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Calling all anti school uniform people! Help me stop my primary school making uniform compulsory!

144 replies

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 19:57

My dd's primary have optional uniform which almost nobody wears. A few wear the school sweatshirt sometimes. The chairman of the governors is pro uniform and wants to make it compulsory.

I am anti uniform and do not want other parents to dictate that how I spend my money and clothe my child. They are free to put their child in uniform now if they want to.

Can anyone advise me how to avoid the uniform being made compulsory?

OP posts:
Hulababy · 20/03/2007 20:04

I am actually very much pro uniform, but anyway...

...I have read on here several times that state primary schools are not allowed to have compulsary school uniform. Not sure where they have got that info from though.

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:06

Thanks Hulababy - I have heard that too but I don't know how it works in practice?

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tiredemma · 20/03/2007 20:07

Im pro-uniform. Think it looks good for all children to be the same.

Stops the brats showing off in their designer gear....

Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:08

I think school uniform is a good idea

I can still remember at primary school people judging one another on their clothes

it is far better that everyone wears the same so that this pettiness can be avoided

puddle · 20/03/2007 20:09

I would make my views known via the chair of governors and ask that the parents should be balloted over a change of this kind.

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:11

oh dear, are there no anti -uniform folk out there? I didn't mean to open a debate on the pros and cons as this has been done a thousand times, I was only asking for help!

OP posts:
mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:12

Chair of governors is the chief instigator and has already conducted a dodgy initial vote which is now being treated as a final vote...

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:13

ah but this is mn

you have no control over your own threads

Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:13

what exactly is your problem with it?

how old is your child?

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:14

you are so right

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puddle · 20/03/2007 20:16

Sorry mousie I meant the parent governors not chair.

I think it's not on to make this sort of change without consultation actually.

I don't like school uniforms at primary level. It's not compulsory at my ds's school and he doesn't wear it.

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:16

I do not want other parents to dictate what I spend my money on or how I dress my child.

I have at least 300 other objections to uniform; too many to list!

OP posts:
CarGirl · 20/03/2007 20:17

speak to PTA, head teacher and rest of governenrs and state that as so many parents choose not to use it they are stating they do not wish to have uniform and if he wants to change that then the school should have parental ballot? Basically kick up a stink but be prepared for some backlash!

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:18

puddle there has been a level of consultation but 57% of repondents are pro uniform - these may all be the same person though potentially

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Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:18

can you not see the benefits of it though? aren't you being a bit bloody-minded about it?

what about when your child gets further up school and starts demanding things that her friends have/ more outfits/ labels/ things that you think are unsuitable

if the school doesn't dictate then eventually peer pressure dictates and I know which I would choose

there is nothing to say you can't buy her a wardrobe of clothes that you like for evenings/ weekends

school should be a place to learn not to display your fashion sense

school uniform is cheap as chips anyway

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:18

Oh dear what backlash should I expect?

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SherlockLGJ · 20/03/2007 20:19

Uniforms are so nice, when they are done well.


I hate to see children without uniforms, I think it looks..................well chavtastic TBH.


LGJ legs it...

Spidermama · 20/03/2007 20:19

I wish you well mousie but I have a bad feeling that the uniform enthusiasts always win in the end.

I think they should be made to wear white polyester and grey teflon for a week before they foist it on our poor children.

The pro uniform people will win, then continue to rub your nose in it for ever in my experience.

Spidermama · 20/03/2007 20:20

Uniforms are great for teaching them all about fitting in. Brilliant training too for a job in MacDonalds or the army.

I must make a mental note not to put myself through the anguish of a uniform thread.

Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:22

oh I get the institutional baloney but it is baloney

as a child of a single parent who was always judged on my lack of an array of stunning clothes in the latest fashions I just think we're all better off without that

At that age you don't express yourself through your clothes you express your parents' disposable income

Blu · 20/03/2007 20:22

DS's school has no uniform, and I'm very happy about that - and would be unhappy to see the staus quo changed unless a majority of parents wanted it changed. I would still be unhappy but would live with the majority view.

I would suggest you ask for a proper consultation - all parents asked for their view - and if necessary start a petition. But you will need to know that there are other parents who agree with you and are prepared to be pro-active about it!

I wonder how the Head feels - do you know? And the rest of the governors?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2007 20:22

Im all for uniforms.

In fact, I wear a uniform for work too.

So much better.

NuttyMuffins · 20/03/2007 20:23

I thank god that my kids wear a uniform. Yeah you have to buy it but imagine how many items of clothing you'd need for them if they had to wear soemthigng different everyday.

It looks smart, washes well (mostly) and keeps me sane.

Infact Dd recently heard a rumour that her school was going to stop making the kids wear uniform, and i told her that if they did she'd be going to another school.

mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:23

The school uniform option is already available for those like you, Cappucino, who see benefit.

But why do you think you know better than me how I should spend my money? I find your comments patronising.

OP posts:
lulumama · 20/03/2007 20:24

mousie..genuinely interested, without wishing to kick off, why you are not pro uniform?

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