Middle/Senior schools without uniform

[coffeeneedsmummy]

Hi,
I'm looking for either a middle or senior / secondary mainstream (state or independent) school that has a relaxed or no uniform policy in the Midlands - Staffordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire areas or nearby.
Thanks,
Alice

Belper School has no uniform and students call teachers by their first names.
Derbyshire but still in the Midlands.

Got to say, this would not be the first thing I would look for in a school. What's the motivation op?

Hi clary,
Thanks, will have a look at that one. It's not the first thing, just a thing that I'm considering for a child who is highly anxious, at risk of school refusal, and has sensory needs, but doesn't have autism.

Ah OK I did wonder if it was about sensory needs. Schools can be accommodating tho - I taught a student who wore cotton uniform trousers and specific shirts bc of their eczema. They were still in uniform but it was adapted to their needs.

Belper is a very nice town (not clear from your OP if you are planning to move within the midlands or looking to commute) but the school is not especially highly rated by people I know. That's just anecdotal tho, I don't have any direct experience.

Was going today Belper and also Antony Gell school in Wirksworth which is nearby.

www.bedales.org.uk/about-us

It's outside of the area you are looking but if moving for the right school is a possibility I'd absolutely look here.

I know many 'quirky children' who have flourished here.

If it is a sensory thing then I wouldn’t base school searches on it. We have a reasonably strict uniform policy but will relax it as far as necessary for students with sensory needs

Sadly not possible to move in that direction at the moment and fees are out of reach for us too. Also liked Atelier21 but wrong direction of travel... Will keep looking 😊 can't get enough of Google!!

Thank you, will have a look. Both big schools, which I'm not sure would work, but worth having a look as some schools have very nurturing / separate Yr7/8.

I guess I also worried about her standing out if she wore something different. At least if everyone chose what they wear (even within limits e.g. a certain colour or type) might be less obvious? But maybe I'm overthinking it...

Thank you, i think perhaps i'm going to extremes to "get it right" and maybe I need to let this one go and focus on my higher up criteria.

Anthony Gell is tiny! Like 800 pupils overall, that's a very small secondary. I thought they wore some kind of uniform tho (but fairly relaxed)?

I was also going to suggest Anthony Gell. It has a very good reputation locally and is regarded as more nurturing than some of the other local secondaries. A lot of the people I know who approve of it work in education in other schools.

Ok 835 students at Anthony Gell, that is still very small (has been as low as 600 in recent years).

Looks like I am wrong about the uniform tho, they have a PE kit which I have seen and maybe a school sweatshirt but seems like you can wear your own clothes too.

I was kind of hoping for a school with less than 500 students, which would be under 100 per year, but don't think I'm going to find that in the state sector... She currently wears a uniform now, hates it (because it used to be no uniform school) but wears it because she is super compliant and hates getting in trouble / being told off - she never is, but any feedback is interpreted as criticism....

So perhaps not having a uniform can drop from the list. More important:

1. Excellent targeted mental health SEND provision, alongside universal / whole-school relational approach.

1. Focus on creative and performing arts and IT with options in creative media, textiles, and DT.

1. Democratic practices - mutual respect and teaching / promoting internalised self-discipline rather than traditional, authoritative practices / punitive measures which encourage obedience without question

And, great if:

• has integrated outdoor learning opportunities within the curriculum, things like forest school, school garden, school farm etc.

Am I looking for the impossible / asking too much?

I think you need to look for a private school OP; if you could find a state school with such a small a number of students, it is unlikely that it would offer the breadth of curriculum you are seeking. Subjects like textiles and creative media are being squeezed and don’t run in a lot of state schools, sadly, even those with 1000+ students.

My old school had a school farm in effect – goats, chickens, small animals – and offered a KS4 animal care option. It was a 1200-pupil school tho – this is one reason why it was able to offer alternatives that were chosen by relatively few students.

All schools are going to say they are supportive of mental health issues, but increasingly state schools are struggling to provide any funded support due to budget cuts.

The point about internalised self discipline – well! If a student were internally self-disciplined then they would not come on to a teacher’s radar in terms of needing any kind of warning or rule-reminder. Never come across a school that works that way across the board tho.

Private school almost certain to have a massive uniform requirement btw – a straw boater is one of the big plus points for many parents, apparently.

I think you're right... most of the schools we've been visiting are private, although recently came across the rural enterprise academy, which looks interesting but would lose the arts side of things which if between the 2 I think she would prefer less outdoors and more art....

I think with the discipline point, we might need to agree to disagree ☺️ I just don't believe that using control and power against young people helps them to behave better. I also don't think it's okay to expect teachers and school staff to tolerate abuse of any sort - physical or verbal. I just think there are better ways of teaching about right and wrong.

I just don't believe that using control and power against young people helps them to behave better.

I don't think that either! But in most schools some students will misbehave, for a range of reasons, and that needs to be dealt with. If a student is swearing at a teacher or even "just" talking over them, then there is a lack of respect on show. It needs to be dealt with in some way, and I think expecting students to self-regulate without any sanction being enacted (if that is what you mean) is optimistic. I was always respectful to, and of, my students, but sadly they didn't all return the favour (tho lots did). Apologies if I have misunderstood your meaning.

You do not wear a uniform at Anthony gell I am alumni and also still work here

there is no uniform but some rules- no offensive slogans no mini skirts and no “spaghetti straps”

the pe “uniform” is optional

That being said Belper I would say is better for sensory needs and have a sensory room

op you don’t need a private school