What do you do about lost PE kit?

[seeker]

Since the beginning of the year, dd in year 8 has lost a leotard, a games shirt, a games sweatshirt, a pair of games socks and a pair of hockey socks. And she has two pairs of dance trousers - her own, and another unmarked pair.

She says she puts her kit back in her games bag but it mysteriously vanishes between lessons. She says she has searched lost property and asked around, but it's nowhere. She also says that other girls take people's kit and unpick the marking - but when challenged she admitted that it's only a rumour that this happens!

I was so cross this morning that I said if she hasn't found it all by the end of the week, she would have to buy a new one out of her own money. However the kit has changed, and they aren't allowed to wear a mixture of old and new so it would be a complete kit. Am I being mean? Is it any use talking to the school about it do you think?

It's not luck - it's the school we chose.

There must be an element of luck in having such an establishment close enough to be able to choose it. It doesn't sound like the reality of any school I've ever heard of (though some places do like to think they're like that and turn a blind eye to the problems).

And there was me thinking that independent schools gave children a fast track to a city career! If they don't even have the initiative to unpick a name tape, they won't survive 5 minutes in the Square Mile!

DSs go to such a school 3 miles from my house, and DDs about 5 miles in the opposite direction. Seems like we are doubly blessed.

Their prep school was very honest too. I guess it is the ethos of these types of schools, where dishonesty is not tolerated.

I suspect our SMSC education is highly effective.

Oh dear, the name tape removers I referred to earlier were at a well known independent day school (approved of by Xenia, no less) though it tends to produce scientists and medics rather than city types. I wonder what that proves? The practice didn't go on to amy extent at DS2's comprehensive, though some parents were reputed to have stolen new uniform from the school office/uniform shop.

I work in a school shop. I would advise that you go to the school's lost property & have a good rummage. If it's not there, do as someone has suggested & ask to take some of the unnamed lost property, or buy 2nd hand donated from whoever sells the uniform. I've had instances of parents buying new stuff only to later find the old kit in lost property.

It always amazes me the amount of named uniform that's just sitting there, unclaimed. And as for the amount of uniform without names in...

Re the unpicking - write on the labels in felt tip as well.