Uniforms in Primary Schools

[GrumpyYoungFogey]

I know this has almost certainly been done before but the search feature on MN is not that great, or else (more likely) I am too dim to use it.

Being a child of the 1980s, I naturally grew up with no school uniform in the infants, and a rather loosely defined one in the juniors, which was only compulsory on the usual special days (photos, trips, that sort of thing).

So when did the practice of putting 4 year olds in grey pants and skirts and identical badged jumpers and shirts come in? How many infant schools are left that don't insist on this regimentation?

For me, the worst thing about it is how scruffy uniforms are, being nearly always based on polo shirts and sweatshirts, the effect of which is to make the kids look like they are working in a DIY superstore of for a firm of plumbers. Then there are those schools that go that bit extra and add trackie pants (for boys and girls) to the ensemble. Yuk!

I do my bit to undermine the concept by refusing to buy the official badged things and instead send the kids off in knitted jumpers and cardies in approximately the right colour. The net consequence being they stand out from their classmates by actually being smart!

But really, is there any campaign out there against uniforms, particularly for under sevens?

I would imagine the teachers would substitute other adjectives for "relaxed"

As a teacher, I like uniform, reinforces the community feel and is practical. The children don't worry if they accidentally get paint / mud on it as it washes easily, and the clothing is easy to get on and off for PE.
Not sure how I'll feel about it when DS is old enough to go to school - suspect I'll be in the 'hurrah no thinking required' camp!

Slight off topic, I found it rather 'interesting'and amusing when the head of a brand new school in a new village nearby chose the uniform to match her hair - purple! That's a nice easy colour to find in Tesco's isn't it...