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Original poster

Has anyone ever challenged overpriced logo uniform

55 replies

GideonMack · 18/04/2015 20:52

Hello :)

I do appreciate before I start that it is fairly likely the attitude of 'does it really matter' can be used here, but I have a bee in my bonnet about this..

Our DS has just been giving a Academy school (from Infant to junior) the school he presently attends has a logo but in no way enforces that you must wear a logo... and I stupidly presumed this would be the attitude at his new school...

Boy was I wrong! I contacted them about Uniform arrangements and was told by the office manager, that I can only buy the uniform through them and that he has to wear a Jumper with Logo, a Tie with Logo, and in years 5 + 6 a blazer with logo...

initially I thought no problem I will just buy the generic colour of his school, I requested this

I was told that was he to attend without the correct logo on his uniform he would be excluded for the day and everyday until he attended in the correctly uniform with the logo

and no surprise the uniform is high priced.. £20 for a jumper, £15 for the tie, £75 for the blazer

this is crazy, and I asked if they have a legal right to refuse my son education based on him not wearing a logo! they just said it is their policy, but that is a policy, not law!

the problem I have is I obviously don't want to start my DS education at his new school like this with them refusing him entrance etc, but I hate to feel ripped off and it is just a logo for petes sake!

can I write to them and tell them he will be attending in correct uniform but without the logo, or am I flying solo and being pathetic?

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SoupDragon · 19/04/2015 08:55

£20 for a jumper, £15 for the tie, £75 for the blazer

That is more expensive than my DSs logoed uniform for their private secondary school.

meditrina · 19/04/2015 08:56

'Unenforceable. Uniforms are not compulsory for primary school children'

This is, unfortunately, a myth. I'll see if I can find the relevant DofE stuff (has been linked on MN before).

Pipbin · 19/04/2015 09:05

And this is the problem with academies. Education is being privatised right under our noses. I don't understand why we are not all up in arms and protesting against this.

I work in a state primary. So long as you are wearing a blue jumper we don't care. We are not out to make money from you or spread our corporate image.

youarekiddingme · 19/04/2015 09:12

That's far more expensive than the logo uniform and PE my da needs for his academy secondary. In fact his whole logo uniform and PE kit cost less than the blazer for a set. (I appreciate I'd need more than 1 jumper!)

Then it's just a white shirt and black trousers to buy which can be supermarket etc.

My first thought was also the not being allowed to price uniform at a cost it discourages parents from applying to the school.
I'd use the fact it was your 3rd choice - although catchment - to argue you didn't apply due to uniform costs. You've now discovered this is illegal for school to do so - so they need to provide the uniform for you son or accept him in a suitable alternative.

meditrina · 19/04/2015 09:13

Here's an oldish thread you might find useful, for the links.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1794886-To-think-a-primary-school-cannot-enforce-the-use-of-embroidered-PE-kit

Includes also how to complain to OFT.

Also CAB would be interested, as they have been campaigning about the 'hidden' costs of school for many years now.

Jennifersrabbit · 19/04/2015 09:21

Blimey. When my kids school went from non uniform one of the key considerations was to make it practical and affordable. We have logoed sweatshirts but I'd say 10% of the kids actually wear them. We all seem to survive. The PTA do an excellent secondhand stall where you can get uniform items for a quid each.

I would say a) make a fuss to governors and

B) if there isn't a PTA stall selling secondhand stuff, be instrumental in setting one up and have a contact for new parents before they start!

Charis1 · 19/04/2015 09:28

Utterly ridiculous.

My son's blazers are £28, for secondary school, and we are given the logos to sew on.

I would just get in contact and explain that you can't afford the blazer, and ask for the logo to be given to you to sew onto a cheaper blazer!

SugarPlumTree · 19/04/2015 09:28

That is ridiculous, especially the blazer. DS's school has jumpers with a logo. Someone locally sorted something out with a local company where we provide the jumper and they embroider the logo on for £4.

Almostapril · 19/04/2015 10:56

That's ridiculous. Only 50% were logo jumpers and tshirts at our school and no one cares. The logo jumpers are 8.95 and last. Are they trying to pretend to be a posh prep ?!??

ThatBloodyWoman · 19/04/2015 11:03

I've never challenged the logo jumper crap.
I just don't buy them.
They've never challenged me.
And until there's an end to named items disappearing I'll not even consider buying overpriced fancy stuff.
And then I'll only consider it momentarily before returning to cheap and cheerful but perfectly acceptable easy wash supermarket uniform.

My dc's go to the catchment school not a posh selective one,and I will make a stand,if challenged,that ordinary schools need ordinary uniforms.

Essexmum69 · 19/04/2015 13:36

I would tell them (in writing) you cannot afford it and that your DC will be wearing non logoed versions unless they can offer the badge as a sew on. If they threaten to exclude your DC then send their written reaponse to the governor's , the LEA, Ofstead, local paper etc.
Those costs are outrageous for a primary uniform, my (mens sizes) DS'S grammar uniform is cheaper than that.

Pipbin · 19/04/2015 14:13

This is what academies are like.
I cannot believe that we are all just sitting here and letting our education system be privatised like this.

tiggytape · 19/04/2015 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Almostapril · 19/04/2015 18:13

There are several academies near us. All allow cheap uniforms

AmateurSeamstress · 19/04/2015 20:13

Do look at tesco for price comparisons. Their logo'd polos are about £4.

NotCitrus · 19/04/2015 20:46

Ds's primary has compulsory logo sweatshirt, but every child gets given one free on their first day, along with a logo book bag. Polo shirts are meant to be logo but no-one sees.

I'd ask them to explain how they are going to ensure that no-one is excluded on cost grounds and how the decision was made that such a costly uniform was justified.

That uniform is so expensive the local paper might well be interested.

BoffinMum · 19/04/2015 23:34

I have been thinking more about this. We are the only country in Europe to have compulsory state school uniforms afaik. There is no research at all I can find that demonstrates the effect size of wearing particular clothes to school. In other words, it makes not one jot of difference to a child's education what they wear. So why for the love of God are we all spending our hard earned cash on these utterly ridiculous and unnecessary outfits that can only be worn in one place at certain times of the year? Ban them, I say. Especially anything with a logo on.
If the argument is that everyone needs to look the same, put them in identical jeans and t-shirts. Now there's a challenge.
BTW many academies get a cut of expensive logo uniforms and this goes into the kitty (to be raked off by academy chains which pay eye watering salaries to their Chief Execs. It's a racket).

BoffinMum · 19/04/2015 23:34

I have been thinking more about this. We are the only country in Europe to have compulsory state school uniforms afaik. There is no research at all I can find that demonstrates the effect size of wearing particular clothes to school. In other words, it makes not one jot of difference to a child's education what they wear. So why for the love of God are we all spending our hard earned cash on these utterly ridiculous and unnecessary outfits that can only be worn in one place at certain times of the year? Ban them, I say. Especially anything with a logo on.
If the argument is that everyone needs to look the same, put them in identical jeans and t-shirts. Now there's a challenge.
BTW many academies get a cut of expensive logo uniforms and this goes into the kitty (to be raked off by academy chains which pay eye watering salaries to their Chief Execs. It's a racket).

notinminutenow · 20/04/2015 00:38

Fight it! That blazer is £50 more than my DS's secondary (Academy but not in a chain) blazer & the tie is double the cost of ours.

Think a blazer for primary is impractical and over the top but that's another issue!

Almostapril · 20/04/2015 08:02

I used to be quite pro uniform but increasingly agree with Boffinmum on this. Cheap basic stuff is ok but the rest ....

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 20/04/2015 10:46

£75 is outrageous for a blazer, but there is an academy near us which admittedly has a much cheaper blazer (£30 odd) but requires full logo'ed sports kit - T-shirt, shorts, sweat shirt and jogging bottoms. Even my old independent school with its mad (but fabulous) boaters and blazers let you wear a track suit of your choice, so long as it was in a school colour.

DD's school is an Academy but not in a chain and everything other than the jumper/cardigan, PE bag, PE t-shirt and book bag is either optional or generic. No ties until KS2 either. I think they all look adorable.

FrozenAteMyDaughter · 20/04/2015 10:48

I am broadly pro-uniform though. I couldn't be doing with agonising over what to wear every day, and DD is only 5. It was bad enough this morning choosing between summer and winter uniform.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 20/04/2015 11:13

Expensive logos are ridiculous. My DC's school is pretty old fashioned (short trousers for boys and skirts / dresses for girls only) but the uniform with logos on is very much optional.

BigRedBall · 20/04/2015 11:20

Sounds ridiculously expensive. Our primary school gives a choice between logo and non logo as long as they wear the right colour jumper it's fine. Even the logo jumpers and polos are cheap thanks to F&F.

Are there any second hand ones the school sells? Or pick one out of the lost property if it's not claimed.

flashbunny73 · 20/04/2015 12:12

I think buying a tie and blazer with the logo is ok but I would go for a plain jumper. Logo'ed sweatshirts look naff anyway (IMO). Can you buy the blazer second hand?
Seems extreme to expect all the parents go out and buy this stuff?? I would certainly write to the governors.

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