Uniforms

[Haberdashery]

I'm curious to know what others think of uniforms for primary school children. Does it make your life easier? Do your children like wearing a uniform? Is there a downside? Has it proved expensive for you? And how strictly is your school uniform enforced? Or do your children attend a school without a uniform?

The reason I ask is that our local school which has always been non-uniform is thinking of introducing one and I am quite against it (it's one of the reasons I picked this school).

It seems to me that lots of countries get by fine without uniforms and there doesn't seem to be any sensible evidence that they improve academic outcomes (which I think may be where the school is coming from). I also think that it's nice for children to wear their own comfortable and colourful clothes at school.

But I'm interested to hear from other parents as I've never had a child at a school with a uniform so I don't know what the reality of it is like.

I went to a primary with no uniform - but girls had to wear skirts, which I hated, so I would have much preferred dd's school as I could have worn trousers.

Secondary - had a uniform - again skirts only. There was plenty of teasing based on who had the 'right' type of uniform as opposed to skirts/jumpers from Woolies, which I guess is why I'm sceptical of uniforms as a leveller (unless taken to the extreme of all clothing coming from the school shop).

Our HT would have liked to abolish uniform, but IIRC when there was a consultation once the pupils chose to keep it. I don't remember feeling that strongly either way (no doubt a non uniform policy would have still been skirts only .. .).

My DD has a very strict uniform which is quite expensive, but I still prefer for her to have a uniform. I fnd it far less hassle in a morning - she gets up and puts uniform on and we are sorted, no messing about with what she will be wearing, etc. And no worries about her getting decent non-unifrm clothes spoilt either.

I work as an infant school with a dress code, but it is voluntary. It was introduced about 3 years ago now and about 70% of the children chose to wear uniform - or rather their parents chose to put them in uniform.

From a staff pov I also prefer uniform, especially when we go out of school as a group into public areas - way easier to keep tabs on who is with us.

"Teachers there who have taught in both uniform and non-uniform say they prefer non as it respects the children's individuality and it's somehow easier to get to know them rather than looking at a sea of 30 grey jumpers. "

Have to say that I have worked in both types of schools over the past 15 years and I definitely don't find uniform stifles a child's individuality nor does it prevent me from getting to know children as individuals.

Believe me - one thiing uniform does not do is stamp out a child's individuality!!!

Loads less laundry while DD is at school - I really notice the volume of laundry increasing during the holidays.

It also makes getting dressed in the morning quick and easy.

The uniform is skirt/trousers/pinafore/culottes/shorts with a coloured polo shirt (you can get a logo one of you like) and a school jumper/sweatshirt.

You can buy the lot for less than £25 (including socks and PE stuff) or you can go mad and spend £100 - but nobody will notice at the school gate.

I hate uniform in theory, hated being forced to wear a skirt and tie.
In practice primary school uniform makes life so much simpler and sure cheaper I like it.
Secondary school with it's odd coloured skirts, expensive jumpers, ties and ban on shoes that vaguely resemble trainers or short boots (both of which DD might actually find comfortable!) can be a bit of a pitta. Still way better than the alternative, although if they all simply wore jeans it would defiantly be better than the invisible skirts. (these like make up are supposed to be outlawed, but are ignored when comfy shoes, loosing your tie and taking your jumper off without asking get you in trouble I don't quite understand it)

I never had a uniform growing up; my DD has one at kindergarten. I do not feel strongly either way, in the sense that if I really like a school, it does not matter to me what the uniform policy is. It's certainly very practical and durable so it definitely saves money on clothes.

I think the "uniformity" angle is vastly overblown - I do not think British schoolchildren (who in the main wear uniform at school) are more conformist than say Italian children, who do not. I would actually say the opposite: I think the pressure to conform is higher in Italy when children may wear different clothes but all have the same "look".

Unfortunately, these days, children as young as 7yrs are commenting on what others are wearing. Not all will of course, but I've seen and heard it myself. When I was at school kids were nearer 14yrs before I ever heard anything like that and even then it was more to do with boys and trainers.

I definitely think it works out cheaper to kit them out in uniform and I say that as a fee paying parent who is shocked at the price of some pieces of uniform. But state school uniform can be obtained easily and cheaply which is great. It's also fairly practical although I have yet to see a pair of girls' school trousers which I like. They all look quite cheap and tacky to me whereas the boys' trousers look much smarter. I also think that girls' school shoes always seem impractical and uncomfortable unlike the boys ones.

I don't think my own experience has influenced me one way or another. When my eldest started school I felt a bit sad that he would lose a bit of individuality but it doesn't really happen. They don't change and they need to conform with or without uniform.

Anecdotally, it raises standards esp with regards behaviour but I'm not sure why this is. I think that children who are taught good manners and behaviour at home will carry this into school; likewise those who are not, will continue to misbehave.

DS1 quite likes his as does DD2 but DD1 would far rather wear her own clothes. I do think it helps them identify with school a little and gives them a sense of belonging to the school community. And as I said, it is really useful on school trips.

If your school asks for tips, try to encourage;

1. grey bottoms as they're the easiest and cheapest to obtain.
   2)Plain white polo shirts for the same reason. 3)A sweatshirt/jumper colour that can be obtained almost anywhere such as red or navy. Instead of logo'd sweatshirts, ask school to have badges made up. They're a faff to sew on but it means you can attach them to the nice cheap and cheerful plain ones from, say, Asda at 3 for £10 instead of one school logo one costed £10.

I can't recognise my kids in the sea of kids on Mufti days, no problems when they are in uniform though. By year 6 there is definite pressure about clothes, my daughters have had distinct preference for Polo or Blouse, depending on what year they are in, and have both stressed about wearing the "old" style logo when it changed subtly.
At seniors my kids like their Blazers (lots of useful pockets), even when DD is getting into trouble over skirt lengths or laddered tights (staff seem to think its a fashion statement bizarrely).
I went to a non-uniform school, but I was never going to be cool so it wasn't too bad for me.

mummytime, I know what you mean about not recognising your own child on non-uniform days, I always spot DS much easier in uniform, odd really.

I like uniform. The kids look smart, it's practical for school and cheaper than home clothes. It's all fairly hardwearing and suitable for country kids who'll be playing outside on exposed hills in all weathers. It's a good leveller, and no one can tell from looking at the kids which parents are weathly and which are not.

I love uniform - it just makes life much more simple.

Always on non unoform dys teachers have to remond arents and children to at least send their children in clothes that are weather appropriate and safe to play in.

dd is 10 and some of the girls in her class are getting very fashion conscious.

I went to non uniform schools and always had the wrong clothes. It wasnb't nice.

You can definitely tell who has money and who doesn't at my son's school. It is a primary with a very mixed intake and and some of the children have very noticeably old, worn, too small uniform whilst others have brand new uniform that fits well.

I went to a primary school without a uniform and would say that on balance, I prefer having a uniform for my children. It is definitely easier and we do need fewer clothes. However, whoever decided that white polo shirts are a good idea is clearly not the parent of a child who comes home every day caked in some sort of stain. We have very few white clothes so I am finding it difficult to get the polo shirts washed and dried. Bottle green would be perfect! I'd prefer grey trousers over black too.

Definitely agree that it would be good if you have the chance to lobby for non-white polo shirts! We have the option of red or white - I only made the mistake of getting white ones once

Always on non unoform dys teachers have to remond arents and children to at least send their children in clothes that are weather appropriate and safe to play in.

This seems to me like an argument for not having a uniform! If parents are really so clueless, wouldn't it be better to get them thinking about it every day, not just when their kids are at school?

I also dread the idea of white shirts, MitfordsMaid! If school ask for opinions (if they do introduce uniform, we're still at the consultation stage) then I will definitely be voting for coloured polo shirts!

And thanks, lovingthecoast, good tips there abotu grey being easier and badges.

May I ask another question - do any of you have really skinny tiny kids? I have a polo shirt that DD's nursery gave her which is age 3 and it's vastly too big for her two years on. Does anywhere sell uniform for proper titches? I see that M&S and Next do school uniform from age 3 up but they are shops that seem to have very large sizes and none of their age three stuff would fit DD widthways (I realise that this is very much a minority problem and it's probably just me who is sighing inwardly at the idea of taking in every school skirt she ever owns for the next however many years).

suitable for country kids who'll be playing outside on exposed hills in all weathers

Not a problem here! We are in London. There are no exposed hills within miles and miles!

By year 6 there is definite pressure about clothes, my daughters have had distinct preference for Polo or Blouse, depending on what year they are in, and have both stressed about wearing the "old" style logo when it changed subtly.

So clothes pressure doesn't go away with the introduction of uniform, then? Interesting.

I like uniform. I like the levelling factor - you can't logo or designer uniform so everyone is the same.

I hate red though. DS's uniform is grey and red and the red is just so garish.

DD is at a private girl's school which was set up by a suffragette so the uniform is purple, lime green and white (with a bit of grey). It looks nicer than it sounds. The only problem is that because the colours are unusual it's expensive.

I don't think I'd choose a school without a uniform.

But white polo shirts can be shoved in the washing machine at 90 to whiten them up and hung up in the airing cupboard and be dry by morning probably not even needing an iron. I'd love my lot to have polo shirts rather than white cotton shirts which take hours to iron.

Trouble is, loving, with only the one dd she doesn't go through that many shirts, and I never wash anything at 90. Red ones just get chucked in with everything else, washed at 30 and always look nice.

(Mind you, I'm not a good example as I'm allergic to all sorts of stuff so have to use eco-friendly-does't-get-anything-clean washing liquid.)

White tops can also be bleached .

That's fair enough, Takvar. I have 3 in uniform so 15 shirts a week to wash plus DH's work shirts. I usually just wash them at 40 with white underwear but once every 4 or 6wks they go in alone at 90. It's the only wash I ever do above 40 and although it's not ideal, the grime that gathers on collars and cuffs of white cotton shirts is disgusting even for 3 children bathed daily!

At least if they had polo shirts it would take me about a quarter the time to iron them!

Only one DD here too and even if she had a shirt every day, it doesn't make up a full load. Neither her father nor I own any white clothes.

Agree with washing load going up in the holidays. I find uniform requires pleasingly little attention on the washing/ironing front (all bar white shirts, which are a pain).

I agree with helenagrace I like a school with uniform because its a good leveller and a sense of identity and belonging. I wouldn't be keen on a school without uniform and the first thing the Super Head who came into the failing senior school in our area did was introduce a uniform and encourage the children to 'take a pride in belonging to their school'

It totally makes the clothes decision in the morning easier and I think even if we had no school uniform we'd have school clothes and home clothes - just like I do for work really. I always put mine in clothes they can get messy in for nursery and understand that white polo shirts are going to get covered in non washable (never believe the label on the bottle) paint in reception. I buy cheap school polo shirts for ds2 to wear to preschool so I don't have to think about what to put him in and I can get rid of them once they get beyond washable.

I do like however that girls can now wear skirts and that there aren't shirts and ties for primary by us. I'm a bit about blazers as I do think it should reflect the 'real' working world to some extent.

Another uniform lover. I grew up without. It's fabulous, you have so many fewer clothes and less laundry! More ironing than I would normally do but I just do it every sunday and then we're ready for the week. DDs school is not very strict so we can get pretty much anything from Asda or M&S. It's comfortable, easy and it looks nice. Am very much looking forward to not having a daily battle with DD2 over clothes--she's currently in the non-uniform nursery and has very definite ideas about her choice of attire! Next year she won't be able to choose and my mornings will be so much easier.

I love it and the dcs love it. It's fairly cheap - much cheaper than other clothes. Ds couldn't care a less what he wears as long as his mates don't think it's "uncool" so uniform makes it easy for him as he can never be criticised for his dress choice. Dd can change clothes 6 times a day (and does at the weekends), so uniform removes a burden of choice from her. She is still able to express her individuality as the amount of grey uniform skirts and pinafores is huge so she can pick what she likes, she also accessorises her hair to the nth degree.

I have had two french au pairs who when they found out that most schools in the Uk said they wished they had gone to school with uniform. They both (girls) said that the anxiety over whether the clothes they picked as a teenager to wear to school was terrible. They both also alluded to having experienced fair amount of bullying surrounding clothes at both senior and primary school.