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Original poster

Private school uniforms - how much do you need?!

82 replies

Mendi · 04/04/2013 10:15

So, DD is moving from state primary to a private school in Sept and we have just received the uniform list. It just lists what is required, not how much of each thing, and I am wondering how many of things like blazer, sports kit you get? Blazer in particular is really expensive, but I guess they wear it every day so you need two, in case one gets dirty?

It's probably obvious how clueless I am. Please help.

OP posts:
Callthemidlife · 05/04/2013 12:27

A note of caution ref sports stuff.

Not sure if same in all areas, but by the time they are in prep proper in yr 3 they may be doing Saturday school and/or having loads of competitive sports matches on Saturday afternoons. Getting the kit home on a Saturday evening for cleaning and drying by Monday morning is not fun. I highly recommend you don't even bother trying. 2 of everything, all from second hand shop, is the way to go.

And I usually have a couple of extra skins that I throw in because they can stink to high heaven after just one hockey/rugby match and I'd prefer DC to at least have a new skin for each game (some schools will have games daily for yrs3 upwards)

And of course, A drawer-full of mouth guards. Maybe 6 per child. labelled for each child of course (but with removeable stickers to cope with real emergencies....boak). I tend to buy 6 each September and have none left by summer.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 12:31

My two bring their PE kit home once every half them for washing but neither of them do any extra curricular sports

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 12:32

I signed forms to allow them to play hockey without mouth guards so they dont have them.

seeker · 05/04/2013 12:54

Pictures- why did you do that? Shock Please unsign immediately!!!!!!!!

SoupDragon · 05/04/2013 12:59

No mouthguards?! Shock

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:05

I figured I played hockey at school for years without them and as they only play for one half term a year it was very expensive to get two mouth guards every year (as the bumf assured me they would need a new fitting every year)

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:06

I chipped my front teeth playing red river in the playground. Dd is more likely to harm her teeth dancing.

seeker · 05/04/2013 13:07

I didn't wear a seat belt as a child either!

They don't have to be expensive- and you "fit" them by soaking them in boiling water. But even if they were expensive, they are cheaper than the orthodontist!

Callthemidlife · 05/04/2013 13:08

We just use the boil in a bag cheapies from sports direct at £3 a throw.

SoupDragon · 05/04/2013 13:12

DSs orthodontist insisted that the expensive, fitted at the start of the year mouthguards were damaging to children teeth and that under no circumstances should I get them. Boil-to-fit ones are far better when children are still growing and their teeth still moving.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:24

We were sent a leaflet and a letter from school from a company called opro who came into school to fit everyone on a certain day back in September.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:25

Dd is going to need a brave when she gets her second set if teeth. I thought dentists for children were free.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:27

I think they spend most if the hdlf hour avoiding doing very much in hockey anyway! They are not at all sporty!

SoupDragon · 05/04/2013 13:30

Yes, DSs were sent that Opro leaflet too. Their orthodontist said that under no circumstances was I to use them. We have Opro boil-to-fit ones instead.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 13:36

I think the cheapest one was about £35. Seemed a lot for something that would only be used about half a dozen times.

Callthemidlife · 05/04/2013 13:39

Dentists for children are free, but if her front teeth are knocked out then to have proper, beautiful implants will not be covered and will cost in the region of £8,000 privately (DH has them, thanks to a rugby game in his youth...).

I would also imagine that if she lost a couple of teeth she would have to wear dentures until the rest of her teeth finished growing, and wouldn't be able to get implants any earlier. Not a great experience for a girl during the snogging years....

Go on. You know it makes sense.

seeker · 05/04/2013 13:40

Half a dozen times? Wow- dd played more hockey than that in. state school!!!!!

But true!

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 14:17

That's per year. Opro said you had to have a new mouth guard every year

They do hockey and football in the winter term netball and something else in the spring term I think and tennis and athletics in the summer.

The hockey club runs for the serious ones.

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 14:18

Dd tries to do as little sport as possible.

seeker · 05/04/2013 14:24

Seriously, I would be amazed if she gets away with 6 games of hockey......

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 14:47

They have 1 period of games per week plus 1 period of PE which is gymnastics, dance and something else

Picturesinthefirelight · 05/04/2013 14:50

Ah orienteering/team building

Autumn term was football, hockey & netball on a carousel
Spring term isn't on the website

TomDudgeon · 05/04/2013 15:22

Thank goodness for this thread. It's just reminded me I need more ds2 labels for summer kit

diabolo · 05/04/2013 18:20

My DS is a defender and has taken a hockey ball in the face several times, needing trips to hospital for suspected fractured cheekbones.

He now wears a full face guard for short corners and no-one is allowed to play without at least a mouthguard,

PLEASE reconsider your position on this pictures.

difficultpickle · 05/04/2013 18:28

When I got ds's basic uniform and sports kit (winter only, I've just bought summer stuff) I sewed on 54 labels. That included huge labels with his initials on for all the sports kit. It took me the best part of a day to do. For some reason his current school has so much more kit than his previous school and both were private. The individual bits of kit were cheaper than our local state primary but the overall cost was more as the quantities was so much more. Ds's school has a uniform shop on site which is very handy. I can email them with my list, pop a cheque in ds's school bag and they leave the uniform to be collected from the school office. Handy as I'm never around when the school shop is open. I know the person who runs it too so I don't even have to worry about sizing as she knows ds and is always spot on.