To think this a ridiculous uniform list for 4 year olds

[FinnFrey]

Been chatting to my SIL, she is sending her DD to a private school next year (gets 60% off as her husband works there). She mentioned the uniform list and I asked to see it. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a list with so much stuff for 4 year olds, any item marked * can only be bought from the school wear shop.

AIBU to think that this is quite a bonkers list? Is this just an every private school thing?

Right down to only being able to buy the hair accessories from once place and which length of socks they can wear!

This is just the girls list, boys is similar (trousers and shorts instead of pinafores and dresses and a felt cap instead of the girls 2 hats).

Yes I get that, but it has to be the tartan one or the checkered one (which isn’t normal gingham, more a dogtooth pattern).

Especially when it's very impractical stuff that will do nothing to help the kid learn and grow.

It does seem bonkers but my main worry is how much red there is? Won't they all go a bit curly wurly in the head surrounded by all that red?

I live near a lot of very expensive private schools and always feel a bit sorry for the kids and the weird clothes they have to wear.

Our state secondary also had a very big clothing list and we have to buy DS a new wardrobe to hold it all.

I thought capes for school uniform were phased out years ago. They are not safe, because if children lose their balance they can’t put their hands out to save themselves.

Shows what I know. Or, this institutional knowledge has been forgotten.

Our independent school uniform list is pretty similar however the second hand shop maintained by the PTA does absolutely roaring trade.

That's all fairly standard for a private school, although the hats are a bit OTT.

I worked at a Prep school and was amazed how long the parents made some of this stuff last. A lot of uniform was worn to death.

My DD wore a kilt for school and although at the time it was about £50 it lasted years and I always felt I would have spent far more
On trousers for three or four years wear.

They are thin. For us, even pricier brands such as POP and Boden have never lasted beyond the wear of one child, whereas my kids school cords and chinos have lasted well into the second child, with most being passed on to a third.

leggings just aren’t robust enough for activity afaic.
and definitely never seem warm enough for February mornings.
we wear leggings as underclothes

@Ddakji - yes I realise that. But it says Infant School on the uniform list not pre prep

After reading threads like this I’m very glad that DT’s went to a non uniform school - practical clothing, no bullying about what you were wearing and no wasted time by the school policing whether children were wearing the correct clothing (and no asking whether they could take off/put on a layer of clothing).

That's what British parents think they're paying for at fee-paying schools -- an air of exclusivity and privilege, which will magically turn their child into a confident, clever child with that magic air of being well-placed in the world that so many Mners post about, asking for ways to replicate 'that private school polish'.

Would they fetishise private schools quite so much if the pupils wore unbranded navy tracksuit bottoms and sweatshirts that were available from Asda?

i have two friends whose children both go to different private schools - both utilised the secondhand uniform sales. One has a mini shop on site there usually a queue when it’s opening times! I think due to the long list it was the affordable & nearly all parents didn’t buy new.

I found the state primary the second hand uniforms not as popular and most brought new!

I would love DC to wear all that and would have loved it myself but sadly only bog standard polo shirt and branded jumper here.

I went to a state grammar school in the 60’s. Very similar uniform list with the addition of scarf, gloves and those hideous knickers with a pocket and elasticated legs!
Also, we were required to choose from 2 or 3 styles of black Clarks shoes for winter terms, and similarly brown sandals to accompany summer dresses.

Why a tie for a child of that age? Or indeed any age? How many people wear ties these days to work - a few but a lot less than 20 years ago.

it’s another thing to lose and another thing for a child to struggle with.

Amazingly most of their Western world is non school uniform and still manages to turn out well educated children without them dressing like mini Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Yeah I thought so too, it’s a 3-18 school with Pre-school, Infant School, Junior School and Senior School all on different sites but close to each other.

Not unusual at all. Our local state schools have pre-school in one building, infant and junior share a building but are separate, then you leave to go to secondary school. Infants is P1-P3. It was the same when I was in primary 40 years ago.

Not a primary, but how about this for an interesting uniform!

www.christs-hospital.org.uk/about-christs-hospital/school-life/meet-the-monitors/

My prep school in the 80s had very similar. We even had school knickers. It looks bonkers seeing it all written down. I also don't think it's practical that every 4-year-old's school bag and PE kit bag is identical.

Additionally when I grew up a bit and learned about sewing I saw how poorly made it all was, at such expense to buy from the one supplier in town.

Just been chatting to my BIL. He is a deputy head at the school and has said all the items are absolutely mandatory. The Infant and Junior School won’t let the kids out to play if they don’t have the right hat/blazer. Kids who have the wrong hair accessories are made to remove them. All seems awfully strict, which can’t little girls even wear a plain red Alice band or little bow on their ponytail!

So don't send your kids there. I can't see any issue with it, it's standard for private schools. People are aware when they choose the school, there will be strict uniform requirements. What's your problem with other people choosing it?

Well our primary school just requires red jumper/cardigan, red or white polo and grey or black bottoms, they aren't bothered if the kids wear leggings or joggers and they can wear pretty much any footwear so that list does seem very ott to me

Wtf!

Thank goodness that our nursery school was normal and the only things we must buy was jumper with their logo, sweatpants in their colours and summer checkered dress of any colour.

But only 15 DC to a class and a TA as well would help with this.

I was more surprised when a friend of mine's child went to boarding school and she had to supply bedding for the term. It cost enough, you'd think they'd provide sheets, duvets and pillows!

Don't be a fool with that spiteful mindset. This has been going on forever. And you aware that private schools have a massive second hand shop too. We have quite an extensive uniform but it's all very, very good quality and that's why it can be donated to the shop and look great for many years.