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.

the regulation skirt, fitted at the correct shop is deemed ' distracting'
I'd be happy to sign up to anything that bans telling girls they are distracting. No responsibility put at boys' doors at all.

weet

You do realise the problem is often that the kids are wearing regulation unifirm o my everyone's too thick to realise that being 5 ft 8 or having muscular thighs means that clothes sit differently. But still they are punished..for their own bodies

Namechanged why couldn't your DD comply with the uniform code?

I don't get the point of blazers, they aren't an outdoor coat which would be useful, but they are too hot to wear inside an heated building. A shirt, tie and a v neck jumper should be enough. I don't think they are any hotter than a jumper. My child doesn't like jumpers as they can't be opened at the neck when he is hot. He loves his blazer, especially the fact that it has pockets.

giles
More often than not the thing that leads to prescriptive single supplier uniforms is parents opting to kid their kids out in fashion items that aren't in the uniform on the grounds of 'but technically...'

E.g. yes I bought thick leggings and not school trousers, but technically they were in the school section/ yes I bought a fitted shirt with no buttons above the boobs but what does a couple of buttons matter / yes the school rules say no trainers but I'll buy a pair anyway and complain when DC gets pulled up on them / yes school said school skirts and not short jersey skirts but I'll buy a bum skimming jersey skirt and claim school are sexualising children if they dare challenge my DC etc
It's sadly a rife attitude in some schools which comes down to parents deciding their DC don't have to follow rules.

Anybody with an ounce of common sense knows what is and isn't school uniform.

I'll happily be on board with having lots of single supply items and simpler uniforms but there also needs to be a a much lower tolerance for those parents who routinely can't stick to the most basic uniform instructions for no other reason than 'but I don't like uniform rules'.

The pockets on blazers are pretty useful for things like bus passes and tampons

MaisyPops

This. Totally.

I agree that funding cuts in schools (and teacher shortages) are a more pressing issue.

I would support this. Uniform in principle fine but the oppressive way it is enforced is unreasonable especially in relation to coats

I'll support uniform at school when the adults at school start wearing the same uniform too.

Thanks all. I have read the posts against as well and while I disagree I think it’s useful to hear other opinions.

I have reported this thread to HQ and they said they would keep an eye on it so who knows, if there is enough support perhaps they would go for it.

I’d support it.

Thank goodness I live in an area where there are at least three local state secondary schools without a uniform. They all have very simple dress codes but no uniform. All Good or Outstanding schools. One of them is sell a kidney to buy a house in catchment Outstanding.

I was a good kid but I’d have rebelled if I was put in isolation for having baby heels on my black socks...

Blue heel, blue.

I think uniform is a good idea, but why can't it be simple, such as trousers, polo top & blazer/specific jacket?
No stupid skirts, shirts or ties.
Kids allowed to decide if it's too hot to wear blazers in the Summer/Heatwave.
At least my DC's school were sensible with the blazer policy this Summer & told the kids they didn't have to wear it.

Oh, I’m all for a simple uniform too. Any black/navy/grey trousers or skirts so long as they’re not denim.

Tops of the same colour or white.

Shoes-no heels, no lights, no open toes.

Sorted

I'm certainly up for supporting this - I'm in the process of drafting a letter while trying to not make it TL, DR. If there is current legislation supposed to curb these excesses but it's not enforced then why?

However, I do support schools censuring clothes which are clearly fashion items above utility, durability and matching the target dress code, but no child should be punished with the same level as if they WERE being disruptive or violent.

My concern is the lack of accountability in that so many schools have chopped and changed uniform policy with no regard to the most important people it affects, children and parents. Parents and children would be far more willing to support this if they are on board from the beginning.

It is no surprise that many of these schools are in deprived areas where parents themselves may have not had positive reactions to those in authority. Superficially, strict uniform may have a short-term effect but overzelous enforcement will further poison relations between home and school. However, if new uniform guideline had children and parents on board at the beginning that would have a much more positive effect than overzelous and arbitary enforcement.

Oh, I’m all for a simple uniform too. Any black/navy/grey trousers or skirts so long as they’re not denim.

Most schools here used to do that. But death by a thousand cuts and we now end up uniforms from a single supplier. Used to only be girls kilts (to stop them being rolled up) but they included boys trousers to be fair.

This was the result of parents pushing the boundaries constantly and schools getting stricter and stricter as a result.

It hasn't happened overnight. I'm talking over 20 years.

AlpacaLypse
It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened...
GoldenPomBearBadge
My school uniform was:
Black school shoes (common sense applied)
Black non fashion trousers or skirt (again common sense applied)
White non fitted shirt with a top button and collar
School tie
School sweatshirt

Some girls tried to wear skousers (horrible skirt over trousers sewn together thing) and some boys tried to get away with trainers. They were given school issue alternatives every time they turned up in incorrect uniform. (Could you imagine the MN thread now from someone fuming! Parental attitudes to kids have changed over the years. Colleagues who've been teaching 15+ years tell us it's a huge shift. Nowadays there's a lot more of my child's rights but no they don't have any responsibilities & I'll go to school and demand a meeting)

It worked just fine.

I'd happily have a similar uniform for schools now. Many of our students do actually prefer the blazer to a jumper though. I'd like a simple uniform but with a steeper escalation of sanctions for those who routinely don't wear the uniform.

Yes. The over the top uniform times, the sheer pettiness, the total lack of common bloody sense... I keep hearing people complain about declining respect shown towards teachers. I think the fact that they impose and enforce such ridiculous rules contributes to that. It is very hard to respect someone who issues a detention for socks being the wrong length, even harder to respect someone who thinks placing a student in an isolation booth is a sane response to their having a haircut not deemed acceptable.

*uniform rules, not times

I'd support it
My son isn't allowed a coat inside school gates to be visible.most kids go without coats even in the bitter cold weather we had at beginning of the year as lockers aren't the place for soggy coats and they are never near enough to form rooms to be practical use to put ANYTHING in
No matter how hot tie and blazer at all times,teachers in short sleeves open collars/ladies in floaty dresses
Ties are clip on.i thought as health and safety,actually to prevent individuality in the way it's tied
Pe kit is £50 for a long sleeve top and trousers,specific to the school supplier,no exceptions
Trainers have to have white bottoms
No dyed hair,and object A LOT hairstyles,not just the usual suspects
Trousers have to have belt loops and front pockets.these are routinely checked and a front pocket detail will get you a detention,has to have real pockets

The uniform rules are over the top,and the place has a depressed vibe of a prison camp

I'm all for uniforms in sensible format
My Dd attends an all girl's school and their uniforms available at local school wear shop and they are allowed to wear black plimsolls style shoes.bags of own choice(D's even has to have a schoolbag that's school logo that parent have to pay for,not a speck of individuality allowed)
Trousers are suitable black trousers,white shirts with a top button.sensible and the difference in both atmosphere and behaviour is like night and day

Sorry to hear so many bad stories but thanks for so many replies! I’m off to bed now but will catch up in the morning.

Always makes me think of my dad. He taught woodwork in a tough all boys school in the 1970s.

The long haired, flared trousered boys were a liability on the machinery.

One day a lad came in with a shaved head, DMs and skin tight trousers. My dad held that first skin head up as a shining example of sensible dress. The tough boots where you wouldn’t lose a toe if you walked too close to the welders. No flappy fabric or hair to get caught.

Poor boy was trying to rebel.

Does anyone ever do risk assessments on school uniforms? For example shoes that are inadequate for the activities and conditions - what exactly is so bad about a shoe up to the ankle?!

And don't get me started on jumpers/blazers in a heatwave. As a scientist I have promised that I will risk assess any uniform requirements and send them back to the school in case anything is overlooked. Ill bet good money they don't and wouldn't know what PPE was half the time even if it got up and danced

Yes, I'd support a campaign.

My D.C. ho to a very reasonable school, but they have to wear ties even when it's really hot. Even in the 80's my school had tie off day in June/July when it hit so hot we were allowed to abandon our ties for the rest of the term.

My DC have to enter the classroom wearing a blazer and tie, even if it's 30'C.
Thankfully most teachers sensibly just over look the official rules.