Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to judge, and be irrationally pissed off, that DSs offered school...

55 replies

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 14/05/2010 16:41

doesn't wear ties? I went to private school and we were up to our eyeballs in straw hats, blazers, tunics etc. and the only 'uniform' DS seems to get is a logo jumper. Underneath they have the choice of a polo shirt, or a shirt, but the shirt looks so scruffy without a tie. When the snobbery novelty wears off I guess I will be glad I can bung a bunch of polos in the wash and quickly iron rather than deal with shirts every day, and lost ties and what not, but it's really put me off. His first choice at least has a P.E kit and ties. Go on, flame me, I am in a miserable grumpy mood

OP posts:
OrganicHairbrush · 14/05/2010 18:58

I wore a tie to school for 5 years and have never worn one since. I mean really, what's the point in them?

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 14/05/2010 19:01

At the primary school mine go to for years R-2 it is polo shirts and jumpers. Year r can wear sweatshirts. Years 3-6 have to wear shirts/blouses and ties.

hocuspontas · 14/05/2010 19:03

Yes, I'd love someone to explain what ties are for, apart from 'looking smart'

seb1 · 14/05/2010 19:04

Their purpose is the give the DCs something else to lose.

Firawla · 14/05/2010 19:05

I think uniform of just jumper and no tie is the best one! It will be more comfy, less expensive to buy, less fuss but still they are in a uniform. The school I want for my ds doesnt have any uniform at all which is a shame i think, cos they look quite nice in the little school jumpers and its nice in a way to have them all matching in uniform, and not to be trying to go in fashionable...
If its a good school though I think its probably worth sacrificing our uniform ideals. Better they go and learn in a good environment without a tie, or in own clothes, than dressed up smart in tie, blazer and all the rest but the school is rubbish - can't always have everything

zapostrophe · 14/05/2010 19:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

EdgarAllenPoll · 14/05/2010 19:13

i wore ties for primary and the first secondary i went to (now a perforing arts academy1) ..but not since.

my mum had all the gumpf you had (straw hat etc) all she remembers is how costly they were to replace when lost (esp when some cruel cowbag threw her hat off the train..her folks could not afford it!)

PortiaPie · 14/05/2010 20:24

My ds wore a gorgeous red blazer to his shit private school. He now wears a horrible red sweatshirt to his fabulous state school.

mumbar · 14/05/2010 20:27

YABU I think I'd be more interested in its teaching/ behavior policys than a tie. IMO children can work harder when they are comfy.

seeker · 14/05/2010 21:04

And why on earth is 'looking smart" desirable in a 5 year old? Looking scruffy because you've been doing interesting things is what we should be looking for!

Jux · 14/05/2010 21:15

We had to wear two - that's right, TWO - pairs of knickers at my school. One normal white pair, and then a big navy blue pair WITH A POCKET!!!!!

oldandgreynow · 14/05/2010 21:20

My DSs went to primary that had shirts and ties from reception, and I'm here to tell you that however smart they looked in the morning, by hometime esp on PE days , they looked like the bash street kids!
My DDs go to a primary with a similar uniform to the one you describe.I put them in cardigans ,openneck blouses and 'skirt and bib' pinafores.
YANBU IMHO sweatshirts and smart trousers just don't go together

cockles · 14/05/2010 21:24

I do agree about the casual/smart mix, ours has zip up sweatshirts, tshirts and black smart trousers - ugh ugh - what can I do? surely if it has to be uniform it should look like something. Chino type trouses would be better. I hate uniform at reception anyway. Grr.

LynetteScavo · 14/05/2010 21:24

What did you keep in the pocket, Jux???

OP...just be thankful the uniform isn't jogging bottoms

bran · 14/05/2010 21:25

You iron polo shirts? (I'm missing the point, I know.)

I wore a school tie from the age of 4 until I left school, it was a pain in the fecking neck (pun intended). I'm glad that DS doesn't have to, not least because he's a very wriggly 5 yr old and it would be so difficult to keep him still for long enough to tie it.

dinkystinky · 14/05/2010 21:31

I am grateful that DS1 will be going to a school with polo shirt approach. The child has a button phobia (god only knows where its come from) that DH and I are doing our utmost to overcome by September. A full shirt and tie would probably be a few steps too far...

piscesmoon · 14/05/2010 22:37

I hate the sight of poor little 5 yr olds dressed up in ties, blazers etc. They need something practical and comfortable that they can get down on the floor in. They need to change for PE easily and it shouldn't matter if they roll in the grass and get covered in paint.

Clary · 14/05/2010 22:46

I am amazed that anyone would want a 4yo to wear a tie! Why exactly??

I like school uniform, don't get me wrong, but for small children IMO it needs to be practical, so polos, sweatshirts and trousers are good, ties and caps not so much.

PE kit is a good idea tho.

brightyoungthing · 14/05/2010 23:43

DD's school uniform is polo shirts and they look horrible IMO. When I went to the same school not very long ago we had to wear proper shirts and ties, and by god did we look smart
When I went to the local comp the uniform was very casual, we could wear anything as long as it was black and white. Now they have changed to blazers, shirts and ties and they look so much better when they descend en mass down the high street after school, but I hear the cost of their uniforms is obscene so I'm hoping for a change back to casual before 2014 when DD starts!!

brightyoungthing · 14/05/2010 23:47

Also, I can't remember ever being uncomfortable in primary school or ever loosing my tie ! But dressing for the comp was a mare....so many fashion mistakes to make!

piscesmoon · 15/05/2010 07:27

Does it matter if they look horrible? Surely a five year old wants to be comfortable in something they can get dirty? School isn't a fashion parade. I think that secondary school pupils should be smart, but still in something cheap, durable and washable.

seeker · 15/05/2010 07:29

Nobody has yet explained to me why "smart" is something a 5 year old should be. What do you dress them in at home - suits and ties? Dresses with net petticoats?

seeker · 15/05/2010 07:31

Also, why have a school uniform that costs money? I can only think of one reason - and it's not a very edifying one.

cory · 15/05/2010 07:34

"Nobody has yet explained to me why "smart" is something a 5 year old should be."

piscesmoon · 15/05/2010 07:38

Perhaps the school could have a dressing up box and they could kit up the poor 5 yr old in shorts, knee length socks, long sleeved shirts with cuff buttons, a tie and a blazer that costs the earth and has to be dry cleaned. The parent could come and 'oo and ah' and take photos and then they could change into simple trousers and polo shirts and get down to being children!