Do you have children at school in Wales? The Welsh Government is consulting on school uniform guidance

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been contacted by the Welsh government, who've asked us to flag up that they are currently running a public consultation on statutory guidance for school uniforms policies in Welsh schools.

You can find out more about the consultation and find the response forms here - the deadline for filling it in is February 21 2019.

Children and young people are encouraged to fill it out too, so feel free to pass the link on to your DCs if they're of an age to have an interest in official forms

Launching the consultation, Education Secretary Kirsty Williams AM said: 'Families face many different costs when it comes to school uniform and I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make uniform more affordable and more available... By putting in place statutory guidance, my expectation is that governing bodies will have a much more consistent approach to issues such as cost and also show a much greater degree of flexibility when it comes to very hot or very cold weather. But this also goes much further than just practical considerations; this is about equality and pupils’ wellbeing. I don’t want our learners, for whatever reason, to feel uncomfortable about wearing their uniform."

As ever, do let us know what you think (but if you want the Welsh government to know what you think, please fill in the consultation response too)

Thanks
MNHQ

I put a comment that schools should facilitate second hand uniform sales / swaps.

DD’s primary school is on the outskirts of an ex-council estate. Welsh medium school so catchment includes smarter estates that the nearby English medium school doesn’t include. We’ve held a uniform swap/sale in each of the last 3 years. Nobody comes and nobody buys. There’s some cultural thing where they must buy new every year. It’s very odd to me.

Have to disagree about blazers, my DS loves his for the pockets. It should last him at least two years, likely three (wearing it for the second year now). He hasn't worn his jumper once. I think they should be a uniform option along with jumpers.

I'd be much happier if they channeled energy into better educational standards rather than the mediocrity we have now (including the many hard-of-thinking AMs)

I love that my son's primary school has a uniform. Mostly, it's sourced from asda and costs less than his 'civvies'. There is a logo IF and only IF the parents want to purchase a jumper through the school (4 times the cost of asda but actually not terrible for the quality). It's nice to have one logo jumper just for school pics or school trips (helps identify!), but usually the plain jumpers are just fine. I like that there's an option; I like that parents do what suits them; I like that no-one bats an eyelid either way! Most of the parents have resorted to cheaper jumpers anyway as there's some black 'safe play turf' that stains the clothes and doesn't come out! I'd be sad if the school logo completely disappeared as a result of the consultation but don't feel they should ever be compulsory.

My DC's school only required a logo on the blazer. The badge was supplied by the school and sewn on, therefore could be removed and reattached to the next size and so on.

The rest of the uniform could be purchased anywhere.

State schools should not be requiring expensive uniform from only one supplier.

I wish this could be done in England. Our school is actually decent and their uniform is both affordable and non-logo obsessed, but a lot of schools use expensive single-supplier uniforms as a selection method. It really should be made much simpler:

• Uniform should consist of items available from high street shops
• Logos, if any, should be supplied at cost in an iron-on or sew-on form

End of policy.

I put a comment that schools should facilitate second hand uniform sales / swaps.
I agree with this, I bought 5 shirts and 3 pairs of trousers for a total of £3 today.

I presume that weaving the Welsh language into every issue is due to funding. I would love that funding to go into care for the vulnerable, schools etc.
Some councils are cutting these provisions when at the same time encourage free Welsh courses to council workers.

Pouty- similar situation here.

Some councils are cutting these provisions when at the same time encourage free Welsh courses to council workers.

As required by the new Welsh Language regs for public sector organisations.

• Uniform should consist of items available from high street shops
• Logos, if any, should be supplied at cost in an iron-on or sew-on form

👆🏻This!!

Disappointing form! Total non issue, what you need is Headteacher’s with a bit of initiative. We always have one of the ‘proper’ jumpers and everything else comes from Asda. Our schools PTA organised the second hand sale and it was great loads there and loads got sold. I was v impressed.

Sew on logos = genius 👍

Our schools PTA organised the second hand sale and it was great loads there and loads got sold. I was v impressed.

Out of interest, whereabouts are you?

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I'm confused by the Welsh questions too...and that's as a member of the Welsh speaking and Welsh educating community. I've never known clothes to have an influence on the use of Welsh. Ever!

This is the uniform policy at my DDs primary and I think it's perfect. Nothing has to be branded, colours are easy to get hold of and the clothes are comfortable and practical.

We expect that all the children at ** Primary School will wear our school colours every day for school. This means:-
• Royal blue sweatshirt / cardigan with or without the school logo
• White polo shirts, t-shirts, shirts or blouses
• Grey or black trousers or tracksuit bottoms
• Other clothes without school logos, patterns or slogans in the school colours – grey, black, white or royal blue
• Checked “school” summer dresses

Please do not send your child to school in the following:-
• Jeans
• T-shirts with slogans, patterns or logos
• Football shirts
• Patterned/flowery dresses

Each child needs a PE kit - shorts, T-shirt and plimsolls. The children have swimming lessons in Key Stage 2 and will need a swimming costume and towel. We offer a wide range of sporting activities and the children will need plimsolls or trainers to change into.

Jewellery Items
• Stud earrings can be worn, no hoops or dangle earrings please
• Watches can be worn
• Religious bracelets / necklaces can be worn discretely
Please make sure that your children come to school in appropriate footwear and outdoor wear so that they are able to move safely around school and play out in comfort and warmth.

Not Welsh but amen to this below:

I really hope the consultation means that they put out recommendations that schools cannot force pupils into blazers. A more useless garment never existed, that bears virtually no relation to the normal life, working or otherwise, of most people post-18.

Done, let's hope they listen.

*Uniform is actually a brilliant solution to poverty.

It evens out the playing field. Not one in designer and the other in Asda half price*

No it's not. Having to be a complete wardrobe of unnecessary clothing (the uniform) is very obviously not a solution to poverty. And as a poster on another thread who came to teach here from a country without uniform pointed out, uniform makes it more obvious which kids are from poor households. They are the kids in the faded second hand stuff.
And as the parents on my classes whatsapp group who have made snotty, sneery comments about the second hand clothes for sale, you can take that as proof that uniform is certainly not an equaliser.

Welsh Goverment. Uniform, by definition, is not affordable. It is an unnecessary expense for struggling families. Most countries in the world manage without uniform. So can we!

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You need to start a thread of your own, lovely. This one is about school uniform in Wales.