To wish more schools had uniforms like this

[Imsooveritt]

Talking to a friend today who's daughter attends an all girls private day school. She's 7. We were discussing buying uniform for the next year and I said it's a headache.

My 3 kids are in Y1, Y5 and Y8. All 3 have to wear those uncomfortable Teflon trousers/skirts. Older two need shirt and tie, eldest blazer. Uncomfortable school shoes. Logos on jumpers etc.

Her daughters school uniform is

• Navy, Red or White Polo
• Navy bottoms (have to be from their supplier but have the option of soft jeggings, leggings, skirt, pinafore or jersey material shorts)
• Red or Navy polo dress
• Red or Navy cardigan or hoodie
• white socks/navy tights
• Navy trainers
• Navy jackets from supplier but they are quilted style and have no logo so would be suitable for outside school too

This seems so much better, so many more options, no logos so somethings can get used outside school too, nice materials. Good blend of it being uniform but comfy. Not forced to have white polos that will discolour or uncomfortable shirts and ties.

AIBU to wonder why this can't be the norm? What is the need for shirts and ties, Teflon trousers and polyester blazers?!

I agree.
Uniforms are important so that kids aren't targeted for their clothes but they should be relaxed, not dressed like little office workers.

DD’s primary uniform could all be bought from supermarkets.

Years 7 and 8 were polo shirts and jersey cardigans. (But the polos were £8 each from one particular shop.)

Only now for year 9 will she have to wear shirt and tie and blazer. I’m joining the governing body in September and my first mission is to get that changed. It’s fucking mental in 2024.

I like white polos in Primary, easier to clean. Try to bleach colour polos!

I agree with decent fabric for trousers or dresses.

My youngest can be bought from a super market but the trousers and skirts are all that awful Teflon fabric rather than something comfy!

I think it’s ridiculous that secondary school children are made to wear blazers and aren’t even allowed to take them off unless the teachers say so.

My secondary school changed to polo shirts and sweatshirts. I feel sorry for my DC having to wear ties and blazers. Surely in order to get the best out of children they need to feel comfortable. Especially those with SEN who can struggle with the sensation of clothing.

I think it should be jogging bottoms/leggings/shorts and a polo shirt and jumper, all unisex, until secondary.

There's no need whatsoever for a four year old to wear a tie and tailored trousers!

Sounds like normal primary uniform to me 🤷‍♀️ it's only my sons secondary that insist on proper shoes, blazers, tie, all logo etc

Friend's son goes to a posh private school which traditionally also has a history of bursary boarding boys. Uniform is included in fees and only available from the uniform lady in school. New starters get their set of kit - some of which will be second hand - and as they grow out of it or it needs replacing, they go back to the uniform lady who gives them replacements and patches up their hand me downs for use by someone else. What a great leveller as well as great for the environment.

And also if the same person is in charge of both ordering the clothes and washing the clothes I imagine the quality has to be good. Whoever chose my kids sports socks has never had to wash them!

Asda always did jersey trousers and skirts.

Have you challenged it?

But why is it needed for secondary?

I had to wear a blazer and tie in the 1990s. Back then office work required such attire.

Nowadays I work in the City where 99% of the people are in denim and trainers. So what are we training kids for now with these uniforms which are uncomfortable, take a lot of maintenance (I’m away half the week and DH consults around the world. We don’t own an iron), don’t keep them warm or dry and cost a lot of money. It totally insane.

I wore a skirt, shirt, tie and blazer all the way from 5 to 16. So have my dcs (except trousers too), and “proper” shoes. I’ve never understood the comfort angle - they are just normal clothes. I wouldn’t go to bed in them but they aren’t uncomfortable. They can look a bit naff, but so can polo shirts etc.

@SneezedToothOut i haven’t no, but DS has only started in year 7 and my others are at primary but you’ve inspired me!

I don't mind tbh looks smart just wish it was cheaper as my sons trousers are £24.99 so when they need replacing but I'm fine with the uniform otherwise

I just find it baffling the majority of the world manges without uniforms. Mine are in schools without uniforms because it isn't a novelty the branding issue has yet to come up i the last 12 years🤷‍♀️

Having children and teens in comfy clothes that meet a very simple dress code - no hate slogans and cover your but 🤣. Wrote by student council.

My 3 kids are in Y1, Y5 and Y8. All 3 have to wear those uncomfortable Teflon trousers/skirts. Older two need shirt and tie, eldest blazer. Uncomfortable school shoes. Logos on jumpers etc

What about the trousers are uncomfortable? All three of mine are in supermarket trousers, none of them complain about being uncomfortable. Some kids do come in leggings or joggers. Navy or grey.

I think shirt and tie is primary is so old fashioned, I'm glad ours is polo, any shade of yellow no need to be branded.

Navy cardigan or jumper, no need to be branded.

Pe kit is just white t-shirt, dark bottoms, suitable trainers.

Shoes need to not be trainers and black. No need for them to be uncomfortable

Ds’s added a new option this year . They can now wear black jogging bottoms and black trainers with their polo shirt and sweatshirt. Far more com than traditional school uniform trousers .

I work in a primary school and we moved to PE kit as uniform during Covid, and never went back. So much easier - they run around at break and lunchtime anyway so it makes sense, and no more time spent changing for PE lessons. At my kids' school they go in in PE kit on their PE days. Oldest is just about to go to secondary and their uniform is similarly headachy to yours.

Uniforms should be simple and affordable

Same here - DT’s went through ages 4-18 in a non uniform school. They wore jeans or shorts with a T-shirt and hoodie. The bullying about what you were wearing - no one was interested. No time wasted in policing ridiculous school uniform rules.
Same as their cousins in France, Belgium and the US.

My kids go to a non uniform school and it's brilliant. Dress for the weather and they get used to everyone being different/unique from early on so very low levels of bullying. (I can say that with confidence as i am on the board of management)

Our primary is very laid back bar a logo jumper than doesn’t have to worn all the time, and no restrictions on what kind of skirt, shorts, dresses etc they can wear.

DD’s secondary is a pleasant surprise. Branded skirt or trousers but both are really comfortable, the trousers in particular are those soft non iron ones, a blouse, and a jumper.

During Covid DDs HT changed their uniform, temporarily, to black bottoms (joggers, trousers, skirt, shorts), red or white top (shirt, polo, t shirt), and a red, white or black coverup (jumper, cardi, hoodie) because so many people had bought uniform and it went to waste during lockdowns.

When they went back she kept it in case of more lockdowns. She then brought it in permanent when the deal with the uniform shop ended. Some parents were up in arms as the previous uniform was very OTT (kilts, fancy collared shirts etc) and they felt it looked better.

The HT was able to show that issues with uniform had lessened massively, disruption generally was down and the number of phone calls to parents were down considerably and she put it down to the fact that children were no longer getting into trouble first thing because of uniform.

The head of the PTA quit over the issue. Her in laws own the uniform shop and were very unhappy about the decision.

Also she removed the black or navy coat stipulation on the basis that children walking to school should be easily visible to traffic.

She actively encourages parents and children to have bright coats and bags. She gives out reflective stickers as HT rewards

Better I agree, but I object to single supplier and also leggings/jeggings should be consigned to history, not anything for school.

Ds is at a private senior school. He wears school T shirt - with hoodie over it on cold days, tracksuit trousers, and trainers. All of it has school logo but lots of it in the second hand shop. Its comfortable and practical.