...to wonder how effective/useful uniforms are at school?

[azert]

I'm from a different country, where children wear their normal clothes at school. There have been talks in my country about whether we should make a change and start wearing a uniform, and some trials in certain regions but it never happened on a national level and I doubt it ever will.

I can see some benefits to the uniform for parents: not having to think about how to dress the kids each day, being able to pass uniforms down to younger children etc. But I don't see many children who love their uniform, I feel like they'd rather wear their normal clothes?

The rules around school uniform seem silly sometimes, and strict about things that are truly not going to be distracting to children's learning. On top of that, the cost of buying uniforms seem to be quite high and on top of that parents have to buy clothes for evenings/weekends/summer holidays and half-terms, so it's like buying two full sets of outfits for each child.

As a parent and as a former teacher, I don't believe it actually does what it's supposed to do, as in put every child on the same level and avoid bullying and comparisons between children whose parents earn more or less money. Kids know these things and talk about them whether they wear uniforms or not, in my eyes it's more about teaching them kindness and respect.

If you're a teacher and pro-uniform, what do you think it brings to children? And if you're against it, why is that?

I'm ready to hear all kinds of thoughts as I don't want to be unreasonable to come from the outside and question a whole system that's been in place for decades!

As a child from a poorer background I always hated non uniform days. I used to fret and worry about what to wear to try to look “cool” and fit in, with barely any clothes to my name and lots of handed down items. This was back in the 80s, so I can barely imagine what it’s like now for kids without designer brands in a world where looks have become everything

Me too. I used to skive off on the non uniform days. But it was because all that pressure was on that one day to look utterly cool and amazing. If non uniform was every day, it’d have been fine as you would have just being wearing normal clothes

I'm not a teacher but this I agree with. When I was at school it was sweatshirts with school logo and plain white t-shirt, no blazers or ties.

I totally agree . I think school blazers look scruffy on teenagers. I also think of they are more comfortable they will do work etc better. Thing is the same conversation every September then it dies out nothing changes . Parents and children ate not listened to.

it helps balance out any poverty etc

This is only something someone comfortably off would say.

It hardly balances out poverty if parents struggle to buy it and parents go without other stuff to afford it. It doesn’t balance out poverty if your parents are stressed out over the cost and that affects the kids and the kids get a bollocking from distraught parents if the kids loses a jumper or blazer or rips it and a new one needs to be bought by parents who can’t really afford it.

people on here who think it’s a good idea can clearly afford uniform.

i hate it. We’ve really struggled to buy the stuff for eldest starting secondary. It’s an utterly unnecessary, pointless expense that I have deeply resented.

There was a post from a teacher a while back who moved from a country with no uniform. She said the uniform here clearly marked out the poorer kids as they were wearing the worn, faded second hand clothes. Whilst the kids from affluent families were in the new stuff. She felt the non uniform schools balanced out, by hiding, poverty much better than the uniform schools.

I am not a teacher but work in an Infant School and I quite like the uniform as it is vaguely practical for what they children are doing. It's a polo shirt, a jumper and trousers/skirt/shorts or a summer dress.. It's also cheap from a super market.

When we do no uniform days people wear impractical stuff, I guess they might not if it was everday but some parents are quite unrealistic about what a school day involves.

I think a lot of secondary uniforms are expensive and ridiculous looking. I'd hope teachers get something out of it.

To me, school uniform is about branding. I don't think it has any benefits to the kids.

I agree with school uniform. But it Needs to change into something more comfortable and practical. Most primary school children have the jumper , polo top , trousers, skirt . I think secondary should be similar I also think it should be logo free unless they make them the same or very similar price to non logo. Blazers look scruffy. Children need to be comfortable

I don't agree with fully non uniform. Due to the risk of bullying

i find uniform cheaper even at secondary, as long as the uniform is sensible.
my daughter is 15 and wears a branded school knit jumper, shirt and school tie, with no -brand black trousers and black shoes. Shes got 4 pairs of trousers (about £12 each), 2 jumpers (£25 each) 6 shirts (about £15?). That’ll last her the year. If she was wearing non-uniform there would be an expectation that she dress “cool” all the time and not wear the same thing repeatedly which would cost a damn sight more than £100 for the year. Plus I can pass her jumpers and tie down to her brother. She doesn’t need new PE kit every year, it’s a new top and shorts twice in time at secondary (maybe £35 a time) and again her brother will have it next year. Non uniform PE kit would be fancy label leggings and branded tops and would cost significantly more.

as for having to buy two sets of clothes - no, because the out-of-school wardrobe is smaller as it’s only worn at weekends and holidays really.

and I’ve heard too many tales of dress code errors in American schools like girls being reprimanded for having a bra strap showing or other such nonsense, to think that going non-uniform would magically solve all the issues around kids wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes.

As a parent I do prefer uniform over own clothes just because it's easier and cheaper than them wanting x brand because their friends have them. Plus I do think it puts all the kids on an even playing field.
But both my DDs go to schools that are fairly relaxed about school uniform, especially our primary school.
I couldn't be doing with a very strict school with silly rules and having to buy loads of expensive branded uniform

I am not a fan of uniform. I have taught in non uniform schools and it is so much easier to get to know the children when they wear their own clothes! I see little benefit to uniform and don't believe half the claims people make about uniform benefits. However, I would always advocate a dress code - eg no lables, no logos and must be dressed reasonably modestly.

This absolutely. I hate the draconian measures both my children’s schools take on uniform. They are penalties if a child has a shirt hanging out. They wear ridiculously uncomfortable blazers. Nowhere else in life is this the case and the whole having to ask to remove a blazer is ludicrous. It’s not the bloody military.

So yes to uniform but no to blazers and ties.

Had DC at a summer sports club. Couldn't possibly attend unless wearing a very specific Nike branded expensive cycling short as everyone else was wearing them (to be fair they were). There was no way DC would attend wearing unbranded PE kit so ended up buying 3 pairs of these damn shorts plus branded T.shirt & trainers so cost more in clothing for this 1 summer holiday than their entire school uniform for the year. These skimpy shorts are useless for winter & likely be outgrown by next summer.

If they didn't have school uniform it would be a constant battle with brands & trends & the kids would just create their own branded 'uniform' with no warning of when these would go from 'essential to fit in' to 'cant be seen dead in at school's

I agree that excessive branded items & draconian rules should go but a simple, smart & plain uniform is important.

I grew up poor and I'm so grateful we had uniforms! I only had one outfit to wear outside of school so I would have had to wear the same thing every day it would have been absolutely awful 😞

I looked forward to having a uniform at secondary school as a concept, but once I was there I felt compelled to try and break the code!
I went to a posh school at 11, but strangely uniform policy was quite lax. I used to rip my tights and hole punch my shirt. And we were allowed our skirts as short as we wanted. No ties, and no compulsory blazer. Pierced noses were also permitted. I hated not being allowed to wear platforms, so I did anyway in the end.

I quit that school for a non uniform comp. Got immediately bullied for my clothing and realised the 'uniform' there was actually more rigid in some ways!

I'm not a fan of uniform but if we have to have it I'd prefer it to be more comfortable and practical. The PE kit at my DCs' school is much better than the actual uniform of shirts and ties etc, I think they should be allowed to wear the PE kit all the time.

I’m in favour of uniform on a general level, easier for parent and children in terms of deciding what to wear, a good leveller when everyone looks similar.
i’m totally against batshit policies like “must wear jumper and blazer” where it it not clear at all what it achieves.

I agree with you op. I prefer how it's done in France and Germany. Dd wears cheap casual clothes to sixth form with no issues. I read that France were trialling uniform in some areas. Is that where you're from? Might have read it in BFMTV. Not sure

I went to both uniform and non uniform schools and preferred a simple uniform. Less thought and effort required.
And less uniform checking, as our head was endlessly enforcing the v basic non uniform dress code. Branded t shirts were banned, you had to wear them inside out. You had to be covered from mid upper arm to neck to mid thigh. No high heels or flip flops. And still dress code breaching detention was v v common.
And then there was the whole not wearing the same outfit twice, having the "right" jeans or t shirts. Nightmare.

I'm a secondary teacher and tbh I'm ok with uniform on the whole. My issue is with the tiny, nitpicky uniform rules that I'm forced to enforce each day (like sock colour). I also dislike the amount of branded uniform (particularly PE kit) that students have to buy- the idea of uniform as a level playing field for poverty doesn't work if the branded blazer is £50, the PE long sleeved top is £28 pounds etc.
Make up, nails and eyelashes take up much of my day!

@Serencwtch you could have said no to buying those branded shorts.
Your child's choice should have been "go to the sports club in plain shorts or don't go at all".
Would your child have decided not to go? If they had decided that then they obviously weren't that bothered about going to the club. If they really wanted to do the sport then they would have worn plain if that's what you had bought.

This is exactly why uniforms are so vital. Affordable schools requires schools to consider the affordability of uniform and i believe uniform does support a reduction in poverty and inequality. Uniform also makes safeguarding easier eg spotting intruders in school, identifying students on trips, etc. Most schools require students and parents to sign uniform policies when they start school so both parties are well aware of the requirement before they start and should, I believe follow the rules.

@floppybit but if your parents hadn't had to buy uniform they would have been able to afford to buy you more regular clothes.

Comfortable, practical, cheap primary school uniform is great, especially if it's just plain without a logo eg white polos, coloured sweatshirt or cardigan, grey or black trousers or skirt, plain black shoes/trainers (no logo).

It's gets silly when they get to secondary - expensive branded stuff from particular shops, uncomfortable, expensive shoes, poor quality, overpriced polyester blazers and children aren't allowed to add or remove layers when they're hot or cold.

The £100 I have spent on my 15 year old DD’s uniform this year wouldn’t have bought much in terms of trendy teen clothing, for a whole year.