School Uniforms?

[tearsandtiaras]

My socials are currently filled with anxious posts about being able to afford the correct uniform required for their children.

ND children who won't wear it- parents are anxious how this will be received.

I myself have had sleepless nights considering the cost with zero support from DD father. With added worry that as a full time worker I cannot access the uniform shop in opening times- which offers no option to click/ collect.

I work with families/ children/ teenagers daily- uniform is consistently an adder stressor to their lives.

I cannot understand why in 2024 when most office workers wear smart casual- we inflict this on to our children/ parents. Uniform is outdated.

Aibu?

*Another issue with it is the washing. Not everyone has access to a tumble dryer/ outside space to dry clothes.

My teenage DD needs a new shirt /
Jumper daily due to BO.*

You would have to wash whatever they wore!!

I like school uniform. It really isn’t that expensive considering how much it is worn. Apart from blazers and PE kit with logos, the rest of it can be bought cheaply. Teenagers need freshly cleaned clothes every day whether or not it’s school uniform. The problem is paying for everything up front in one go, but it’s not as if starting a new school comes as a surprise so the cost could be planned for.

^redskydarknight · Today 15:05
I think I've been lucky that my children's schools have adopted the very sensible approach that they don't dictate awkward items of uniform that can only be bought from specific shops.

So primary was: any jumper/cardigan in school colours; any polo shirt in school colours; any "school" trousers/skirt/pinafore in black or grey

Secondary: Any black blazer, any white shirt, any black trousers/skirt of specified style (ranges provided available at many shops including supermarkets and high street); school tie (available from school)

I don't see why something like this wouldn't work across all schools. It fixes the cost, sensory issues and "can't get to shop" problems.^

The issue with this is then the posh kids get high quality stuff without external branding but which everyone bloody knows is from an expensive shop. Well fitted expensive blazers etc. And other lids get a cheap poorly fitted one. The point of requiring a modestly priced school logo uniform item is it guarantees every kid has the same.

You clearly aren't referring to secondary school

Thank fuck our child's secondary school has recently rowed back on enforced blazers, citing cost and comfort.

IME it's actually the better off households that are more likely to be dressing their DC in second hand clothing.
And I don't think your average teen boy really cares whether their trousers come from Asda or John Lewis.

Washing a thin t shirt is not the same as a starchy white shirt!! Shirts needs hanging/ ironing

Dd can wear a hoody over a few days as its thick- school jumpers are very thin/ poorly made and she needs one a day with a shirt

But surely the washing issue would apply whether your DD wears uniform, casual clothing or pyjamas?

And why are you ironing? Your teenager can do that if they want them ironed.

I'm struggling to understand why your daughter's school jumper worn over a strachy white shirt needs washing every day due to BO, but a hoody worn over a thin white T shirt can go a few days without washing?

I prefer uniform but it should be-

Plain black trackie bottoms /shorts

Polo shirt

Plain jumper (school colour)

Plain black shoes/trainers

In senior school swap to plain black trousers.

Uniform is a very positive thing in so many ways imo. Our school has a simple, smart uniform and all parents use the second hand shop. It doesn't have to be expensive. Much better option than ruining all their casual clothes too.

The argument that children would
need expensive clothing to fit in at a non-uniform school always amuses me. My dd attends a non-uniform, very wealthy school. Most of the students show up in surprisingly cheap clothing. They seem to value comfort above fashion. The school does have a strict dress code so many of the styles that are popular outside of school can’t be worn.

the money is spent elsewhere. It goes on makeup, devices, bags, shoes, and sometimes jewelry. Dd spends a small fortune on manicures. The same places it can go when students are in uniform.

I don’t even own an iron!

DH and I are suited and booted for work. DD wears a blazer, shirt and skirt. We just hang everything up on hangers.

I’m not bothered about uniform either way but the washing/drying isn’t a reason for or against - they’re just clothes and would need to be washed either way.

Yes that is what my youngest wears to primary, black joggers and a hoody in the school colours, white polo shirt and trainers. Easy and cheap as chips.

My eldest at secondary is black trousers, black trainers, white shirt, tie (free provided by school) and a black sweatshirt. Also quite cheap, except the trainers but that's my choice to get him more expensive ones.

I much prefer it than having to pay out and organise lots of different casual clothes.

Money wise it would be much easier non uniform for me. My primary children I clothe for around 60.00 a year from a vinted bundle.

Teen dd is around 100 a year for her clothing via vinted for a year .

Our primary is such a weird green colour, not the green you see in the supermarkets and you can only buy it from the school uniform shop, it irritates me so much. I also don't know why you cant buy supermarket uniforms and then separately add logos when schools insist on logo uniforms. It would be so much cheaper and would satisfy the school policies. Wouldn't help our weird green colour though. The local highschool has specific blazers, skirts and trousers from a uniform stockists, skirts have to have a logo. Cant wait for that expense!

Personally I think school uniform is a good thing, especially for secondary school as it takes a lot (not all) of the fashion drama out of the equation. I wouldn't care if it was just joggers and sweatshirt though instead of formal wear, although the blazers are great for carrying stuff, wash and wear well and both my kids only had 2 throughout their 5 years at secondary.

There's definitely an argument for less/cheaper logo uniform though.

No doubt we'll have the usual shoe dramas from parents in a couple of weeks because they've bought shoes that aren't within the school's uniform policy. Some will be in the daily mail with sad faces saying their child is in isolation and moaning about it.

Uniforms should definitely be more flexible, but my school life would have been miserable without uniforms. There was an obsession with expensive branded shoes, trainers, bags, clothes etc. Whenever you could wear your own clothes it was awful. I don’t know if kids are as obsessed with designer brands these days. That was 20+ years ago! I suspect you would still get certain kids being bullied for not being able to afford the latest clothes. I think teenage boys actually become more expensive than teenage girls on that front.

I still feel traumatised from my secondary schools years where there was no uniform policy. And a mum who wouldn't buy anything branded. Walking in to registration was like a fashion show with all eyes waiting to judge. I was ridiculed and tormented on a daily basis. Scotland has quite a relaxed approach to uniform in general which I dislike as it just adds to anxiety for the kids.

Our school the uniform is black trousers any kind, white top, royal blue Cardi or jumper and comfortable shoes with a closed toe and back so they can wear trainers or whatever as long as it's sensible.

Nothing is branded everything we bought cheap at supermarket

I do think uniform is a good idea for levelling everyone but I think it should be more basic than it is e.g. in primary a polo shirt, trousers/joggers/leggings/skirts and jumper/cardi in a
school colour. No logos required. Ours have a tie and proper shirts, kirts/trousers etc, never gave it much thought but now that I have a sensory averse DC it is a battle and causes them discomfort and anxiety and I do think what's the point of all the stiff restrictive clothing.

Seniors again plain trousers/skirt, plain polo tops, plain jumpers cardigans. Ditch ther ties and blazers, they serve no purpose.

I loathe having to buy school uniform and would be happy to have it abolished. I think it causes more problems than it solves.

However most of the I see people moaning about the cost of the high school uniform have kids who are kitted out head to toe in Nike, Montirex, Hoodrich etc which costs way more than uniform.

I do think schools probably can't win though, a local school has ditched its logo blazers and instead have a badge that can be sewn on any blazer and FB is full of parents moaning that they can't sew!

Bog standard secondary school here - for one kids we have two skirts , a blazer, two jumpers and 8 shirts. The uniform shop delivers for £2. No tumble drier - but I get it all clean over the weekend and it's decent quality so washes well. Shirts hang and don't need ironing. I would absolutely hate to deal with my daughter at secondary with all the fashions/brands etc. There is a good secondhand uniform shop too and people pass stuff on. Primary you could have non-branded and it was all stuff you could get in supermarkets dead cheap or again there was a secondhand shop.

I have to agree that I don’t think most people complaining about uniform costs would be sending their kids to school in George at Asda and Primark…

I agree with uniform but I think logos on everything is ridiculous and very expensive. Generic trousers/skirts/shirts in the right colours and style should be enough. DS2s Grammar school has logo blazer, tie, PE top, reversible rugby top, football socks, shorts, joggers and waterproof outer PE top. The latter item is £38! On top of this he must have shin pads, gum shield, trainers, astro boots and studded boots, oh and a particular water bottle (no colours). Shoes have to be formal, no branding and pencil case a certain size and style. I daren't add up the total but I'd estimate £400 in total. Absolutely ridiculous.