AIBU to think it's not school's decision?

[GlitteryRainbow]

Somehow I got volunteered to organise the Year 6 Leaver's hoodies. When I looked into it there was a discount available if we ordered by 31st January, so seemed perfect. I got a shop setup everyone ordered on time. I got the order delivered to school because it seemed easier. It was due to arrive in half term so I got it rescheduled. I let the secretary know they would arrive this Monday.

I told my daughter they were coming Monday and she was excited. No hoodie when I came home yesterday. I've been told today that the children can't have their hoodies until May. The parents paid for the hoodies, so AIBU to think that school can't decide when the children get their hoodies? I realise it's their decision when the hoodies can be worn at school. Other schools get them early on and wear them for the entire year. We've never been told that there is time they aren't allowed to wear the hoodies before.

Would I be unreasonable to ask the school to give the hoodies to either myself or the children. We'll agree that the children won't wear them to school before the date the head stipulates. In hindsight I should have just got them delivered to my address.

Definitely check them, we had to get some reprinted last year at the last minute due to misspelt names, missing letters and a missing child!

Our Leaver's hoodies have always been given out close to the end of year. That seemed ok to me, and made it seem part of the celebrations. The order didn't even have to be in until April though, so I'd never really considered what it might be like to wear them so early on, it's just never been a thing at our schools.

Over £28? Where are your school ordering them from that they cost that much?

Our schools done this for the last ten years and it annoys the parents. They don't get them till almost the end of term because the headteacher has said there was a marked decline in behaviour when they get them earlier in the year and wear them to school 🙄

Get hold of the whole lot to check for errors. I think that’s essential as there’s always a problem, there were with both my kids years. When they get given out make it clear they are not to be worn in school unless it’s been okayed. I know of one local school where the kids were always allowed to wear them earlier in y6, then they had a new Head and they said no, after sats. It caused uproar.

DS was allowed to wear his after sats but it was roasting hot. He has worn it a few times since.
DD finally got hers at the start of August as she was a Covid year 6 and then there was a problem with the names and some of the hoodies were damaged when they came a second time. She wore it for a photo and not since.
It’s a nice memento I suppose. A reminder of the shit show that was the end of primary school, if you will!

Our school ordered ours in October. The kids got to choose what name they had but the school chose the school colour and there’s the logo on the front. They could wear them from the moment they arrived and it’s a lovely camaraderie for the year 6s. What’s the point if they don’t get to wear them together.

Technically the zip up hoodie design (without the leavers back logo/names) is part of the school uniform, but isn’t allowed to be worn within the school lessons (never bothered as mine just took a coat) and in year 6 they’re allowed to wear it instead of a jumper. I’ve seen many kids wear their siblings past leavers hoodies before getting their own.
I think it’s a great thing as a branded jumper is compulsory uniform and it saves us having to buy one for the last year alongside the leavers hoodie.

Did you not check with the school before ordering when they would be allowed to wear them, if this question is not covered in the uniform policy?

It's not the schools decision, but why do thr children need to wear leavers hoodies before they have left? I can see why the school don't approve....they want the students to be fully present and in the room, not checked out half way through the academic year!

It’s not school uniform so of course you can’t just assume that they can be work whenever. I think the mix of colours makes it even worse, difficult to pass off as an alternative uniform.

you should support the school on this one but ask to go in and check already that the order is correct/no issues and then leave till May.

Not quite the point of the threat but…
mine wore theirs and then had the part with the leavers names on made into a cushion cover with the school logo and year on the other side
Still in their bedrooms as teens

Well obviously they need to give them to you but it sounds like you’re expecting the school to do a job you’ve volunteered to do. You freely admit you got them delivered there to make things more convenient for you as you didn’t want to have to get them from somewhere yourself. You also say the school haven’t had involvement in them so it’s really not up to them to hand them out.

This thread just made me check parent portal to see if ours were available to be paid for yet and was there to be paid so thanks reminding me to check. Payment due by end of March and it's £15.70 for ours so yours seems expensive!

If the school has a uniform policy then surely they have communicated - if you want special dispensation for the year 6 class then it is on you to ask. The communication here was your responsibility.

How were the school to know when, or even if, some unknown parent was going to order hoodies?

You can roll your eyes but the decline in behaviour seems to be mentioned quite a bit in this thread so is likely true and a genuine concern for teachers

Is that member of staff not part of the school?

If a member of staff told you is that not the school telling you?

Agree if you were just expecting them to hand out the hoodies for you cos you couldn’t be arsed they can decide when they do it.

Why is it only half the class? That might be why they don’t want everyone to have theirs yet, so the kids who couldn’t buy one don’t feel bad.

Yes but they could be allowed them so they can wear them outwith school, since it's the parents who are paying for them. As op also said she would be happy with.

But then at the end of the year the excitement about them will gone and it will no longer feel part of the leavers experience. Some may be lost or damaged by that point.

I got roped into organising my daughter’s class leavers hoodies. We gave them out around April time but school wouldn’t let them wear them until after may half term - so lots of very sweaty kids in them in June / July! (I could barely get mine off my daughter yet to wash!!) School should definitely let you have them if you have paid for them.

I think as soon as you decided the school were to assist you in taking delivery of them, for your own ease and convenience, you effectively handed them over. You even say you 'let them know' rather than 'asked then politely to support'.

This isn't the school's responsibility to organise, but you've included them and staff have dealt with it on your behalf, during working hours and in their professional capacity.

The deadline was an agreement for the benefit of the company (ensure orders) and the parents (lock in discount), but the hoodies are for when the children leave the school. It would be hugely disruptive for school to enable any sort of winding down for the end of the year / celebration of the end of an era... in February.

I have no idea. That's what we paid for DS'. Surrey if that makes a difference - I'm convinced that always adds to the price!

We order ours as a school so they can wear them from about Nov/Dec - tiny school and they are the same colour as the jumpers otherwise they just don't get a chance to wear them. It's a bit like a Y6 uniform. Parents don't pay for them at our school - they are a gift to the children.

Threaten to take the school to the small claims court. That won't look good for them. Report them to your local authority and local council.

The fact that year 6 have leavers hoodies every year might have given it away. In previous years they have been ordered when someone decided to do it. This year is no different. I had communicated with the school as I asked the teachers out of courtesy if they wanted one.

I would go to the school and ask for them. Say you need to check the right ones have arrived/sizing/names spelled correctly etc. they can hardly refuse.