Overly strict uniform policies in secondary schools - does anyone want MNHQ to run a campaign about this?

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

So many secondary schools now seem to have super strict uniform policies. I feel this results in:

Low pupil morale
Parents having to spend a fortune on the latest uniform
Almost impossible to find a black school shoe that is appropriate and yet actually fit for purpose
Exclusions, isolations and detentions for flimsy reasons

And my personal favourites:-

Blazers have to be worn all summer even if children faint
Measuring school skirt length
Pupils not allowed non-school shoes even with a hospital note

I’ve asked MNHQ if they want to run a campaign and they suggested I post here, so here goes.

Personally I am in favour of uniform but would like a common sense approach, which many, many schools achieve with few problems.

Fully expecting posts from people in favour of the rules too.

Actually in Scotland education is not dependent on wearing uniform though I would say 99% of kids wear at least most of the uniform if I was making rules they would be this for every secondary school

The whole thing except outdoor coat should cost £100 or less for below quantities all 1 except as stated, this would give a least 200 permutations

1. trousers / skirts black grey or navy quantity 2 can have a no leggings jeans combats ripped clothing rule and no skirts shorter than 6 inches above knee so if you buy knee length it has growing room

2, shirts white or pale blue quantity 3

1. jumpers/ cardigan any colour available in supermarket ie red burgundy, green, navy grey black , royal blue sew on badge if desired
2. blazers only colours in a supermarket badge must be available to sew on so similar range to above ( cost less than £5)
3. tie anything a school decides be as unique as you like max price £5

6, all school black sensible polishable flat shoes no heels over 1" either black/grey/white socks or tights

1. Pe kit t shirt any colour max £5, shorts black navy royal blue red white
2. tracksuit any in school colour must be available from supermarket
3. any further sports kit ie trainers swimsuit indoor trainers football boots no rules allowed apart from nothing offensive and no team / national strips or kits and swimsuits must be suitable for serious swimming ie not bikinis as can't be expected to have 2 lots of these,

10 outdoor coat can specify dark colour and no obvious logos must be able to buy from supermarket primark etc and suitable to wear anywhere no requirement for badges as stops coat being worn weekends etc 11 all children can wear sensible boots or wellies to school in bad weather and change to indoor shoes on arrival 12 all schools will provide lockers for PE kit, coats, outdoor shoes key deposit of upto £10 required summer uniform as above but can wear short sleeved shirt in same colour and knee length shorts/ skirts with no tie or blazer if above 20C 13 no rules on school bags but must be big enough to hold what is required no offensive or political slogans 14. no rules on hairstyles apart from long hair must be tied back at all times and must not prevent participation in science PE etc no item in school should be worth more than £100 that includes coats shoes boots phones etc

everyone has at least until after the following weekend to correct uniform infringements

I would assume because boys sweat more and would get to hot. When I was in school I always wore a jumper but don’t remember the boys wearing one.

Trish so you’re not bothered about the children being comfortable in the classroom? If I was forced to wear clothing that I was too hot in I would be a lot less productive at work.

That makes even less sense. Why do girls require a jumper but not boys?
My guess is those pesky bras showing through

Instead of coming up with something such as a decent quality shirt or a llowing a differenr kind of top altogether that would allow underwear to not be visible we just make kids apply layer up on layer. Each item should be fit for purpose on its own tbh.

We have:
School blazer
School jumper or same colour alternative (almost nobody wears either)
White non fitted shirt (The too tight shirts are a boy issue)
Tie
Black non fashion trousers (No issues really other than super skinny ones on some girls)
School skirt - optional
Tights

Black schools shoes that can be polished. No trainers.
No jewellery.
Neutral make up.

All reasonably priced from 2 or 3 suppliers (we have a few in the region who seem to stock most local schools, except large MATs, and will run different offers through the year) and we do a PTA stall on an evening where parents can buy second hand items.

I like our uniform. I can take or leave the tie but I think it's fair and easy to follow.

My daughter snapped her shoelace at seven thirty in the morning I can't drive and had a younger sib to take to school so I sent her in with boots and a note stating what had happened and I would be getting spare laces that day I followed it up with a phone call reminding them I couldn't drive a teacher still put her in lunchtime detention and she was in isolation for the afternoon I called the school told them it was unessesary punishment it was not my daughter's fault etc etc I was told I should have walked to the school to give her the laces 🤔 like I had nothing better to do than walk 5 fucking miles

Common sense is not a friend to some schools 🤷‍♀️

If I’m not replying to some of the stories of punishments it’s because I can’t find a response that doesn’t just contain a string of swearwords . How is this treatment of our children ok ?

I like some of the sensible uniforms listed. Winter boots do need to be added though plus dealing with the see through shirts issue and the blazers. Some certainly do seem fairly sensible.

TooStressyForMyOwnGood
Thin white clothing is a common problem.

I wear white shirts and tops to work and struggle to find some that are ok over a nude bra. The material seems to be thinner than it used to be. I dont think it's a school specific issue as I've found it in a lot of workwear sections too. Its infuriating. Why would anyone make white tops for teens and women that shows a nude bra?

Not being funny but white shirts, whilst ten a penny from the likes of asda etc

Go grey quickly and need replacing often

Require a load all of their own which means often putting a load on with little in it- expensive and bad for the environment

Stain really easily

Are always see through. Particularly embarrassing for girls. Parents don't always take the time to bra shop for their dds. If you happen to be larger than standard first bras, then finding a white or nude may be problematic.

Yes, I hardly ever wear a white shirt for the same reason and I am not a self conscious teen. When I was at school we had blue shirts which were better at not showing underwear.

Dd has blue shirts. But they revert to white in later years.

Equally as embarrassing, I didn't need a bra til i was 16. Even then it was aa.

No moulding.

And i wasnt allowed crop tops either.

White shirts are my nemesis

Great idea! Ties for 12 year olds just plain stupid, the teachers themselves don’t wear them why should the kids! White polo shirts that I can buy in M&S for £5 but oh no my school like to charge us £11 for one just so it can have the school emblem on! I’m quite happy to buy the emblem and iron or sew it on my own cheaper polo but no they don’t offer this! 🤔. I’m all for a uniform but a uniform that is affordable and practical. Good luck with your campaign.

Let me guess. You don't see the emblem under the logod jumper amd/or blazer.?

I feel I should apologise now to everyone who took the time to comment on here. Especially to those who have told some upsetting stories and to those who have taken the time to explain the rules etc.

I don’t think MN are going to take this up; perhaps it is too divisive. There is the hope I am just being impatient and they might one day.

Looking at the petitions and advise on here the government away discipline is HT or academy decision. Without getting too political it is clear this government is in favour of academies and does not appear to see school budgets or see student and staff morale as a problem.

So, 10 pages in and it seems the only way is to somehow push for the ideas about strengthening the Admissions Code or working towards some kind of reasonably priced, flexible uniform policy. The only way I can see that is by a petition although I might write to my MP one more time; they might have missed me . Stupidly didn’t name change and I might be paranoid but I like this username and don’t want to be outed.

The only thing I can think is to sign this petition and this one in the hope they get debated.

Actually I think the only way forward is for parents and students to work together so the rules are followed except when they are truly ridiculous everyone breaks them. By this I am referring to flimsy shoes in the snow type rules rather than a full out fashion parade.

I’ll stop rambling now, thought I’d just better get my apology out of the way before I fall flat on my face with this thread.

Advice not advise before anyone pounces!

Whyisitsodifficult
Great idea! Ties for 12 year olds just plain stupid, the teachers themselves don’t wear them why should the kids!

I don't necessarily disagree about the ties for 12 yr olds, but you are wrong on about teachers not being required to wear them. (again depends on the school etc.)

I will say I want to talk to DD about her uniform tomorrow and how she feels about it. I have never really questioned it, having been raised in a strict uniform myself I just always went along with it. I did just look at her jumper and it is 50% wool and quite thick, looks too warm to wear with a blazer any time of year let alone the summer! I honestly never paid much attention. But I will look into this further.

Trish

If you go as far as asking the school why jumpers are compulsory for girls I would certainly be interested in the answer.

They must be roasting

So after thinking about this I spoke with a friend whose ds just started secondary school (different school) and he is required to wear jumper and blazer, although she has been told the jumper is not required for the summer term after Easter. She says he has complained quite a bit about being too hot.