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Original poster

Would you think twice

70 replies

lionhearted · 23/01/2006 12:25

Thinking of sending ds1 to a private school, a very good school which I like a lot except that the boys uniform even in the Winter consists of shorts (cord ones). Playground is quite open and though they do look smart they also look like they freeze. Would something as superficial or minor as this make you think twice about the school? Would you wonder whether it represents a slight affectation on the part of the school and that they put appearence before comfort/protection?

OP posts:
Original poster
lionhearted · 23/01/2006 13:22

like the continental tights option btw but I'm not entirely sure he'd thank me !

OP posts:
Marina · 23/01/2006 13:24

If I liked everything else about the School it wouldn't bother me unduly. It does sound a bit silly though.

cod · 23/01/2006 13:24

Message withdrawn

RTKangaMummy · 23/01/2006 13:25

but cod is your view not influenced by your old uniform ?

cod · 23/01/2006 13:26

Message withdrawn

cod · 23/01/2006 13:26

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RTKangaMummy · 23/01/2006 13:28

ok sorry

RTKangaMummy · 23/01/2006 13:28

that was meant to be a

harpsichordcarrier · 23/01/2006 13:31

shorts with tights??
for a boy???
lordy I hope you're thinking of picking up at the school gate because on the bus in that combo.... eek

chipkid · 23/01/2006 13:31

my ds is in shorts today and he couldn't be happier about it!!! doesn't get it from me I hate to be cold. He wears long socks and a long duffle coat (below the knee) and he is absolutely fine. It is old fashioned, but the boys don't seem to care a bit. (they do of course spend all of their outdoor time running around like lunatics and so probably never feel the cold.

singersgirl · 23/01/2006 14:20

Would put me off, but that's coz I've got a thing about unnecessarily old-fashioned or 'poncey' uniforms. Hats in particular are a bugbear of mine - not sensible woolly hats for the winter, but ludicrous berets or caps. FFS. There's one girls' school I've seen where they wear capes!

If I really liked everything else about the school, perhaps I wouldn't rule it out. But why should my little boys have to freeze outside in the winter when I don't?

Blandmum · 23/01/2006 16:05

Kilt, poncy???? I'll set my very hunky 6 foot hubby on you

He looks fab in his kilt, he has a nice bottom and a good, muscular pair of legs. Lush! What with that, and his uniform, it more than makes up for the lack of hair on his head

Original poster
lionhearted · 23/01/2006 17:46

Actually, the girls at this particular school get the kilts after they've grown out of the Madeleine look...

OP posts:
FrenchGirl · 23/01/2006 17:53

what are you all going on about with tights for boys on the 'continent'? My brothers never wore tights! Frenchmen are no wusses you know

FrenchGirl · 23/01/2006 17:54

and I looooove a man in a kilt

calebsmummy · 23/01/2006 20:01

When DS1 started school the uniform was shirt, tie, jumper and shorts and it looked lovely (not a private school) None of the boys ever seemed bothered by it as most of them spent their playtimes charging around like lunatics anyway The only thing I felt was that it was abit daft to expect the yr6 to wear shorts.

They changed it when he got to yr4 and most of the boys (and a lot of girls) started to wear trousers. It just didn't look the same, especially the girls in trousers.
This was because a handful of parents complained about the year round shorts. The thing is, they knew what the uniform was before sending their child there, so why the big fuss?

lucy5 · 24/01/2006 08:09

My french nephew wears tights as do alot of little Spanish boys where I live.

MarsOnLife · 24/01/2006 09:01

There are boys at my DDs' primary school who refuse to wear trousers. They wear shorts all year round. Never killed any of them.

If everything else in the school works for you, then I'd go for it. You'll never find the perfect school.

Angeliz · 24/01/2006 09:37

My daughter goes to a Private School where the boys used to wear shorts in winter. The mums from dd's class were not happy, went to see the Head a few times and they're now in trousers.
Nothing is written in stone, if you like everything else about the School i'd go for it and try to change the Uniform

Beetroot · 24/01/2006 09:39

all my ds have had to wear shorts. They are fine. Never a moan about being cold. THey have long socks

snailspace · 24/01/2006 10:06

Message withdrawn

chipkid · 24/01/2006 12:54

I think feeling the cold is something that happens to grown ups only!!!!I have to persuade my ds to wear a coat even on days as freezing as today-he never wears socks in the house and will wear a short sleeved top whenever he gets the chance.
He hates being over hot but never complains about being cold

Albert · 24/01/2006 13:02

TBH it wouldn't put me off if the school was good, the school I went to was the same. Mind you it does sound a bit chilly in the UK now even here in winter the school kids wear long trousers and we don't even get into single figures here!

ggglimpopo · 24/01/2006 13:14

Message withdrawn

PeachyClair · 24/01/2006 13:17

My immediate thought was- jolly good for the old immune system, as long as they're allowed a pair of decent long woolly socks. And then I thought- no- why would they want a child to dress like that/ Either they have no regard for the comfort of young children, they're so stuck in the past that they'd probably have the kids lined up reciting french verbs parrot fashion, or they pander exclusively to parental pressure on cute dress, all of these threee excuses are silly to me, and would put me off immensely.

If you're not sure, put on a pir of shorts yourself and stand by the gates. Too bloody cold? Thought so!