To think that people really cant afford school uniforms?

[HaggisNeepsnTatties]

I realise that affording a lot of things for many people is not easy. But one girl in dds class is always getting into trouble for not wearing uniform. Just thinking about this as dd1 is about to go back to school. I have kitted her out for next to nothing (Asda are selling skirts for £3) The girl in dd1's class is always wearing designer trainers etc.....is it genuinely a case of not being able to afford the uniform...what do you think...AIBU??

our council does not offer grants for uniforms.

well said Fluffles.

i agree, fluffles.

There is an advert for Tesco on at the moment... 2 pairs of trousers or 2 skirts, 2 polo shirts, 8 pairs of socks, a coat and a pair of shoes... for £15!

Yep sometimes it really is a case of priorities.

I worked in a sink-estate school and was reprimanded by the vicar's-wife deputy head for not telling off the seven year old girl who had black "school" trousers riding down on the hips with "BABE!" written in diamanté across the poor child's arse.

She told the unfortunate little girl that her trousers were, "most inappropriate" as if she would have any control over what her parent bought her for school.

DD has black trousers as uniform this year and I am counting my blessings that she'll sometimes be able to team them with interesting tops at weekends. I wouldn't buy her "fashionable" bottoms and then expect her to wear them to school, but a lot of people do.

I teach at secondary school, and do think that often it's more a case of the kids arguing with their parents about what they are and aren't going to wear, and the parents giving in. The last two schools I've taught in have had a high percentage of kids on free school meals, which is often how LEAs measure the amount of wealth. Both have had uniforms consisting of plain trousers/skirt, polo shirt (school logo optional) and sweatshirt (school logo optional) so not the most expensive of uniforms. Many more kids wore trainers than school shoes, and when I've phoned home as a form tutor to discuss this (parents do, after all, sign a home-school agreement stating that they will send their children in correct uniform) I've been told that they can't afford school shoes. Fair enough, but someone has made the choice to buy trainers instead. Ditto jeans rather than trousers.

I'm not unsympathitic in terms of low-income families, but if it's the kids calling the shots, then schools have to respond.

Can't speak for primary though - no experience there.

here the jumpers and polo shirts are lgo for primary and the senior blazers , ties, pe shirts 3 of are logo

mine willhave but its going to hurt

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i checked. no grant. if they do offer one they probably have a set amount, too, and once it runs out it's gone.

some councils in scotland get free school dinners.

ours doesn't.

I think some probably can't. We have no Tescos, asda etc near us, not even a woolies now, so those who do not have cars or wish to pay very expensive fares to travel to 'nearby' towns/cities that do are forced to buy from M&S which is hardly cheap!

I love school uniform, but particularly for secondary schools and school like DD's which require several different pairs of shoes, logo cardigans etc it can get expensive and I do know some people who honestly cannot afford it (and they don't drink/smoke etc). I remember 'supporting' myself through my GCSE year at my really quite 'posh' blazer and 5 PE kits type school and not being able to afford the clothes or footwear I needed, instead I skipped all my PE lessons and had to repeatedly publicly plead poverty in order to avoid the many detentions (once again I didn't smoke or drink ). Reading that I wonder whether it had anything with my deciding not to stay on for Sixth Form.

That said I think most people just have thier priorities out of order, or over-stretch themselves with the state school they choose........

Expat, I got £50 Uniform Grant and I've had it every year since DD started school.

not in scotland im in ESSEx and here eblazer £44 tie £5 , pe rugby top £25, pe top £20 Pe shorts £10 , pe sweatshirt £22 all school logo time sthat by 2 and thats without trousers , shirts and shoes and ds1 is a size 12 , ds2 size 7 so not in kids sizes either

Primary Sweatshirt £10 polo shirt £8 ,pe tshirt £6 times by 2 .plus shoes and trousers

i was told there wasn't any money for it, muggle.

doesn't matter, uniform is cheap, IMO.

cheaper than kitting her out in normal clothes.

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nd no not overstretching by sending to posh schools they are the only schools where i live .

dont drink dont smoke dont go out

i have three kids, and am able to afford school uniform. but, i get given so much second hand uniform, that i think, dd has only evern been bought less than bare mininimum, as she gets given it. usually, but not always, its in good enough nick fo r me to pass it on, which i always always do. partiuclarly the logod stuff.

Really?
That's crap.
I had no problem, just filled the forms in and got it.

Maybe it's because I'm a lone parent, or because I'm on IS atm?

and it's pretty far for us to get to any tesco's or primark.

cost of about £10 in transport if you take ferry and train.

seriously, i don't buy this 'can't afford it' because it really is VERY cheap and we're pretty skint.

tesco mega cheap.

don't know about asda or sainsbo's because those are away in glasgow and it would cost about a lot more to get through there.

our income is below that. we're on WTC and CTC.

i can`t even pass ds 1 on to ds2 as they re in differnt houses and uniforms are slightly differnt .

expat what about secondry schools when its logo cant get that at Tescos or ASDa her eone shop only and quality not exactly good

Phoenix surely that serves you right for sending your DS's to Hogwarts?

Secondary school uniforms cost a lot below comes to over £400 .
DS2 starting in september and have spent I reckon

School blazer £45
School blazer buttons £10
School jumper compulsory £25 each (got 1 but need 2 really)

Rugby boots boots £20
School rugby shirt and top £30
School athletics kit £20
School sports hoodie £15
trachsuit bottoms £10
White trainers £25
Running spikes not got yet -(£20 ?)
School swimming trunks £10
Cricket trousers £15

cricket shirt £8
cricket jumper £20
Tennis racquet £20
Mouth guard £10
Woodwork/craft apron £7
Bag for books £10
Bag for PE kit £10

stationery £5
dictionary £7
art book £2

decent trousers X 2 £20
3 shirts £12
school tie £8

School shoes £40
It is NOT cheap !!

lol yeah now where did I put their wands and broomsticks opps nope thats mine

but seriously it is the only school in town wher I live and could not believe they put in differnt houses

'expat what about secondry schools when its logo cant get that at Tescos or ASDa her eone shop only and quality not exactly good '

then you have to budget for it, even if it takes all year.

not all secondary schools require logo, either.

it's about priorities. and we're pretty poor.

i did Gold2Pounds to buy the girls' shoes.

they'd outgrown theirs and their feet are so narrow (C and D width) i had to go through to Glasgow to get them.

it took an entire day and cost over £20 just to get there.

they're my kids, it's my job to clothe them even if it means i go without.

i desperately need my haircut.

it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

that's life.

Buttons for the blazer....dont they come with buttons??