Starting Secondary School, Uniform Issues

[Tej1]

My son starts secondary school on Monday. It will be the first time he will have to wear a formal uniform consisting of a blazer, shirt, tie, shoes having worn a polo shirt throughout his primary education. The uniform policy is incredibly strict with uniform marks for having a top button undone or tie not tied correctly, shirt hanging out. He will hate having to have his top button done up all day. Although, I support the school policy, I would like to know if every school is as strict. Evidently, uniform is checked upon entry to school and every lesson.

A lot of schools have stricter uniform policies these days, particularly academies rather than local authority schools. Although having a top button done up and your shirt tucked in is surely just being presentable rather than incredibly strict. Men at my office wouldn’t dream of coming to work wearing a tie with their top button undone, or having their shirts untucked. Secondary school uniform policies help prepare kids for the world of work, should they choose to go down the route of a professional career.

Realistically, your son will need to conform to the school’s policy or there will be punishments, detentions or however else the school has chosen to deal with kids who don’t dress appropriately. Although he will hate having his top button done up, he will get used to it, and if those are the rules at the school he is going to, there’s no other choice. Lots of schools will have similar rules so from what you’ve described, the one your son will be going to doesn’t sound different from the norm to be honest.

The dd's school's uniform policy states top button done up, ties correctly tied, shirts tucked in, skirts certain length etc. The rules around where and when they can have blazer/jumper on/off utterly confuse me, but they seem to get it! They have a uniform card in the back of their planner (which they have to have on them at all times) and they get points in it going towards a detention if they commit a 'uniform crime'...I find the whole thing bizarre, but I think similar is pretty standard in most schools

Sounds just like the school DS is starting next week. He’s also worn polo shirts until now. His new school shirts are quite loose around the neck on him, to get them long enough (he is v tall and thin), so hopefully he won’t find them too uncomfortable.

It sounds a very normal policy. Schools with shirts/ties as uniform usually require them to be worn done up and tied properly.

If his shirt collars fit well, then it shouldn't be uncomfortable and, like all the changes that come with moving up, in less than 2 weeks it'll be as if he's been doing it his whole life. He won't be hating it - he'll have ceased to notice it within days, if not hours.

I thought mens' shirts can be bought with different neck sizes?. I'm guessing school shirts can't. Could you return the shirts and try mens' shirts with bigger collar sizes from Marks' etc

Sounds OTT to me. Mine dont fasten the top button but you dont notice due to the way the tie is tied.

in primary ds(15) was incredibly fussy about labels, seams etc and he/we though he'd struggle with the shirt and tie but got used to it very quickly. His shirt collars were very loose though (skinny neck).

Fair enough. I still think the school is overly strict on uniform . But, yes this is the chosen school and he will stick to the rules.