when wearing a skirt. I have seen the girls in 35 degree heat walking round in tights, it’s hardly the enviable choice as I imagine that all school are the same

Nope not here they wear tiny mini skirts with no tights.

Ours can wear long shorts if that makes sense, kind of to the top of the knee, but only once temperatures get scorching. Which obviously is hardly ever.

They have to be proper shorts not tracksuit bottom material or anything and they need to be navy or black.

Not many do ever wear them. I think the association with little kids is too much.

Jesus, if girls here were allowed no tights we’d end up seeing actual body parts seeing as how they roll their skirts up so tight I can see their bum cheeks most of the time

Schools near me are introducing a no skirts uniform (so trousers or shorts for all, boys and girls alike) rule I'm sure in response to the obscenely short skirts the girls are wearing. It seems very sensible to me but parents are up in arms for some reason, I think they're scared of the tantrums they'll have to deal with from their little darlings.

I think in spring/summer both sexes should be allowed shorts. They can be smart and knee length etc. and why wear a blazer at all times? I find it unnecessary and not weather appropriate.

But I wouldn't send my kids to a uniform school. They are unlikely to bend the rules just for you unfortunately.

Yeah they wear teeny tiny skirts where I am I've just checked the uniform policy and tights are definitely optional seems to be the case for most of the schools round here since all the girls are in mini skirts in summer.

I can’t wear shorts or a skirt in my workplace. My uniform is trousers and a tunic no matter how hot it is. Unfortunately kids do need to learn at some point that the world does not always bend to their needs

Secondary ( in fact, year 9+) school here that allows tailored shorts for boys and girls. Plenty of boys wear them and it would be a blessed relief if more girls did, to be honest!