Private school uniforms - from the outfitters or the supermarkets?

[chocolatequeen]

Supposed to be going today to the outfitters for DS1´s school, with uniform list as long as your arm. Does it all have to come from the outfitters (as it did in my day, down to the grey sport knickers), or can you buy the standard grey trousers, white shirts etc. from supermarkets, M&S etc and just get the logo´d things from the outfitters?

I was on a full scholarship. My family are very, very middle class, but we were also really poor - by the standards of my classmates, I should say, not by any real standards. However, I did get a very good education, so I shall stop complaining.

fio is right of course. school isn't just about the exam and the classes.

My year six son came home with a complete senior school uniform from the school shop. He had been measured the week before, the shop-lady phoned me to see what I already had and to tell me what items she had in good condidtion, second hand. He came home with exactly what he needed - easiest shopping ever.

I only returned the trousers which were a silly price and got some the same colour from Tesco.

I never buy everything on the list as I have discovered that by the time they 'might' do some particularly impractical sport they would have grown out of the stuff bought at the start of term. Also, I have never bothered to buy cricket whites for junior school kids - complete waste of money.

At my dc's school you have to buy from the school shop, as there's always a subtle logo/style/something that makes the item different from regular ones in the shops and you really want your child to be the only one in non-regulation dress or whatever! Think you should check out the correct shop first, and if it's something that looks really ordinary, then you can get it elsewhere.

WOULDN'T want your child...

for bluestocking & [speechless] at pagwatch

oh and if in any doubt, buy the bare minimum and see what you actually need as and when he starts. Not sure what age your ds1 is but for example in Reception ours only needed pe kit from Easter and blazers for specific occasions which many just borrowed.

This is interesting news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6369213.stm

wordgirl, that link only applies to state schools who are supposed to educate the poor. Private schools can do as they like for uniform.

This would appear to be the problem with private schools - all the hidden costs. You find you can just scrape together the fees, then they hit you with the uniform costs, and it can only be bought from one particular shop. And then all those whose parents are not short of a few bob can easily shell out for the extra music lessons and skiing trips and so on, which you hadn't budgeted for...

Of course, if people had decent state schools they wouldn't need to go private.

Hmm..I have sympathy for parents in areas where there REALLY are issues, but the people I know with kids at private (esp. promary) school have a great state school round the corner, but they obviously want something else for their kids other than simply a good education.....

Depends on school. Have to ask.

My kids prep school very fussy and everything had to come from school shop, but do have a good range of second hand though kids tend to know and poke fun (Things became very tough when DH lost his job.)

Two oldest now at senior school on government music and dance scholarships and this school is much more laid back. Can buy all non badged items ie trousers/shirts from anywhere. Also have good second hand.

Also kids not so "snobbish" about what parents have, extras can be afforded etc as lots of gifted musicians there who get financial help [].

Have to say though prep school itself not at all stuck up and have come up with whopping 75% bursery to enable youngest to finish her time there. Just kids tease her for not having everything new and not being able to go on some of the trips etc.

UQD, state school pupils still have to have something to wear, and they are not always cheap either. The last state school I worked at had a very strict uniform code, with unique jumpers, shirts, skirts and trousers. They had to be bought through the school (at great profit to the school), and not on the high street.

State school pupils also have music lessons and ski trips. Are the costs for these hidden too?

we must be pov's then

dd going back to school in asda specials and proud

Do kids really care?
We had regulation bloody everything (even had the school logo on tampons probably) but no-one gave a toss if you wore something a bit different (except the teachers of course)

DD's school has a recommended uniform, and 99% of the parents support it. The head says she can't enforce it though.

I suppose my point about the hidden costs is that there is bound to be more pressure at a private school when surrounded by people on high incomes. if you're one of those families who can just about afford the fees by watching the pennies, you inevitably feel like the poor relation.

As a parent, I don't see the hidden costs - they are quite upfront about them, tbh. Nor do I feel pressurised for them to partake of every single opportunity on offer.

I don't think it would be any different if we were in the state sector - except that there are generally more things for them to choose from in a private school. Very few kids would do everything, and even rich parents are good at keeping their kids grounded.

private v state [yawn]
we have a very stict headmistress so all regulation for us or else -detention

I think there are presuures at all schools. There will always be families with vastly differing incomes (state or private) but at state schools the poorer kids don't come in for the "well if your parents can't afford to send you abroad/pay for extra tennis coaching etc you shouldn't be at this school should you?" type remarks which DD gets from a minority of the rich kids.

We have to get everything from the school shop on site. There is a trade in second hand stuff, either from the school or parents selling it on a specific schools trading website.

Ah well they will be the ones who grow up into total wankers that everyone hates so really who cares?

Blimey !
Yes Harpsicord - Of course that is what I was saying. How fucking astute you are. I have a child at private school so must be total "fuck you" type. Well done - sits very well with your lecture about being judgemental.

My comment was ironic. I think if you are going to be upset about social equality then whether private schools have an exclusive uniform policy seems a tiny little bit of a minor issue.

My son started with support at a private school because his grandpa was a teacher there and we got massively reduced fees ( which I remain very grateful that I could just about afford) It meant that I could get him to his school and also could get his very disabled brother to his specialist provision which was very close by - otherwise we would have had to turns DD2's place down and would have NO help at all. AS we had just moved from Kent to Surry because his consultant had said the nursery recommended was the only one who could meet his needs I thought that was pretty important. So shoot me !

I was at school when my free lunch vouchers were given to me during registration so all my friends could think about that and choose if that was going to be a good mickey take at break time. I also remember my best friend laughing when I went in in one of her old summer dresses that her mum had discreetly given to mine.

But thanks for the lecture....

It's not just private schools who have extensive uniform lists only available from one outlet. Fainting with the cost for dd's uniform for Year 7 at the local state school in Sept, which all has to be obtained from a very old-fashioned gentlemen's retailer.

Pagwatch if it helps I read your earlier comment as a joke - seemed obvious to me