Why does my DD's coat have to be Black or Navy?

[firsttimemama]

My DC's primary school has a Navy/Grey school uniform. I abide by the school uniform rules. In the past couple of years they have stated that coats's must also be Black or Navy. DD is Yr 6 I cannot see the sense in this. Given their expense I do not want to buy two winter coats I want to buy a coat that my DD will want to wear and therefore not look for every excuse under the sun not to wear it. I have bought a dark green winter coat for her. I am loathed to purchase another one for the last few winter months at this school. AIBU?

[mathanxiety]

Hear hear, Giles.

OP, I don't think you're being unreasonable at all. I would wait until I hear more about the coat from the deputy head before contacting them.

The coat isn't actually a part of the uniform.

Not really impressed by the deputy head issuing an ultimatum to the child on a Friday and expecting compliance from the parent by Monday. Are there no guidelines for communicating directly with parents when issues arise?

[jamdonut]

Book bags are kept in the classroom, so the children don't have to keep traipsing down to the cloakroom to get them Gileswithachainsaw.
Also, we can look through the reading diaries to see if everyone has read at home, and prioritise those who haven't, to read in school etc.
We can also put any school letters, dinner money change, homework etc in them ready to come home.
But judging by how many letters stay in the bags,unread,unsigned,not many parents bother to look in the book bags in the first place. These will be the same people who complain about not knowing about and event or parents evening appointment etc, etc.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

But the bags are shit they don't last I've had to replace once already (yr 1 now) so I'll be replacing again next year. So that's nearly 30 quid on three bags. I could have bought an "animal" bag fir less which would last the whole time

[Gileswithachainsaw]

We have to have book bags in infants. Think they between 8-10 pounds so less than what you pay. The excuse being that they need them to fit in the boxes in the classroom as there's not enough room on pegs.

However there is space for lunch box wraps and water bottle trays and pe kits as a result of everything having to be carried separately

What kinda idiot builds a Cloak room that can't hold back packs. Pretty bloody basic need for a cloak room surely?

And why do they need to have the bags in the room..they change books like once a week ffs. Oh I know ....it's so they can fill ot with crappy advertising on a daily basis that's why...

[Crazeeee]

My DSs's school have now implemented regulation SCHOOL BAGS which cost £20 and can only be bought from the school uniform shop, of course, from which the school get a cut.

It only applies to the lower school luckily so my DSs are not affected so I have had no reason to complain but all the those parents seem to have dutifully complied. Why?!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

It is only because of 'sheep' mentality like that on here that they get away with it

I agree.

I also wish people would have the courage to admit that they like the logos because it's obvious what school the kid goes to and that they'd rather pay 15 pound a jumper in order to make sure that they couldn't possibly be mistaken for attending as they both wear red....

There seems to be a massive amount of blindness to the fact that many items are not practical or comfortable when it comes to schools. Shirts and ties for 4 yr olds anyone????

God people have started threads on here wanting to call SS when they keep seeing kids playing in the street who don't appear to have coats even in winter or are out playing in the snow in a pair of Sandals or ballet pumps.

Yet are happy to send their kids to schools that don't allow coats to be worn even outside the gates, won't allow girls in trousers and Wear stupid Mary Jane shoes.

What is it about the school situation that makes parents not only put up with nonsense that leaves the kids uncomfortable/cold/wet etc, but also be grateful for the privilege to do so

[Crazeeee]

School uniform is not compulsory in Primary School so tell the Dep Head to focus on more important things like the education in the school rather than making sure all the DC look like clones in the playground as well as inside the school. I would actually put this in writing rather than waiting for your DD to get pulled up again. I would also ask for clarification on why the DC all have to have the same colour coats and what impact it will have on their education if they don't but then I am a PITA parent.

It makes me snort, all those who say, well you signed up for COMPULSORY education, you should follow the rules. As if you actually have a choice in where your DC go or what petty rules they dream up.

It is only because of 'sheep' mentality like that on here that they get away with it.

[smellyboot]

Don't get me started on shoes. Luckily we don't have that non sense either. DC wear shoes they like suitable for the weather. Most parents buy traditional sspchool shoes but we don't have a policy that tells them to. By late juniors half are in others types of schools

[HamletsSister]

What next? Uniform pyjamas?

[CancellyMcChequeface]

Uniform policies that extend to coats are ridiculous.

When I was at secondary school, there was a policy that all coats had to be brown, to match our utterly hideous brown uniform. So I didn't wear a coat to school. I did wear my nice warm black winter coat everywhere else. We couldn't afford two winter coats, so that was my choice - I wouldn't have worn a 'uniform-approved coat' outside of school, and possibly not even to school once I was a teenager.

I found out that some years after I left they altered the policy so that every student also has to purchase the exact same school rucksack. It's as if they'd already done the stuff with expensive logoed blazers and skirts from a school supplier, decades ago, so they had to think up something even more bizarre and impractical.

I disagree with school uniform in general but if a school is going to have one it should be simple, like - white shirt, grey jumper, grey trousers or skirt. To be bought from anywhere. Rules about things like coats are senseless, and I disagree with the idea that people should follow rules just because they're rules.

[firsttimemama]

The school already had an Outstanding ofstead rating before the new head came. It was not failing and certainly not lacking for want of a uniformed coat or logo jumpers.

[smellyboot]

It seems that to turn a school around the HT has to get rid off all sensible rules re uniform and introduce more expensive version. Logo jumpers and T shirts, kilts, blazers and logo coats and rules on shoes ... seem to be flavour or the day. Emperors new clothes springs to mind.

[firsttimemama]

That's interesting about the Head and the logos Miaow as the new head has also introduced logo jumpers and cardigans and coats btw but they are not warm enough for winter. At least your head and seen sense and not introduced coats to the mix. Incidentally I would of been more miffed when my daughter was younger and she had numerous coats bought by doting grannies none of which were black or Navy. Would I have had to buy my 4 /5 year old another coat.

[firsttimemama]

No the rule has only been brought in in the last year. It is not a point of principle - that would have been the case if there had of been a navy or black coat available in the correct size that my DD wanted to wear and I still purchased something outside of the rules as a point of principle. Someone up thread suggested why I didn't flout other uniform rules. The reason is, that I am not against School Uniform per se, and the uniform was in place when we expressed a preference for this school (excluded coats) however I do think it goes too far to extend it to outdoor clothes. A decent winter coat needs to be used outside of school too and therefore I do not believe you should be forced to buy/acquire one that is not of one's choice. Again my DD is secure enough in herself to not be distressed about going to school in this coat - she likes it! If that changes we will have to have a think about other options.

[fleurdelacourt]

So you've bought a navy/black coat for the last 6 years and didn't manage to this year?

I had to buy a coat really quickly for ds (year 7) with the cold weather too - but there was loads of choice in navy/grey/black online and it arrived the next day.

I agree it's a daft rule, but it's one you knew about and have previously complied with. If your dd is happy with a dark green coat, she'd have been happy with navy or black too?

Good for you (and her) if you're prepared to fight over this one - but is it really worth your time and effort? Why not just buy a second coat on ebay for a quiet life? I know for sure that my dd would hate to be the one who stood out and broke the rule.

[firsttimemama]

Btw the said coat was a supermarket one Vivienne and it was £26.

[firsttimemama]

Currently my DD is wearing the coat. If it got to a point where she did not feel comfortable wearing the coat. I would not force her. So far there have been no punishments, if it came to that we may take a different approach. I was trying to gauge opinions on who was being unreasonable on this matter.

[UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter]

Well must be in the minority around here then as the secondary school kids do wear coats. I have two teens myself who both wear coats. 14yr old ds2 stood next time with his plain black parka on over his blazer. And ds1 used to wear a black superdry coat.

[SerendipityPhenomenon]

What Giles said.

Interestingly, recent studies demonstrate that the heads who go into failing academies with all guns blazing, making up and strictly enforcing uniform rules and excluding children all over the place, may bring about a short term rise in results, mainly because they take care to exclude the children who might harm the stats, but the improvement never lasts. It's pretty clear that you need a more sensible, low-key approach to make sustained improvements.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

And why is it 9 times out of ten there are harsher punishments fir uniform violation than anything else?

So kids have to continue to sit next to people who bully them or tear up their work.

They have to put up with being tripped up in the play ground.

The constant asking out and dumping by boys etc

All of which gets brushed under the carpet or half heartedly dealt with for show...

And you get sent home for a hair cut...

Talk about getting priorities wrong.

Uniform is just a way for I effectual head teachers to make their presence known without having to actually deal with anything

[Ragwort]

Most secondary schools have coat policies as well.

Really - I hardly know any secondary pupils who will wear a coat to school - even in pouring rain .

You can pick up a coat for a few pounds in a charity shop - just get a really cheap one if the school insists.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Yanbu. Common sense seems to go out the window when it comes to school. Most MNETTERS have their heads so far up head teachers arses they re talking out their neck.

If a teacher said it was daily ritual to a bathe naked in mud then run four Laos round the village they'd be offered g to hold all the clothes.

If uniform was so vital then all those top performing schools without them would he closed by ofsted.

Funnily enough it's the failing schools that seem to think of they change the uniform it's going to make all better...result? Pissed off broke parents who's kids are being sent home for the Kickers red circle on the bottom of the shoe and a coat that not even worn in class fir being the wrong shade of black.

Ridiculous. And I'd not be buying another coat given the price of a decent one these days.

Is it warm? Dry? Is it free from.swear words or offensive slogans?

Then what more do they want ffs...

[BoneyBackJefferson]

TheSnorkMaidenReturns

Hoodies are a pain in school, nothing to do with prison. They offer little or no weather protection, pupils often refuse to take them off in the classroom as they suddenly become 'indoor clothes', and often pupils will put the hoods up in the lessons.