Does your child's school have a 'regulation' coat?

[Legacy]

Our new one from Sept does, and it's a heavy, impractical DUFFLE COAT! (About £65)

I can't felt feeling that this is so outdated and impractical?

I can understand the school not wanting kids to turn up in an array of multi-coloured anoraks, but I'm sure I've seen some fairly smart waterproof coats (some with zip-out insides) which would surely be much better?

My 5 year old can barely stand up in his coat it's so heavy, and of course it can't be washed....

Madness....

Our second hand sale is v popular and v well attended - deffo would not be looked on as a pauper. I like to view it as "eco-chic" (although I am very assiduous about cutting out name tapes before sending stuff in!) I think most people have one set of "best" uniform and then everything else made up of 2nd hand stuff.

We are looking at a new way of doing it where everything is "donated" to the second hand sale and the PTA get all the funds - has the knock on that the stuff is really quite cheap at the sale and so you don't lose out by not getting any money back for the stuff you donate. I think TBH a lot of stuff is also just handed round among mates - DH has THREE £40 jumpers in the same size (don't ask!) and I will just give them to one of his mates with a younger brother

Dd has a wool blazer (£75) which is summer uniform and a reversible waterproof fleece £20)which is winter uniform or for rainy smmer days.

It has to be the regulation coat/blazer. They both have the school badge on them. Dd's friend was allowed to go in a pink waterproof mac whilst she had her arm in plaster (plaster had to be kept dry and school fleece too heavy) otherwise everyone wears regulation and they are strict.

ah now 2nd hand blazer was £15 max

Anchovy, our swop shop has that system everything is donated fully except blzers and coats which is split 50/50. So a blazer costing £75 new would be sold for £35 with the parent getting half. Jumpers/dresses costing around £20 new are sold for £5 with everything going to Friends Association.

Legacy - essentials are different though. I always buy shirts/trousers/shorts etc new. Blazers too as they are worn daily (but will get handed down hoefully). It is the non-daily stuff that the sale is really good for - poncy tracksuit that they wear once a week, or science overalls etc. Mind you they've just changed the school tracksuit, so no second hand stuff for a few years.

Ladymuck - yes, that was my reasoning too - also since I have 2 boys DS2 will get most of it anyway. The regulation uniform has to come from a school uniform shop on our high street, but they are such a rip off - I found the same Beau Brummel duffle coat online for £20 cheaper!

I'm fairly sure that they won't ask you for receipts - if it is the same then I would go for it!

found it AFTER I bought it... can't be bothered to take back etc now

oops - that's MY cover blown then!