Definitive List of Non-Uniform (no uniform) Schools

[buttmonki]

I’m trying to put together a definitive list of non uniform schools.

I see the uniform/non uniform debate has been done numerous times so am hoping to just put together a list of schools without a debate, just an information resource.

If you know of a non uniform school please post name, region, level, private/state, especially interested to find any non-uniform schools outside of London thank you.

London

Walnut Tree Walk, Primary, Lambeth, State
Ashmead, Primary, Lewisham, State
John Ball, Primary, Lewisham, State
Edmund Waller, Lewisham, State
Camden School for Girls, Secondary, Camden/Islington, State
Dallington School, Islington, Primary, Private
Grasmere, Hackney, Primary, State
Yerbury, Islington, Primary, State
Eleanor Palmer, Camden, Primary, State
Muswell Hill, Haringey, Primary, State
Rhodes Avenue, Haringey, Primary, State
Horniman, Lewisham, Primary, State
Bousfield, Kensington, Primary, State
Fox, Kensington, Primary, State
Brindishe Lee, Lewisham, Primary, State
Columbia, Tower Hamlets, Primary, State
Fairlawn, Lewisham, Primary, State
Henry Maynard, Waltham Forest, Primary, State

South East

Hampton Court House, 3-18, Surrey, Private
Rochester Independent College, Kent, Secondary, Private

Scotland

James Gilliespie’s Edinburgh, Secondary, State

It must be kids, would be tortured up here if there was non uniform as how poor they are would be even more notable

That is such a myth. Even with uniform it's quite obvious who is 'poor'.
And are you suggesting that 'up here' is poor and 'down there' is all rich?because it's a pretty tired stereotype tbh.

Sunnyhill School, Suffolk. CoEd, day and boarding.

Lots of countries don’t have uniforms. It’s just unusual here.

FWIW, my experience of it (at a posh school - private and selective) is that it’s not an issue. Mostly leggings and hoodies, no competition on brands, not an area of discussion and a sense that second-hand is better because it’s more eco.

Cotham Gardens, Bristol (state primary)

@Destroyedpeople

That is such a myth. Even with uniform it's quite obvious who is 'poor'. And are you suggesting that 'up here' is poor and 'down there' is all rich?because it's a pretty tired stereotype tbh.

It's really not, you can tell so much more when the children are wearing their own clothes - that much has become obvious when seeing children going to school in their own clothes in recent weeks.

Wearing a uniform removes choice and angst in the mornings. No thought has to be used. It’s quick and easy. There is cohesion about looking like you belong to a school. You have strength in unity. That’s why the military wear them.

Most schools want an easier life, not a more difficult one. They see this as wanting dc to wear a uniform. This view is very widespread.

The idea all DC would wear a “uniform” of leggings and t shirts and conform if left to their own devices shows why you might as well have a uniform. DC, according to posters, like to conform. It’s a bit sad really. They don’t use the opportunity to express their personality! Why not! I would have done and my DC would really have cared about being fashionable. At all schools there is competition amongst the fashionistas.

Hyndland Secondary in Glasgow is also non-uniform.

I know of a couple with optional uniform. My impression is that the less well off families rely more on uniform, as for a start it's cheaper to buy. But they are both local, non-yummy-mummy primaries.
My DD school has a non-uniform-bottoms day most weeks normally and this is the rule now for extra washing. Children look a lot more comfy in joggers, leggings and shorts and you can't really tell who buys from Boden (maybe if they were all wearing own t-shirts and dresses you could).

I’m not not saying north east poor, south east rich I only have to drive around and see properties in the north east to know there is money here but what there doesn’t seem to be is non uniform schools

And yes you’re right threadbare blazers, greying school shirts, half mast school trousers and against the rules or wrecked shoes also give the game away to who is poor

My DCs are at/used to go to primary schools that don't have uniform. I've taught at primary schools that don't have uniform too. In my experience, the children aren't that interested in what each other is wearing. There's an occasional fad related to footwear/trainers but meanness isn't usually an issue. Non-uniform also means families don't have to buy multiple pairs of trainers etc. and it's less likely that children will turn up in the same shirt for five days because of issues with getting things washed/dried which is something I've seen happen in uniform schools.

My children were at a non uniform school for a while and one charming child would turn up in official football kits daily and grab the neck of any other child's football jersey to inspect the label and shout 'FAKE' ...
I daresay he would have found some other way of being a little twat had there been uniforms but still....

I live up north and two local state secondary schools are none uniform. Others have a uniform. I worked in a none uniform school and there was zero bullying based on what people were wearing. Kids wore mainly jeans etc. I went to a uniform school and knew exactly who was poor/rich. Children still have to wear coats/bags/pencil cases/shoes/phones.

Most people that are against none uniform have never been/attended/worked in a none uniform school.

I’d love my dd to have access to a none uniform school I hate everything about uniform I’ve found this thread interesting as i had no idea there were so many even where I was brought up 200 miles away there were no non uniform schools

Most people that are against none uniform have never been/attended/worked in a none uniform school.

How would you know that? I went to a non-uniform school for five years. I'm very pro uniform, as a direct result, as are all my friends from that school who now have children of their own! And most of our parents! Oh - and said school now has a uniform.

My son went to one of the non-uniform secondaries already mentioned. Wearing their own clothes every day is nothing like when there is a non-uniform day at a school that has uniform; there is not a desperate need to impress or a big dilemma about what to wear and it's just another day in jeans, t-shirt and sweatshirt/hoodie.

A few years ago when a new head was starting, one of the things that the school community was most concerned about was that he would try to bring in a uniform - the pupils felt non-uniform was very much part of their school's identity.

A few years ago when a new head was starting, one of the things that the school community was most concerned about was that he would try to bring in a uniform - the pupils felt non-uniform was very much part of their school's identity.

We had this too. When the school worked at became an academy they were very worried about a uniform being introduced. It wasn't, thankfully.

Hanover, Islington, Primary, State
William Tyndale, Islington, Primary, State

Prior Weston, Islington, Primary, State

Quernmore CE Primary, near Lancaster, Lancs.

Uniform is optional, most choose not to wear it. It's also a really, really lovely school. My child went there for 6mths, as we were in-between moves, wish I could have kept them there, they still credit it as being the school ever.

And as people are commenting on uniform/non uniform schools. We found non uniform far easier, it's not like everyday being a mufti day. Just leggings/jeans/joggers and hoodies. I get so sick of the angst school uniform causes, detention because you've grown and your ankles are showing, detention because your socks are the wrong kind of black. Detention your shirt is untucked (yep, because they are cut too short). Getting so hot and sweaty because polyester blazers are worn all day.
And you know who is poor, uniform gets tatty, far more obviously than jeans and t shirts, and they have to wear their school shoes at weekends.

Non uniform seems to be popular in North London from reading this thread

Cambridge primary schools: St Matthew's, Morley Memorial; Newnham Croft
Not aware of any at secondary level, though most sixth forms have a dress code rather than official uniform

Parliament Hill School for Girls, London State secobdary
Acland Burghley, London state secondary
Soho Parish C of E, state primary

School uniform is a leveller and should be mandatory.

It also prepares DC to follow dress codes required in the workplace