Primary school uniform and logos

[renlo]

My DD starts school in September. It's a state primary school and we knew they had a uniform which didn't bother us. Today, however, we got the joining instructions along with a list of compulsory school uniform items which includes navy polo shirts with the school logo, sweatshirts, cardigans, book bags and PE t-shirt all with the school logo. All these items are only available from the John Lewis in town.

I don't have a problem much with the other items but really object to having to pay £9 each for a logo'ed polo shirt when I can pick up a pack of three for the same price or less elsewhere, especially since we're likely to need about 5 of them and she'll probably go through them fairly quickly! I have rung the school office to ask if the polos must be logoed and they said yes as this is the school rules.

My question is, we're intending for my daughter to wear pinafore dress anyway so could we get away with a plain navy polo under the pinafore? Noone should be none the wiser on whether the polo is logoed or not (except when she takes it off for PE). Moreover, can the school insist my daughter wear a logoed polo shirt and would they be justified to exclude her as a result? I have read the home school agreement and it doesn't mention anything about being in the correct uniform, it's just stated in the admissions documents.

It seems absolutely ludicrous and having spoken to a few other mums with kids at other schools in the area, it's clear that they have more flexibility with logos on items, so not quite sure why ours is so strict and what if anything they can do to enforce it.

Does anyone have any experience of this + any advice on how to handle?

Thanks in advance.

yep i agree... jsut go for the plain polo shirts.... cxxx

AFAIK schools can make their own uniform requirements. Is it a church school? IME they seem to be more "picky".

I'd suggest standing outside school and watching what the children wear. This will give you an idea of how strictly the uniform code is adhered to. If it's strict, there's likely to be a 2nd hand uniform shop where you could pick up polo shirts cheaply. Though with a DD wearing a pinafore dress and a navy polo shirt, they are unlikely to get that messy, so doubt you will need that many.

It's not a church school, just a bog standard state although it has a very good reputation. Good idea about standing outside and seeing how strict the uniform policy is, will do that thanks.

Our school has just changed the uniform policy. From Spet, the children are no longer allowed any old polo, they have to wear the school logo'd one.

Lots of parents asked the same question as you. The answer that came back was that uniform has to be, er, uniform. So it may be that your DD always wears a pinafore ( although, TBH, if all her new friends start wearing skirts instead and she wants to wear one you will have a problem... but I digress ), but boys don't, and lots of children will have them on show.

I'm going to have to bit the bullet and get the logo'd polo shirts aren't I? It just doesn't sit right with me. Ah well...

School uniform is not compulsory at primary school. They can ask for it, but they can't enforce it.

FWIW I would, op. There are some things that are worth standing up for, and if your DD is just starting out, I wouldn't want to use up my "irritating parent" credits so early, iykwim. I'd want to save it up for when I was really pissed off about something more serious.

As well, if people ( children/parents/teachers) don't enforce the uniform, the school just ends up looking messy and a mishmash. The policy is there for a reason.

Oh and if you do buy them for goodness sake make sure you label them well! At £9 a pop I would imagine items are readily claimed from lost property.

Readily claimed by people who are not the owners

Ok thanks, Taffeta. DH said the same thing about not being the 'irritating parent' so early on too . I agree there are bigger fish to fry, maybe will just get 3 or 4 to start with and see if we can pick up any more from school re-sales and yes, would most definitely be labelling them!

Tantrums really? [shocked]!!

Any advice on indestructible labels?!

That was supposed to be , lol!

Just get 2! not 3 or 4 and plain ones to go under dresses.

Our school used to have logo polo shirt rule and they washed really badly and went grey very quickly so I taken to chopping off logos of old shirts and sewing to cheap cotton ones!

School have recently said that plain white is OK so I have a deal with DS - plain white for inter when he's wearing school sweatshirt and logo'd for summer when no sweatshirt.

You could pop a note up at school asking to buy used ones.

Good idea, thanks kewcumber about using log'od ones when on show and plain ones under her dress. Would need to make sure on PE days that she wears logo'd ones, lol!

Everyone keeps telling me that unless I want to wash mid week (which I could do, just too damn lazy I guess) that I should get lots of polo shirts but not viable at £9 each. One advantage with them being navy is that they shouldn't show up dirt too easily (I hope!).

They have a recycled uniform sale at the school according to the paperwork but not sure how easy it is to get hold of smaller sizes. You fill in a form with the sizes you want and if they have any they let you know.

I mean just buy 2 new logo'd ones then add with plain and second hand ones. 5 is plenty even if they get filthy every day.

Navy is good for hiding dark stains but not so good for spilt yoghurt, glue etc...

I have been told that uniform can be strongly encouraged at primary level [state] but not enforced. I would check this out. Don't think a primary school can insist on logoed tops. [Was told this by Head of our school].

Hence why I'm favouring pinafores, so hopefully any spillages will be on that. Only flaw in plan is if DD decides she wants to wear skirts...

"Governing bodies should ensure that the uniform chosen is widely available in high street shops and other retail outlets, and internet suppliers rather than from an expensive sole supplier"

From - DfE guidance

It is guidance , not law, but IME they are on iffy ground by insisting on logo'd

items that are only available from one supplier.

What I would do is buy normal uniform in the correct colours and ask them to provide logo badges that you can sew on. Or just send them in plain items and say that grandma bought them already, what can you do

My school ask for logo'd jumpers/cardigans to be worn. DD wears M&S and nothing has been said. I will be happy to explain that when their jumpers are cotton I will buy them, they are horrible. She looks smart.

buy a few of each type of polo shirt. wear the logo ones on pe day

Moaning - that DfE guidance is very interesting and current, thank you.

I agree, they really are on shaky ground with only JL selling them and can't see how they are taking the cost considerations into account. Having costed up all the 'compulsory' items on her uniform list, and it comes to £118. This does not include cost of a grey pinafore, skirts, socks/tights and shoes which I will source elsewhere but needs to be added on. I don't see how the school's policies is reflected in the above guidance and yes, although JL is high street and has an Internet presence, it's far from cheap! Granted we're not poor enough to get any benefits bar child benefit but we're most certainly not rich enough to not feel a £100+ outlay for school uniform and it must be worse if you're on a low income or have multiples. That can't be right surely? I have no idea if the JL ones will wash well and keep their shape but they better at that price!

I think I will do a couple of logo'd polos and get the rest plain. If they want to pull me up on it, I will point them to the DfE guidance and ask them to justify how their policy fits with it.

£9 sounds like a lot! I am quite sure the reception logo'd polo shirts at son's school were half that. Even so I never needed more than two of them, he just wasn't that messy. When doing messy play they keep them well covered, and he never seemed to get food down his front. Every so often he appears to lose an argument with yoghurt (suspicious - I wonder if the boys flick at each other on the rare chance the lunchroom staff aren't looking).

I rememeber about 9or 10 years ago there was a big thing from the government at the time about this.

Thye were looking to pass laws, saying that all school uniform should be available in standard shops, as it was disriminatory against those with low incomes to be able to purchase from one named supplier. I also understood, thatschools and manufacturers were making quite a bit of profiton these items. I understood that schools had the option of requesting that logos could be worn, but couldn't enforce it. I am sure it was passed as a law, but maybe wrong.

I teach in a secondary school and ours are always given the option of non logoed uniform. Those on lower incomes can't afford and can pick up plain sweatshirts very cheaply.