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Original poster

Why do primary schools have such horrid uniforms ??

183 replies

mummyloveslucy · 20/09/2008 16:57

When I was at primary school, there was a quite strict uniform of a white blows (not a PE top) a navy skirt and a navy v-necked jumper with a school tie. This was very smart and reasonably cheep, as you pay loads for those sweat shirts with the logo on and they just look slouchy. Somthing you'd ware for lazing around the house in.
When my daughter starts school, she'll wear a lovely white crisp blowse and a nice pinnafore, but it will unfortunatly be ruined by a chunky sweat shirt over the top. I don't think they are any more practicle than a cheeper wool jumper that looks smart.
People always complain about the cost of uniforms but I wouldn't mind paying for the jumper if it looked smart.

OP posts:
snowleopard · 22/09/2008 09:58

And agree with frogs, if a school actively decides against uniform as a positive policy, rather than just enforcing it poorly, that probably isn't a bad sign. I would expect a school like that to also have an emphasis on individuality and independent thought and so it would be something I'd go for, if it was available. (It's not round here )

motherinferior · 22/09/2008 10:21

To return to my earlier indignant point: my daughters' school most recent Ofsted reports: 'The school serves an area which contains pockets of severe
deprivation. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals is above average. An above average number of
pupils are from minority ethnic groups and have English as an additional language. The number of pupils with learning
difficulties is above average, but the number of pupils with statements of particular need is below average.'

I am definitely owed an apology

PoorOldEnid · 22/09/2008 10:23

my dds look gorge in their state school uni

navy pinafores (dropped waist ones from m and s - lovely)
white polo shirts
dd1 has sweatshirt over the top and looks all gawky and fab
dd2 has cardigan and looks all neat and studious

seeker · 22/09/2008 10:38

MotherInferior - I apologize unreservedly. I didn't realize that there were any Stare schools that didn't have uniform. I had visions of the little inferiors dancing round the hand hewn maypole in their gloriously individual hand knitted smocks - all dyed with berries and leaves gathered from the hedgerows during early morning nature walks. I see I was wrong. I would hate to upset a fellow base-embracer!

seeker · 22/09/2008 10:38

State schools, obviously. Stare schools would be scary.

motherinferior · 22/09/2008 10:40

Thank you

I am watching work vanish as the economy slashes commissioning budgets and am Touchy

There are a fair number but all in London, I vaguely gather.

bogie · 22/09/2008 10:43

ds's uniform is lovley but he is at a private nursery/school the state schools around here all wear horriable uniforms.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 22/09/2008 10:50

ties, pah. an arrow pointing to your dick, as my dh always says.

frogs · 22/09/2008 11:03

Go on MI, admit it, these are your dc, aren't they?

motherinferior · 22/09/2008 11:09

O yes, they are eating their Waldorf Salad as I write

GobbledigookisThrifty · 22/09/2008 11:11

I agree with the OP - I think the sweatshirts are really naff and cheap looking.

I prefer shirt and tie with a proper v-neck jumper - this is what mine have and I am glad. THey look gorgeous.

GobbledigookisThrifty · 22/09/2008 11:12

I don't think sweatshirts dry any faster than a wool jumper either IME. In fact the boys' jumpers dry really quickly.

frogs · 22/09/2008 11:14

Tie = pita imo.

Dd2 has just changed from a school like MI's dc to one that has uniform including compulsory tie and proper shirt (still state, but fussy). Subversive little toad that she is, after 3 days she announced her intention of wearing summer dresses all year round to avoid stiff collars and ties.

Knowing her I suspect she'll stick with it too.

seeker · 22/09/2008 11:16

You can't throw a wool jumper in the washing machine and tumble drier.

And did I mention phases of the moon? Such a thought never crossed my mind for a second!

GobbledigookisThrifty · 22/09/2008 11:18

Ties are on elastic in primary - easy.

PoorOldEnid · 22/09/2008 11:18

wool is horrid when it gets wet

ties are VILE imo esp for girls what is the point? they dont look smart they look pointlessly old fashioned

overthemill · 22/09/2008 11:19

my big gripe is that it's compulsory but really horrid fabrics. my dd has severe eczema and simply cant wear syntheitic fabric. it makes her skin burn and is dreadful. she has a horrid school jumper made of nylon or some such tat and they comaplain when i send her in a 100% cotton one. The horrid one has the badge you see and they wont sell me a badge to sew on. every single year they complain about her wearing non uniform shorts for pe too fgs, she is 9!

haggisaggis · 22/09/2008 11:19

I don't understand why primary school kids have to look smart. Children don't need to look smart - they should feel comfortable in what they wear. I do think wearing a common colour is useful for school trips - but that is it. My kids wear polo shirts and sweatshirts. THere is no way that dd (6) could cope with a shirt and tie. SHe strugggles with buttons and certainly could not do up a tie.

Fennel · 22/09/2008 11:20

My dds dance round the maypole at their (state) school wearing their uniform, with flowers plaited into their hair. An incongruous mix of polyester and wildlife. I blame the local Steiner school influence. They do maypole there t, but in natural dyed hand woven fabrics.

GobbledigookisThrifty · 22/09/2008 11:20

Oh well, horses for courses. I think sweatshirts look cheap and nasty and I think no uniform at all looks sloppy.

nailpolish · 22/09/2008 11:22

no, they dont have to look smart but there is nothing wrong with them wanting to look smart

a sweatshirt is NOT smart. they ar hideous things. i personally wouldnt be seen dead in a sweatshirt and i certainly wouldnt ever buy one for my children

seeker · 22/09/2008 11:28

Please can someone explain to me why girls should EVER have to wear ties? I can just about understand it for secondary school boys - men still have to wear ties for formal wear, but there are no circumstances outside the uniformed services where women wear them and I suspect that is so that people can pretend they aren't really women but "almost as good as a boy" to quote the appalling EB!

singersgirl · 22/09/2008 11:30

I like having a uniform as it means we can have fewer, but nicer, clothes for weekends and holidays, and cheap hard-wearing non-dirt showing trousers for school. Personally I prefer sweatshirts and polo shirts as it's practical and comfortable. One of my friends' sons goes to a pre-prep with the most awfully stiff-buttoned shirt and scratchy socks. When he was in Reception it took him 10 minutes just to wiggle the socks all the way up.

I'm a bit perplexed by ties generally. They seem a really weird anachronism, particularly for girls; how many women wear ties? I think they're being worn less and less by adult males; DH wears shirt and tie less than once a week now.

nailpolish · 22/09/2008 11:32

i think that is such rubbish - "as good as a boy" - i just dont believe that at all
when i was at school i was proud to wear my tie - it was a brilliant school and i felt part of the crowd if i had my uniform on
my dd1 loves telling people which school she goes to and shows off her tie
its just a badge
an identity badge
could be a scarf or a logo on a bag - its jsut the same

PoorOldEnid · 22/09/2008 12:24

also perplexed by ties

mind you cod used to wear a CAPE at school