2 backpacks and 2 sports kits - pointless and wasteful

[PommedeMamma]

My DD is in Y6, she will be weekly boarding from after summer. We have the uniform and kit list and there were a few things I queried the school on today and I'm left feeling a little annoyed.

1. Weekly boarders need 2 school branded backpack, one will be used day to day moving around campus for school books etc, the other will be used exclusively for taking things to and from school every week. I don't really understand why they need 2? Surely they can empty their bag on a Friday afternoon and repack it on a Sunday?
2. DD plays tennis, she needs to take her full kit with her (several rackets, shoes for various surfaces etc.) The school are now saying they won't allow sports kit to go home every weekend. DD will have her private coaching on the weekend, plus competing so we will basically need double the amount of kit, right down to rackets and shoes which aren't cheap!

So AIBU to think this is pointless and wasteful, should I challenge it or suck it up?

You’re right that is wasteful. Challenge it for sure, I would not be happy with that

First thing seems fine, not a massive expense.

The second sound necessary, who washes the kit etc?

The tennis kit at school will get washed with uniform at school. It would be as simple as DD bringing her racket bag home with her every weekend, not worried about the actual clothes as the ones for school are school branded but shoes, rackets etc. Even just buying two racket bags can be expensive!

On the backpacks - just get her two. It makes perfect sense not to have to repack all the time. That's not worth arguing over.

On the tennis kit - I think you should talk to the school. She is going to play better if she is wearing the shoes she has worn in and with her main racket. If they refuse then I guess you leave her best kit at home to compete at the weekend and send less good kit to school. The rule is probably for people who forget to bring kit back to school but she may get an exception