To think that switching to polo shirts makes the school uniform look low-rent?

[Byetoshirts]

My kids' primary has announced a change from shirts to polo shirts (previously just KS1) for all years except year 6.

I just think it looks a bit rubbish - all the other (in the main more affluent) local primaries have kids that look smart, and ours now get to look like they've just rolled out of bed. My DC are annoyed as they enjoy looking smart at school.

I associate polos in school uniform with young children and others who struggle with buttons and spilling stuff on themselves.

They also wash and wear badly (as stains kind embed themselves in polos) and the collar doesn't sit properly when open so a lot of (KS1) kids wear them tightly buttoned up to the neck, which doesn't exactly seem comfortable.

I just find the stains come out of the shirts so much more easily (I do hang them in the sun)

Quite a snobby term, low rent. I prefer polo shirts at primary. Much better for running around outside in than a shirt and tie.

In the city I live in, the primary schoolsvwhich send a higher proportion of children to Gramnar school all have polo shirt uniforms. The three that have shirts and ties are all bottom of the pile in terms of SATS and have very few children qualify for Grammar. I think the Academy trusts know there is a snob factor in shirts and ties so try to attract parents who will want that look. However it clearly is not working. It's also interesting that two of the three prep schools also have polo shirts as uniform. I was a bit surprised but talking to a teacher of one of the schools she said it made it so much easier and quicker for the kids to change for PE so they got more time actually playing and even better quick changed again so back to lessons. White shirts can also look very grey after a bit and Y6 girls who are starting puberty get very sensitive about their bra showing under a thin white shirt. A polo shirt provides much better cover.

So much easier.

I think some of that is definitely schools/colleges being old fashioned but also that teens need more of a framework to stay work-appropriate.

“Low rent”?? You don’t want your kids sssociating with trailer trash? Could you BE any more of a snob?

I think that's the case in most schools no matter what they wear. The weather is better. Energy levels are higher and everything is a lot more 'outdoorsy'.

Everyone's in a more comfortable position after settling in for the first term and a half.

It's much more comfortable to run around playing footie and other sports during lunch and break in a polo than a regular shirt and tie.

I don't understand why they can't just say there's a school jumper you can buy but it's optional and otherwise just normal clothes. Primary kids don't need to be gussied up in uncomfy starched shirts and uniforms. They need to be able to run about and feel free and comfortable.

Yabu. All schools (primary AND secondary) should swap to practical , warm and comfortable uniform.
Trainers, maybe jeans or joggers and polo and hoodie.
I don't know why they insist on some outdated idea of 1980's office wear. My teen couldn't cope with the feel of the suit uniform and it contributed to her missing months of school.

I understand the point you’re making but it’s not a hill I’d die on. I’m happy for primary uniform to be joggers, polo shirts and sweatshirts. Local prep school, primary wear sports kit 3 days a week. Never given it second thought!

My DC are annoyed as they enjoy looking smart at school.
I associate polos in school uniform with young children and others who struggle with buttons and spilling stuff on themselves
You sound an awful snob and an ignorant one at that.
Millions of workplaces have polos, children do not need a tie, have you birthed little Rhys Mogg boys?

Who cares how it looks? It's more comfortable for the kids and is a good compromise.

This is the kind of nonsense I can't stand.

Considering the cost of housing 'low rent' is something to aspire to.

Chill @Byetoshirts, everyone still knows your a snob.

That's interesting - definitely the reverse here - and the local preps are very much still in cap and blazer mode

Actually the prep school that the Rees Mogg children attended/attend has polo shirts and cravat for smart occasions. Not a formal shirt and tie in sight!!

My daughter loves a smart white shirt but honestly she still comes home filthy, especially in the summer, so polos work better. She wears a polo and trainers to school and is comfortable and can play comfortably. Much better than a stiff shirt and shoes for kids.

🤣🤣🤣 that made me laugh

The only person I have seen wear a tie at work lately is the local iffy estate agent.

I work in architecture and civil engineering and nobody wears a tie ☺️

Oops forgot to add that our official corporate uniform is a polo shirt. I love wearing mine!

Our primary has polo shirts, I think it looks good and is much more comfortable. We’ve never had any issues with the collars not sitting right. There’s no need for kids to be in shirts and ties, they’re restrictive and can look messy if not worn right. They’re also bad for many kids with sensory issues. My dd is on the pathway for ASD and ADHD diagnosis and she wouldn’t be able to wear a shirt and tie all day easily.

Yes on the bra thing pp. One of the reasons my daughter doesn't wear a white shirt very often any more. Although they do seem generally thinner and worse quality, like everything else in the world.

It sounds like there's a kind of snobbery in the OP, with the assumption that 'affluent areas' = smarter uniform and so switching to polos makes the school seem like 'low rent'.

Where we live it seems to be the opposite - including at secondary level. The schools serving the wealthier areas seem to be the ones that have the confidence to stop fussing about uniform and focus on practicality. The top performing private school has a 'low rent' casual uniform of polos and no blazers/shirts/ties. The desirable secondary serving the naice catchment with the million pound houses has no uniform at all so the kids are all in hoodies and joggers. Our local secondary (in the okay but not super fancy part of town) has a blazer but no tie or formal shirt. Meanwhile the troubled secondary serving the tough area has the old fashioned shirt, blazer and tie look with kids sent home for minor infractions (which has not improved their dire results).

Another point, do you have girls or boys? I found tgat year 6 girls who are starting puberty and wearing a bra found the thin white shirts that you like very revealing of a bra. My niece asked if she could wear dresses because the patterned material made it less obvious. I have also seen a number of threads on here of parents of senior school girls finding thin shirts very uncomfortable. The local girls gramnar changed to summer shirts in a striped material with rever neck so the girls felt more comfortable in summer and it had a really positive impact on pupil attention levels in summer. The girls felt smart and cool at the same time.

Find the idea that shirts and ties are preparing you for the workplace odd - I work in a fairly oldfashioned and stuffy industry and I haven't seen a shirt and tie in the workplace for anything other than a client meeting in years. Men are in polo shirts (!) or t-shirts, etc.

Shirts and ties are utterly ridiculous in this day and age. I’m 59 and can’t think of a single benefit afforded to me by having worn a shirt and tie at school. I hated it and never wore anything remotely similar once I left school, as I’m sure is the same for most women. And men too. I remember men wearing ties in the office in the eighties/nineties, but that’s no longer the case. So how does it prepare anyone for anything? I’m sure if I’d been able to wear a polo shirt for school, then found I needed a tie for work, I would have coped without all the years of ‘practice’🤣

Polo shirts are generally cheaper, easier to wash, cope with not being ironed, and more practical for outdoor activities, playtime etc.

I work in a professional role. I’m currently wearing checked cotton trousers, a stretchy top, and a sparkly cardigan. There is literally no reason to dress children up as tiny bankers. It’s impractical, expensive and creates a very odd, frankly elitist, impression of what the working world is like.

Even if people in the workplace still wore shirt and tie, why would actual children need to be 'prepared' for it as if wearing clothes would be a major life change 😂