School uniform - good or bad?

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What does everyone think of school uniforms in general? As some of you might know, I don't live in U.K so my kids have never been to a British school where school uniforms from primary age now seem to be the norm. Very few schools in Europe have a uniform (only some of the very exclusive private ones) and some, like my kids' school, give parents the option of buying tee-shirts with the school logo for gym, school outings etc.

I was really surprised when my dh said the other day that he would really prefer our kids to have a uniform. The only reason he could really come up with is that he is a "traditionalist"! So what do you all think? Are school uniforms a good idea? Do they really help to create a sense of identity in a school. I actually like the fact that my children don't wear a uniform.

I think uniform is good. In NZ not all the primary schools have uniform and the kids look awful coming out at the end of the day ... really scruffy ... I personally believe that they ought to be taught the importance of looking smart!!
On the trainer front ... I always thought trainers for toddlers were bad ... not soft enough and not enough flexibility ... but better for older children ... But they have to be 'good' trainers IYKWIM!!!
When I taught a lot of sport it was the plimsolls that are so bad for feet ... absolutely no support at all ... so I would encourage parents to get trainers ...
Clarks own range of trainers are excellent for kid's feet IMHO!!

A vote for uniform here, too. I agree about not having to make decisions in the mornings etc. It's also useful on school trips as the children are easily visible to teachers. Uniform ought to be cheap, though; no expensive stuff you can only buy from one outfitter. DD's nursery had non-compulsory coloured sweatshirts. Also, I'd rather dd got her uniform covered in glue and paint than her 'home' clothes.

My school went co-ed when I was 13 and we could choose the new uniform. We rejected poloshirts, chekced blouses etc and went for gymslips for 1st and 2nd years girls, skirts for older girls, white blouses and tie and a hat!!!

Whymummy physiotherapists recommend trainers because they support the feet so well, and are pretty flexible.

Because of the odd mix of schools I went to, the only year I had to wear a uniform was the lower sixth and this was the only point at which I found people got competative about what they were wearing (how short a skirt you could get away with, jewellery etc and of course weekends).

DH is also hugely proud of the fact that he hasn't worn a tie since he left school.

Personally, don't like uniforms at all, seems a bizarrely British thing which for me sums up a lot of the issues I have about our children's education.

Recently had an animated discussion at a governors meeting (primary) about noserings (scary at that age but prompted by a child getting it done). I was not the only one arguing that it is fine for the school to put restrictions on things like that for safety reasons but not for fashion reasons.

Well, I like them I think. Stops me having to decide what to get out for the morning, finding matching socks etc. My daughter's school is fairly flexible though, summer dresses can be any colour, they can wear any combination of grey/navy/black skirts/trousers/pinafores etc

Re: individuality. I think kids will always adapt their uniforms anyway, size of knot of tie - had to fill the v-neck at one stage, blazer collar up/down, hair style etc. Whether it equalises or not, I'm not sure. We always knew who the rich and poor were in school from the holiday destinations (or lack of) and parents' cars (or lack of)

My daughter wears a uniform to her school and I think it's great. She doesn't have to worry about what she's going to wear to school each day and all the children look the same. Hers consists of a grey skirt/pinafore/trousers, white blouse, school tie and grey cardigan. Although in the summer they can wear a summer dress which is blue and white gingham. Dd loves her school dress and I think it looks a whole lot more tidy than a skirt/trousers with the shirt tails haning out at the end of the day, which is how my dd often ends up in the winter.
When we were on holiday in Canada last year we saw a class of children from the local school and they didn't have a uniform and I couldn't believe how untidy they looked, at least with a uniform you know they are representing a school and can be easily picked out in a crowd.
Plus if they have a uniform then they all look the same and as many of you have already said the ones without designer clothes don't feel left out, there is a lot of emphasis nowadays on wearing the right clothes which I think can be damaging to children especially if there isn't a lot of money coming in to afford the "right" kind of clothes.

I think school uniform is definitely better than wearing own clothes all the time. I think it makes children more able to concentrate at school, just like wearing smart office clothes makes you feel more like work than if you wore scruffy jeans. Also I think it's really important that kids worry as little as possible about keeping up with everyone else and so it helps if everyone has to wear the same and so don't need to compete on outfits.

I know it means they get less wear out of their other clothes but at least those clothes have a decent chance of staying cleaner and they seem more special because they're not worn to 'go to work' in. Also, it identifies who goes to which school which can be helpful for finding truants, regular shoplifters, and children who get into accidents. I heard about someone's daughter a little while ago who got hit by a car while she was out on lunch break. She wasn't badly hurt but she was unconscious for a while and while they were waiting for the ambulance they tried to find out who she was but she didn't have her bag so there was no id. But because she was wearing a uniform, someone soon came along who knew which school she belonged to and so they rang the school and the school were able to sort it out and get in touch with the parents. Otherwise they'd probably have had to leave it and the parents would probably have gone through a panic when their child didn't return home and depending on when she came round they might have had hours to wait or had to ring round hospitals themselves.

I have mixed feelings about uniforms, but when I was teaching I used to drive past the local secondary school every morning. The kids going in looked about 16-18, all very tarty, then they introduced a uniform of sorts. It was very simple, navy or black bottoms (anything, trousers, skirts, leggings) and school sweatshirt which came in navy or maroon. Suddenly the kids I passed looked about 13. It really made me think. I have to say I hate grey, and can't imagine why it is used as a uniform colour. I also had a colleague who said a school full of kids in red sweatshirts was trouble, because the colour red winds people up, and we shold have a pale green sweatshirt because it is a calming colour! I do like school sweatshirts though, and that gives some sense of unity.

I like my kids to be in school uniform but we are not talking shirts and ties ( unless they want to wear them). Thet wear poloshirts and sweatshirts with the school bagde senw on them . They wear any kind of black trousers. I think it would be a nightmare to have my kids wanting particular clothes to wear - the poloshirts and sweatshirts are oredered through the school. I could not keep up financially with the latest fashions and I would not want my kids to feel disadvantaged. Football shirts are not allowed because of problems that can arise with supporters of different rival teams.
Uniform is also being encouraged so that outsiders can be more easily recognised in the playground (secondary school). There are ex-pupils and drug pushers that can hang aroung unnoticed. My kids are happy enough to conform regarding uniform - doesn't mean they do not have minds of their own

My ds starts state nursery in September which has a uniform and although I agree with them I feel it's a bit soon, he's still my baby...plus the nightmare I am having finding grey trousers to fit him , but thats another thread.......

Well, we've seen both sides of this. At my son's first two primaries there was no uniform apart from school sweatshirts and t shirts - and you were not forced to wear them anyway. I thougth no uniform was fine. Yes, we had the odd fight over what to wear in the morning, but on the whole things were fine and dandy.

When my son moved to his third primary we were given a uniform list on the Friday when he was offered a place and expected to get him kitted out over the weekend to appear at school on the Monday. The uniform was basic - white shirt, grey trousers, black shoes etc - but the rules were strict. I felt quite intimidated and put upon.

got more to say - excuse half a message - will post later..