could we have a MN campaign around school uniform please?

[overthemill]

based on cost, availability, suitability?

Lots of reasons but the high cost, the monopoly on supply for logo'd stuff and the lack of alternatives for medical needs.

PLEASE MNHQ?

"however even if the kids where a uniform"

I meant wear - please don't kill me MNers

I remember the carrier bag thing, too

We're both at it, GOML. I blame the heat.

OOh Jenai - you made me laugh lst week, you described to me a T on the 'what do you think MNers look like' thread. Everyone else thiought I looked like Clarissa Dickson Wright on a shooting stick!

But Shongola - should every parent with children in secondary schools with socially exclusive uniforms really have to go through all that rigmarole?

It exhausts me to think about it. And several parents have already done it. And yet schools are still doing this.

Which is why it cannot be left to a case by case basis. It's got to be a dictat from on high.

You know what really pisses me off? The fact that the bloody government (of whichever colour) have spent years interfering with the minutiae of the classroom, what teachers teach, how they teach etc., all sorts of things the government has no business involving itself in and yet this one area that so obviously needs government interference, is ignored.

I wonder why?

Incidentally, re hardship grants, I would bet money that they only go to people who claim income support. Free school dinners, free transport etc., always say they are available to people on low incomes, but unless you claim a specific benefit, they are not.

shongola - i agree that parents can do this but for individual parents to do this at each school in the land is not effective not efficient. Given that (as someone said) the Govt interferes minutely in everything else, couldn't they interfere on this? Govt hardship type criteria which is used by schools is always about receipt of benefits like IS or JSA which ensures many parents will fall into the trap of just missing out (but once they've purchased all the things they can allegedly afford, they may be worse off than some benefit claimants, its a vicious cycle and totally unfair for all of us, and i am NOT knocking claimants I promise, the system is s*e).

Also, schools can use guidelines if they want unless they have the force of secretary of state's directions - ie they can ignore them. Legislation has to be applied.

And I have been lobbying the school my dd goes to for 2 years - she is at a middle school and only has 2 years left - 1.5 of them i was a governor. I will continue to lobby until she leaves but then others have to take over - it is not fair, it is a national issue and no child should be directly or indirectly disadvantaged by the hidden costs of attending school.

also - my school no longer sells uniform as no parents wanted to organise it (wonder why?). There is now one shop who supplies it, 8 miles away!

I hate uniform with a passion ..I would support a campaign to abolish it completely

I like the idea of individual action on a case by case basis but it's simply not working. This has been going on for years.

I don't know what a MN campaign involves but I would be keen to see something which lobbied government about monopolies and unreasonable cost.

I thank the lord my child only has to wear particular colours so we can get something reasonable. I wouldn't want to scrap that more basic style of uniform as I think it is some kind of leveller and avoids some of the excesses which can come from a complete free for all.

DS1's school uniform list
includes - green sweatshirt with school logo - £14.99 because he has small adult size (he's 12 ffs)
school tie - £9.99
school rugby shirt in school colours.
All to be bought from a school shop in York, which actually, compared to the one in Portsmouth and Dundee is quite reasonable.
Trousers, shirts, pe shorts and white t-shirts for pe can bought from anywhere

DS2, primary school, has a logo sweatshirt, but don't make a fuss if it's not worn, as long as a navy or royal blue sweatshirt is worn. Polo shirts, trousers etc can be from anywhere.

I am with you Altinkum school uniform is cheaper than normal weekend clothes. All the supermarkets do cheap clothes and if the posh logoed stuff is too expensive for you send you child to a different school and find something else to moan about; gets off soap box now!

I don't feel particularly strongly about uniform per se but I do feel strongly about the number of governing bodies who choose to ignore the admissions code (which is statutory, not just guidance) and its references to uniform not being used as a form of selection.

FWIW primary schools cannot enforce the wearing of uniform and no state school should be requiring the purchase of expensive branded clothing. Specifying a school colour is fine provided it's not so bizarre as to only be available from a single supplier.

The school I teach in has an optional uniform but many of those who wear it simply go for a school colours approach instead of buying items with the logo. My DH's state grammar school has a generic uniform and sell sew-on badges for £2 and a tie for a bit more.

I'd back a campaign for the admission code to be followed and enforced in its entirity rather than allowing governors to shirk their reponsibilities.

I don't see this as a campaign.
Yes, we need school uniform! And I don't find it particularly expensive, don't be ridiculous. Somehow uniform that kids wear all day, everyday is cheaper then normal clothing. At the end if there is no uniform we would spend even more on clothes for our children. Besides they will want the same skirt/t-shirt as they pears and you will spend more money every term to update her wardrobe with latest "it" things.

I don't think school uniform is expensive. In fact, some of it is so cheap that I choose uniform items for my DS to wear as home clothes. eg my DS's uniform is grey trousers and blue jumper so for home clothes, I got a multipack of 3 red tshirts from M&S. I think the multipack cost £3 so it was really good value for money, especially when you can use it with the 3 for 2 offers. The tshirts are plain and good quality, wash well. Also my DS has plain navy jogging bottoms for PE - over the holidays, I use these as home clothes - they were cheap, wash well etc.

I think that some of the things mentioned on this thread are OTT - such as the £70 blazer etc - but that needs to be addressed with individual schools. I am very happy with the uniform policy at my DS's school and would not welcome any interference from the govt on this issue.

I would need to spend more money to send DS to school if I had to kit him out in mufti every day. Uniform is cheap, easy and convenient IMO.

"Let them dress like individuals" - yes, lets see more of the tasteless t-shirts, inappropriate shoes and competition on who wears what. Here is no Paris - I imagine WHAT I will see on the streets .

As we don't have enough to worry about lets add the struggle of "what to wear". With school uniform (apart from its all other obvious benefits) we don't have to find matching and appropriate outfit for kids on a daily bases.

I don't have a problem with school uniform - at secondary it saves kids whose parents can't afford the latest labels from being teased, and it does make them look smarter. At primary, uniform is essential! As a TA in a primary school, I need to be able to recognise ours at a distance on school trips, especially when there are several other schools attending the same event!
However, my gripe is the availability of uniform. My daughter has to wear a blue blouse, and so many companies now only do them in white. Also, why can't you get cotton ones? Pre-teens and teenagers in manmade fabrics are a recipe for sweat and unpleasant niffs at the end of the day.
I would support a campaign for skin-friendly, inexpensive, widely-available standard uniform items.