To aka what you think to this change of school uniform??

[HappyDaze1997]

Just curious.

My Dc primary school have announced that they’ll be changing the school uniform from September. From white polos to royal blue. With leggings, shorts, or black leggings. With plain black trainers.and their usual school jumper / Cardigan which is also royal blue . It’s for everyday of the week.. it’s to fit in with their out door play etc. lots of parents annoyed as they’ve already bought new school uniform ahead of time before it was announced.

I think they are probably trying to adapt to what a lot of parents chose as an unofficial uniform. The black leggings and joggers point a lot of parents seem to allow their children to wear to my kids school despite the uniform being grey trousers/skirt (there is a summer dress option too). While some do wear these comfier options due to sen needs, a lot just wear them anyway as they see others doing it. Same with trainers. They are very common this term with the excuse of not wanting to buy new shoes til September in case their feet grow (which is fair enough) but then this also happens at other points in the year (school shoes not good in the rain, wanting to wear trainers as it's PE that day, couldn't find school shoes, blaming the other parent who has lost them at their house - the trainers never go missing however!).

The polos I think should be phased it. Dark colours will be better in the long run, but if anyone has just stocked up on white polos then they need to allow a year to transition fully from the old to new uniform.

Completely agree. My kids primary had a very practical uniform for everyday and then a smart version for when they were competing in things or out representing the school in the community. I always thought that was an ideal way to do it.

So it’s shorts, leggings or joggers. No skirt or dresses because they find girls wear shorts under them anymore so apparently it’s like two sets of clothes so they may as well just wear the shorts?

Maybe they will accept skorts if girls are that attached to them?

(Bet the girls aren't as bothered as the parents, even if the parents think they want dresses...)

That is true. It does seem pointless. My own daughter does this.
I also see a lot just ditching the skirt and wearing the shorts - again an unofficial uniform that they create, so rather than the school battling against this it sounds like they are going along with what children want.

1. all school uniform changes need a transition year to allow families to use what they bought legitimately.
2. blue is more practical than white from a stain perspective.
3. leggings are practise for little ones and seen universally in pre school environments, but not all 11 year old girls or boys will be happy with a choice of just leggings or shorts. There should be skirts and trousers.
4. personally I don’t like black for school trousers etc. Dark grey is easier to keep looking nice.
5. black shoes are normal. Specifying the type of shoe is excessive. If a girl wants a pretty patent leather black shoe then she should be allowed to wear them. Generations of children have worn them in the playground without ever being held back. This is the one area of choice in most school uniform policies and allows children to express themselves, which I think is nice.

I’ve been at schools where they’ve done uniform changes (primary and secondary)
They both announced in the autumn term and the oldest year group (year 6 and year 11) were exempt from the new uniform for one year.

The should have
. announced a year ahead
. Not require it for those then in y6
. Make mandatory for new starters
Give other children an extra year to switch (so 2 years from announcement)

That's how DD's secondary school did it and it worked well.

They definitely need a crossover year as people will have already bought bits for next year.
They might change their mind on skirts/dresses if enough people request them.
Assuming there's only a week or so left of term they've left this a bit bloody late to tell parents. Honestly 🙄

When DS was at Primary the girls quite often wore white leggings under their summer dresses and black leggings (as trousers) in winter. Many children wore black trainers as well even though smart school shoes were specified as the uniform.

Parents at a local school set up a petition when new uniform was introduced with no transition, to ask for it to be phased in.

Ridiculous.

our school changes the uniform a few years ago.

compulsory for reception and optional change for the rest. So the old uniform is gradually phased out.

Leggings under a summer dress? Weren't they roasting. Ours sometimes wear shorts under a summer dress, but wearing leggings with a summer dress seems illogical.

Good idea with trainers being allowed though as long as plain black. Some school shoes are really rubbish for children's feet if slip on or very flat.

Personally don't see the issue. My DC don't have a uniform. In summer the girls mostly wear shorts. A few wear dresses. In spring/autumn a lot of them wore leggings and shorts! Then in winter jeans or joggers.

Pretty much everyone wears trainers, boots in winter, some wear sandals in summer. The only school rules they have for clothing are "no flip flops for sport"!

I'd personally keep the white shirts for home, maybe let them decorate them with patches/fabric markers/dye. Keep one back for the Christmas t-shirt/jumper day.
You could always buy a large T-shirt take it in and let her wear it as a tunic over leggings...

It should be a gradual change

I think it's a great idea, and more and more schools will change to an "active" uniform which is suitable for PE. It'll save money for parents too.

I do agree there should be a transition period though - when my DC's primary changed uniform, they said the old uniform could be worn for as long as people wanted, which worked well.

Sounds judgemental

Uniform for young kids should be comfortable and practical. This sounds fine- the rollout time doesn't.

Our children's school uniform is like something out of an Enid Blyton book it's very lovely, extremely expensive though & they have shirts so more difficult for reception starters so a little bit impractical but I really wouldn't like it if my children went to a school with leggings/joggers & polo shirts & no summer uniform I don't think it looks very smart ..

OP is there a transition period? When my DD was at school they changed the uniform from white blouse and tie, blouses you could buy a packet of three for £4 in the local supermarket to an open neck three quarter sleeve blouse at £16. They could continue to wear the old style until they needed new ones. My DD just happened to have enough of the old blouses to last for the next three years. Amazing how I just happened to have them in more than one size.

If there isn't a transaction period that is unreasonable.

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Scotland here. Our school uniform is very laid back and I’m happy with it. Surely practical clothes that primary school kids can run about in is much more important than them being “smart”.

Ours is a school jumper/cardigan/fleece then a white or coloured polo and black or grey trousers or skirt. Joggers and leggings are v normal. No school shoes, just any shoes so most wear trainers.

Most kids do wear the logo tops, but even that’s not required. To be honest I think the school are more bothered about the kids actually turning up, than policing what they’re wearing!

There should definitely be a transition period though for uniform changes OP

Sounds perfect for primary age children.

Ditching the whole polos is a very sensible idea. I'd be disappointed with the option to no longer wear skirts or dresses and so would DD. If they are changing to black leggings then I don't see why a black pinafore or school skirt wouldn't be acceptable. I'd still be using those and proper black school trousers and shorts for DS.

Would you expect your daughter to do a PE lesson in a school skirt then, or formal school trousers for your son?

@TheNightingalesStarling My children got changed for PE! Even in YR. Why do dc have to go to school in PE kit? Mine liked skirts and pinafores too. This uniform is being brought in because dc haven’t been taught to dress themselves! So all have to wear black leggings?! Awful.