Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Original poster

I'm 'against' school uniform is anyone else??

206 replies

zazas · 06/02/2006 13:41

Recently at my DD and DS primary school the majority of parents voted to introduce a uniform. Unfortunately I am in the minority! Is there anyone else who feels strongly about this subject.....I don't want to loose perspective but I really don't want my children wearing a school uniform! Give me your views please.

OP posts:
wordgirl · 06/02/2006 13:43

Hmm, I think as long as it's a sensible uniform ie. polo shirt/sweatshirt and trousers/skirt then you may find it makes life a lot easier for you.

Freckle · 06/02/2006 13:44

What are your reasons against it? In my view, a uniform helps create a sense of identity and belonging and also avoids problems of children wanting the same sort of clothes as others. Some parents can afford "designer" clothes, whereas others can't. With a school uniform, everything is level.

tissy · 06/02/2006 13:45

No- I would think twice about sending my dd to a school that didn't have a uniform, TBH. I get enough fuss of a morning sending her to nursery- she is very particular about what she wants to wear- and woe betide me if it isn't clean. Roll on August and white shirt, grey pinafore, blue cardi- "sorry you have to wear it- IT'S THE LAW!!! "

unicorn · 06/02/2006 13:46

imo it is so much easier (for me) and much less wear on the clothes if they have a (simple) uniform.

ds loves his little nursery jumper and joggers - gives him a sense of belonging.

Don't see why that would be a problem.

Mascaraohara · 06/02/2006 13:46

Actually, I have quite strong opnions about this and should probably PARP myself but having attended a secondary school where there was no uniform I am in favour of schools having a uniform.

bran · 06/02/2006 13:46

I like school uniforms, I wore one my whole school life. It's quicker in the mornings because you don't have to decide what to wear.

Hausfrau · 06/02/2006 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anniebear · 06/02/2006 13:48

suppose it is ok if you have lots of money

It doesn't matter in the earlier years of school but as they get a little older and you have some children with the latest £70 trainers on and others in their £10 trainers, it isn't fair and can create Bullying, which is already a huge problem without adding to it

JonesTheSteam · 06/02/2006 13:48

Think school uniform is a good idea - like Freckle says it gives everyone a 'level' playing field as all children will be wearing the same thing.

It makes things easier in the morning here - at least DD and I don't have arguments about what she's going to wear to school.

It won't be compulsory at primary school level anyway, so if you don't want your children to wear it, let them wear their normal clothes.

mszebra · 06/02/2006 13:48

I think I may have trouble getting DD to settle into school because she is SO particular about what she wears (so, yet another reason she won't want to go). otherwise I tend to prefer uniform, for all the reasons others have said.

misdee · 06/02/2006 13:49

the primary school i went into didnt have enforcable uniform. it was suggested but not insisted on. i was picked on because of the clothes i wore 'car boot sale girl' etc etc. i am thankful that my kids school and nursery to be have uniforms. makes life easier as well.

geekgrrl · 06/02/2006 13:51

so, zazas, what don't you like about school uniforms?

ladymuck · 06/02/2006 13:54

Ds1 (in reception) is really keen on his, because he knows which "team" he is in (so competitive, so young). It has helped him settle in as he is wearing the same uniform as the bigger boys (schoolgoes up to 13).

Also must be much calmer for the teachers. When we have the school mufti day it all looked so chaotic.

I think it helps with the mindset. This is what you wear for school and when you following school rules, this is what you wear at home where it is different.

sandyballs · 06/02/2006 13:54

I love my DDs uniform, very sweet - particularly the little maroon tie on elastic . Agree that it makes them more equal and creates a sense of unity.

Rhubarb · 06/02/2006 13:58

Here in France there are no uniforms. This is good and bad.
Good points.
I don't have to make sure she has a clean and ironed uniform every day (we don't have a washing machine so this is a big plus for us).
I don't have to spend a fortune and get ripped off by clothes shops that do uniforms.

Bad points.
As they get a little older, the schoolground is like a fashion parade and if you don't have the right clothes/designer gear on then you're not with the crowd.
School photos don't seem to look as nice without the uniform!
You have no idea who goes to which school, so if some little brat is busy vandalising cars when they should be at school, you can't report them to the school.

nikkie · 06/02/2006 14:04

Uniform is ok if you can get plain polo shirts from asda (ie no logo) but some schools are really strict round here and the pants and everything have to have thelogo -making it really expensive

motherinferior · 06/02/2006 14:09

I hate school uniforms on littlies - it was far from the deciding factor in which school I opted for, but DD1 goes to a non-uniform school and I love it. And no, they don't dress either in pant-skimming jailbaiterama or in the latest couture. Just lots of small kids dashing madly around in jeans and fleeces.

They call their teachers by their first names too

GDG · 06/02/2006 14:09

Nope - I'm all for uniform for many of the reasons already stated.

crunchie · 06/02/2006 14:10

It doesn't sound like many of us are against uniform tbh!! Sorry Zazas.

I am pro uniform for all the reasons everyone else is. Red or white polo shirt, grey skirt/trs, red cardigan. We do have school cardis, but noone really bothers, so I can dress my kids for under £10 each and the only choice is skirt/trs/pinefore each morning Also the uniform is tumble dry and non-iron which is even better.

motherinferior · 06/02/2006 14:11

Aloha hates it too. That makes THREE of us!

GDG · 06/02/2006 14:12

What are the reasons for objecting to uniform?

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 06/02/2006 14:18

god I love school uniform. I'm crap at buying clothes. I'm also mean. and dd usually hates what I buy anyway. school uniform is a god send. cheap, doesn't need ironing (or, to put it more accurately, doesn't look like shit when it hasn't been ironed. don;t do child ironing in our house), no decisions or (perish the thought) arguments in the mornings, no fear of competition, no fear of being considered a snob cos the only clean thing was dd's best (and only)Boden dress, and less non-school clothes to buy. what on earth turns anyone against it?

Angeliz · 06/02/2006 14:20

I couldn't bear the arguments each day if it wasn't just a uniform!
Also agree with the points when they're older about competitions with the best clothes.

IlanaK · 06/02/2006 14:23

I went to school in the USA from 6 - 16 without school uniform and I have to say it was a nightmare for all the reasons said here. If you weren't wearing the "right" thing you were bullied. And god forbid you wore the same thing twice in one week (clean of course). I am totally FOR school uniforms. My kids are home schooled though so I don't have to worry

Feistybird · 06/02/2006 14:23

In principle, I don't like them, in the same way that I don't like ID cards.......however, having 2 girls, each of whom is so very particular about what they wear, it does actually make life a bit easier.