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Primary education

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Original poster

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:
Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:24

but if some kids are wearing uniform and others are wearing a variety of expensive designer clothes it's still the damn same isn't it?

it's still some cool kids showing off

you think I'm patronising? I think you're acting like a teenager

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2007 20:24

I dont think cappuccino is saying that at all mousie. Nor is she being patronising...unless I have missed something?

CarGirl · 20/03/2007 20:24

I have no personal experience but I can see that it could be quite tough taking on and leading something in opposition to may other parents and the chair of governers. Perhaps a more successful out come would be leading the way to a very limited uniform - like v neck jumpers in a choice of colours with a logo on and nothing else.......... (I say v neck as round neck jumpers are a pain to get on IME)

puddle · 20/03/2007 20:25

I can't bear to see small children in drab teflon clothes and those clumpy black shoes.

The social leveller arguement re: uniforms is rubbish too - we can all remember the kids at school who had quality stuff and the ones who had second hand or market stall tat.

lulumama · 20/03/2007 20:26

the children who do not come to school in the right trainers, the right sweater, the right everything will find their failings pointed out, twas ever thus..at least while they are in primary, they can do without this pressure

also, it saves money ultimately to have a uniform, shirts in Asda are something like £3 for 2 ..

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2007 20:28

Mind you, my uniform is fab because I dont pay for it ....

MuminBrum · 20/03/2007 20:28

I do feel for you. I loathe seeing little children in crappy polyester trousers and cheapo sweatshirts; and the horrid posh schools around here who force tots into ghastly miniature blazers and freakshow hats are even worse. I don't know if there's much you can do about it. A lot of parents seem to imagine that uniform will magically improve "standards" and "discipline" and so if you have a chair of governors who is pro you may well find that a majority of parents sheepishly follow him. I know someone else who is involved in this battle and will ask her if she's found out anything useful.

Ali5 · 20/03/2007 20:29

Primary schools can't have compulsory uniform, so even if it's implemented you don't have to send your children to school in it.
If you feel that strongly then do as others have suggested but if the head feels that strongly then it looks like it will be implemented.
Perhaps you could be involved in what the uniform is? I once worked in a school where the 'uniform' was grey or black skirt or trousers with a sweatshirt or cardi in a variety of colours to choose from (that had the school logo on)
It had a nice look to it in assemblies and the children at least felt they'd chosen what they wore.

Blu · 20/03/2007 20:30

If the school got on quite nicely without uniform, and the initiative has come from the Chair of Governors rather than from requests from a majority of parents, i can see why you wouldn't want it changed. In DS's school the no uniform policy goes along with calling teachers (inc the head) by thier firts names. They say it is part of the 'whole family' ethos. Doesn't create paradise, of course, but most children seem modestly and sensibly dressed and I am delighted not to have to put DS into those grey trousers.

Presumably most parenyts DON'T want the uniform to be worn all the time because if they did, most of the children would be wearing the sweatshirt currently available.

REmember, this is about MousieMousie's school - not what you all think is ideal in your schools!

Mut MM - if you are in the monority in your school, I think you will have to prepare for change!

CarGirl · 20/03/2007 20:30

I have to say my eldest two come home covered in black pen from the white boards etc I am glad it's not their clothes being ruined and only the uniform.

SoupDragon · 20/03/2007 20:31

"we can all remember the kids at school who had quality stuff and the ones who had second hand or market stall tat."

Um, I can't!

I like uniform. I can happily throw away the school sweatshirts, polo shirts etc that DSs trash rather than suffer their wails about having got paint or pen on a favourite top. The tops are cotton BTW so no polyester here.

Original poster
mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:31

It is a shame that so many people want to turn this thread into an argument for or against school uniform.

Thanks to those of you who answered the original post but I am leaving the thread in frustration caused by the aggressive "uniform is best and must be imposed on all those fools who cannot or will not see its benefits" brigade

OP posts:
Hulababy · 20/03/2007 20:31

I don't follow any of the arguements against uniform TBH. As a teacher (ex) I can see lots and lots of advantages, and now as a parent I can see plenty as well. I can think of many reasons why I don't like non-unifrm!

And to say that uniform only prepares you for the army of McDonals is not a great arguement IMO either. There are so many jobs that have uniforms or strict dress codes:

  • most shop based jobs
  • science based work
  • prison officers
  • armed forces
  • Police force
  • Fire fighters
  • pilots
  • cabin crew
  • many restaurant staff
  • nurses
  • most professional businesses (esp for men) - suits, shirt, tie all often compulsary attire
  • etc.

List can go on and on. I don't think it makes any of the above people any less individuals!

puddle · 20/03/2007 20:32

Agree with Blu. The head at Ds's school is the first to say that they have optional uniform as a response to parental requests - the teachers don't want it. It's much easier after gym if each child has a different tshirt to put on rather than getting them all mixed up!

SoupDragon · 20/03/2007 20:32

I don't think you can avoid the uniform being "compulsory" though. You can only make your point of view known. Given that primary schools can't have a compulsory uniform, would you send your child in without it should it be made "compulsory"?

Hulababy · 20/03/2007 20:32

But off the point really.

MM - you need to try and google this apparant legislation and try and find it in writing somewhere. Or find another school who have successful fought against uniform and seek their guidance.

Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:32

no agree with soupy

it was definitely different to get to high school where everyone was wearing the same stuff

if you only had two outfits no-one noticed whereas at primary school if you wore the same thing twice everyone did

VeniVidiVickiQV · 20/03/2007 20:33

oh mousie behave!

CarGirl · 20/03/2007 20:33

sorry mousie - I went to school without a uniform and I don't remember it being a problem I'd just be wary as being seen as causing problems at the school by objecting - sadly I think that is a risk you would be taking..................

Original poster
mousiemousie · 20/03/2007 20:34

The head is anti uniform BTW - and I have had some very useful comments amongst the argumentative ones! Thank you

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:35

oh mousie we exist to play devil's advocate and get you to explain your reasoning

if the only argument you can come up with is 'I don't want people telling me what to do' and then going off in a huff, I'm afraid your fight with the school is doomed from the start

come back when you've got a valid set of well expressed points

lulumama · 20/03/2007 20:35

i think i phrased my question unaggressively, as i am genuinely interested in your thoughts on why no uniform is preferable, mousie..

oh well

Blu · 20/03/2007 20:36

MousieMousie asked for advice on how to prevent uniform being made compulsory in HER school.

She was told that she should accept uniform as it is the best thing and was told she was acting like a teenager for not wanting what other people want in their schools!

The majority of parents in the school clearly don't feel strongly about uniform or thier kids would be wearing the optional one.

Hey ho! MN!

Cappuccino · 20/03/2007 20:37

I didn't mean she was acting like a teenager for wanting non-uniform blu

I meant that 'I don't want to be dictated to' and then huffing at people who disagreed with her was teenage behaviour

if she had some solid reasoned points I'd be willing to listen

Spidermama · 20/03/2007 20:38

I think at primary level the worry about them wearing expensive designer clothes is a bit of a red herring. They just wear their ordinary clothes from their clothes drawers.

For mine that means nicer colours, farbics which are better for them, a better fit and stuff they look nicer in which has been chosen by or for them.

Honestly Europeans laugh at us for having such small kids in uniform.

I can understand a bit more in secondary school when they've got hormones racing and want to sport their newly pierced belly buttons. Not ideal for learning.

But in primary ....

Yet I know I'm on the losing side so I'll just pop off to pull the strangely dry teflons out of the washing machine and wonder what the noise of static is and why my hair is all standing on end all of a sudden.

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