Design & colour of uniform - does it influence your opinion of a school?

[foxtrot]

Just wondering really, especially when choosing a primary school.

Lol Fiofio, I don't iron the uniform....just a bit of careful folding.

None of my local primary schools have uniforms! Are you guys all talking about public schools then?

When i started the thread i was thinking about state primary schools, but judging by the references to boaters some are talking about private schools too, and why not?

Round here (South London) the ordinary state primary schools have uniforms, mostly of the sweatshirt variety. I don't think the uniform rules can be enforced strictly though.

I found the uniform useful to tell which school the yobs who kicked my cat were from so I could rant at the headmaster.

When I was at school they had a policy of responsibility for us when we were in uniform so including to and from school, mind you, me and my brothers were making our way to school without our parents at a pretty young age.

I would love a non-uniform school. Have spent lots of time in countries where the children don't have uniforms and I haven't noticed that it's all anarchy and disaster in those countries. I always think the French/Spanish/German/Norwegian/whatever children look really cute going to school in their own clothes.

and they seem to get educated well enough even without uniform on.

I like ds1's uniform, different colour t-shirt and sweatshirt for each day of the week. He's in red today, and has gone in with red and blue check boden pull up trousers

DS2's is a nightmare- shirt and tie (for a 4 year old I mean wtf?) and its a tie it yourself one, so it irritates me every morning, and he keeps dropping food down it. Aaggh I am always moaning about it. Looking forward to his summer uniform of shorts and polo shirt- far more sensible.

rosie, here in Derby virtually all the primary schools (I mean state ones) have a uniform - we are talking greay trousers/skirt, white polo shirt and school sweatshirt with black shoes and greay socks. They just look smart.

Although Clary there is a Catholic primary in Derby that has kilts! The school in question does have a very broad social/ethnic mix though.

DD1's (state) secondary school has colour coded kilts for the girls - they change colour as they move up the school so you can tell at a glance if the child who kicked your cat is a year 7 or 8, or a year 9, 10 or 11; or in 6th form. The ties change colour for the boys - or girls who wish to wear trousers.

The recent ofsted inspection praised the uniform and the turnout of the children very highly so as a reward, they had a non-uniform day (?!)...dd1 spent ages deciding what to wear.

I think you can tell a lot from a school (i'm talking secondary, here) by the adherence to and enforcement of, uniform policy.

Agree with Emmylou. I believe that Uniform does reflect the school's attitude to rules and discpline as such. Have rejected school places in the past as the school didnt have a uniform at all, and touchwood, that has been a wise decision.

ties!

at primary school

are you all MAD

My eldest 3 went though school without compulsory uniforms.

The younger ones 13, 11, & 9 have always had a uniform. Must admit I do prefer uniforms but only because it's much easier if they know exactly what to wear. I find uniforms cheaper too but mine only wear polo shirt/sweatshirt type of uniform that some seem to disapprove off.

Academically I really can't see what difference it makes .

A shirt, tie and blazer don't automatically = well behaved children. At one time I used to travel with a pre-school child on the same sevice bus as the local private school pupils (very distinctive uniform). The language & behaviour was shocking!
I'm not saying that the state school pupils on their contract buses are little angels but the general public don't have to sit next to them!

Dosen't influence me.Ds went to a school for a year with blazers ,caps etc.Now he is at a school with no uniform which i think is great.He can be comfortable and dosen't look like a mini businessman in a constricting shirt and tie[what is all that about?!}

yes. the more stupid looking - the more expensive the school

easy iron jumpers and polo shirts - state school - anything for an easy life as long as the kids actually wear the uniform in a morning.

pleated skirts down to ankles, thick tights, some kind of stripey maroon and navy blue thing going on - and its ' you want your kid to come here? then get up at 6 am and iron pleats bitch'

I would refuse to send my child to a nursery witha comulsory uniform - little children need to be able to get mucky in practical easy to wash clothes IMHO

I never wore a uniform at school - primary or secondary. At the time I wanted to wear a blazer, like the gels at the posh school did, but looking back, I am glad I never had to wear one. Why the change in philosophy from 'anything goes, freedom of expression blah, blah' in the late 70s early 80s to now, where majority of schools have some sort of uniform?

As far as Dd is concerned, it is easy for me to get her ready every day, and easy to wash stuff that needs minimal ironing (except those effin' pleats that custy mentioned), but she does rebel and wear coloured vest and knickers instead of the regulation white. (Part of me wants her to be able to wear her favourite teeshirts too)

There's a private school here whene the girls wear boaters and the boys wear a cap like Just William. It's brown and yellow so it's known locally as "the poo and wee school" I'm afraid

There is a school in a nearby (posh) village where all children must wear a tie, and it has to be a tied one , and the girls must tie their hair up if it's longer than shoulder length. But a friend's child was horrendously bullied there and they have 35 in an infant class so it's hardly the best place to go IMHO. Not sure what that proves really.

We did have 'tribes' at shigh chool though. Smart geeks, goths, punks and mods were the styles we wore. (I was a smart geek who yearned to be a cool punk, but my mum wouldn't let me)

But iota, our school uniform is very easy to wash and dries very quickly an deven I think it barely needs ironing. Ideal for getting mucky in.

dd2s prep school nursery uniform (pleated pinafore dress etc) is terrible quality and v expensive

I rather love dd1's navy skirt, white polo shirt and blue cheapy state school sweat, she looks great in it and everything is cheap and easy to replace

I'm all for uniform but in simple, easy to wash and wear colours at primary age. What really gets me though is the encouragement not to wear the whole uniform by parents. Our school has a lovely uniform for which it is easy to get most of most of the components in Asda, Tesco etc., but lots of parents prefer to send their kids in denim skirts and stripey tights or in jeans, with just the uniform bit on top. I can't see any reason for this as it can't be cost-related, and it just leads to huge pressure from the other kids (my two included) to wear similar things. IMO either you wear the uniform or you go to the other local primary school (identical academically/Ofsted) which doesn't have a uniform!