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?!

It’s ridiculous how blasé some heads are about it.

I offended one accidentally once when I was working in schools (was in and out different schools as part of my job). There was a discussion in the staff room about another school, that happened to be my DSs, where they’d tried to change the uniform to include a black coat.

I said, half flippant and half serious, that people wanting to be HT’s should be asked “what colour of coat would you make mandatory uniform at your school?” and any who said black/navy/dark would instantly prove themselves unsuitable for the job.

Unbeknown to me the HT had recently done a review of uniform and was planning on including a dark purple coat as part of it.

Same. The material never bothered me or any of it. They were just normal clothes, same as others. Never felt the need to change at home time unless there was a club with another uniform that night. Nobody did. If we were going to someone else's house after school everyone just stayed in their uniform.

Asda do jersey skirts, pinafores and trousers, not scratchy at all

Agreed! DS goes to a special school and his uniform is a school logo jumper (can be sweatshirt or hoody, but they really aren’t strict on it having their logo anyway), white shirt or polo shirt or tshirt, and black or grey trousers/leggings/joggers. The children are all wearing what they are comfortable in.

My kids in state private school have a uniform similar to the private school one you describe.

Are your children in state school? They are no longer allowed to insist on uniform items with logos.

Wow. All schools should follow suit. What an amazing way to recycle clothes and keep cost down.

I have always wondered why parents keep buying this nasty stuff. If half of the parents didnt buy it I think things would get moving.

🤣

Ds2's primary uniform is grey bottoms, white polo, coloured jumper or cardy. Logoed items are available but also all items can be supermarket.

Ds1's secondary uniform is black bottoms, white shirt and the only non-negotiable is the tie which is a fiver from the school, but always loads of secondhand ones available for free.

Neither school gives a shit about shoes or hair.

I feel like we really lucked out tbh when I read some stories on here.

Ds school requires all from reception to wear button up shirt and tie, they can wear clip on or elastic ties.

DS has sensory issues so wears a polo and a zip up jacket instead but when I approached school about this every one I talked to said they have no idea why any of the young kids have to wear ties or button up shirts and it causes more distraction than necessary.

Always having to tell kids to put on their ties and stop fussing they're uncomfortable.

It was such a crazy conversation and they just said they're powerless to change it.

I went to an independent girls school in London with many strict and ridiculous uniform rules. Between the ages of 11 and 18 there were five different hats depending on the season and which year you were in!

https://mapsontheweb.zoom-maps.com/post/724355095335190528/school-uniform-policy-by-geoomapss

UK is one of only a couple of European countries with school uniform. It’s unnecessary.

Because it’s cheaper.

I think in Wales now only one item has to be branded with the school logo. Makes it so much easier to buy comfortable affordable uniform.

DS wears grey supermarket trousers, plain white polo and a fleece. Black Clarks shoes which are a bit heavy but basically trainers.

Seems comfy enough, he certainly manages to climb up trees and run around in the playground in it.

I agree.

I didn’t have a uniform at all when I was at primary school but I do appreciate the ease of having school clothes separate.

my kids have an easy one of white polos, grey skirt, dress, trousers, sorts and a royal blue jumper or cardi. Any shop, no logo required. I buy soft jersey grey items.

they’re also understanding of DS sensory issues and when he very occasionally refuses to wear his uniform they don’t say anything about him turning up in mufti.

My son is in primary, state school not private. One of the things I love about his school is the relaxed attitude regarding the uniform. It's polo shirts all the way through to Y6, no shirts or ties. PE twice a week, so on those days the kids wear PE kit all day, which is joggers in blue, black or grey, and normal white polo top. My son would definitely prefer to wear the joggers/shorts everyday rather than the usual uniform, but atleast he only has to wear them 3 days out of 5.

At the other local primary, the kids have to wear shirts and ties, even in reception. They also have to wear a seperate colour uniform for PE, so more expense. There is no need for kids so young to be ties, they look silly to me.

A shirt with a tie and blazer are not normal clothes.

Yanbu. My 9 year old has autism and really struggles with uniform.

Are they though? My older kids grew up on the continent where uniforms aren't a thing and the perpetuated British myth of "kids who don't wear labels will get bullied" doesn't happen.

No uniform but also unbranded clothes would put paid to that pretty quickly.

They are normal if you're wearing them 5 days a week. I didn't feel any difference in comfort between them and what I wore at the weekend. And I liked how they looked.

Wished my 6th form had had uniform too.

To add, bags, coats, shoes, pe trainers etc can all still show "brands". If your lunch box and rucksack are Smiggle and your school shoes are Melissa x Vivienne Westwood and your coat is Canada Goose and your pe trainers are Nike you can still pick on the kid who's got all of those things from Primark if that's what motivates you to bully someone.

Ds is in year 11 so only 2 weeks left thank goodness but his uniform was an expensive but cheap looking blazer, matching trousers and a blue shirt with white collar.
The logo was on the inside pocket of the blazer and not even an inch in diameter but the print was nigh on impossible to get from anywhere but the uniform shop which I'd located in Birmingham.
We are in Bolton so once a year then school has a pop up shop where the suppliers come in and kids can try before we buy.
The fabric was low quality and bubbled very quickly. Twice I've had to use his old trousers to make new sleeves for his blazer only to find very poor workmanship in the tailoring.
The supplier probably pays pennies for these blazers only to charge nearly £100 per piece from parents.

Ours (primary - scotland) is pretty relaxed

grey/black trousers, skirt, leggings. Can be joggers

white/navy/red polo - you can buy logo ones but also plain ones are fine

red jumper - same you can buy logo ones but plain ones are fine

No regulation for shoes or coats as long as they are practical for school. No pe uniform. Just a tshirt and shorts

Im very happy and wish the secondary was as chill too

I don’t know why kids need to wear uniform at all.

Plenty of countries with good educational outcomes and social stability manage without uniform.

My Dc went to a uniform free primary. It was great. Didn’t cause issues, because it was no big deal to wear normal clothes it just wasn’t… a big deal. No bullying etc.

I do agree that at secondary poverty would make it harder for non uniform to work.