Uniform

[Stuckinarut79]

Anyone challenged a schools uniform policy? My 6 year old, hates her uniform, all her friends are boys and she wants to be just like them, we have tears over her school dress, she wants shorts like the boys.

There is a back story, she’s shy, quiet and for a few reasons her self confidence is really low. Lockdown was tough for her. I’ve signed her up for after school classes as this means she can go in her pekit , so it’s only 2 days she has to wear her dress. She’s struggling academically and isn’t a big fan of school so I know it’s not all about the uniform, but I hate that’s what causes the tears two days a week. I also have my own issues with the sexist issues of girls having to be in dresses when the boys are in shorts, plus the uniform is not one you can get from the supermarkets, is poor quality and really expensive - £100 blazer, £60 pinafore! The heads all about high standards and her response has been to generic uniform queries if you don’t like it find a new school , I’m tempted but I don’t think pulling her out right now is best for her - over a bloody uniform! It does make my blood boil though!

I’m hoping it’s a phase and she knows she can wear anything she wants at weekends and after school but wondered if any one had challenged or had a daughter with similar issues - all advice welcome. At the moment I’m going with - that’s life, and rules are rules, but it’s tough when I agree with her!

Is this a state school? If so I don't believe they can make uniform compulsory. And I never heard of one that didn't allow trousers or shorts for girls. Plus the price is steep.

If it's a private school then I guess they can do what they want. I would approach the head on this tho, after all, I imagine they want you to jeep paying.

By the way if she is struggling academically and doesn't like the school, maybe it is not the best option? Or do you think this is all about the uniform?

I'm surprised mixed schools are still insisting on dresses only for girls. I assume this is a private school with those insane prices. Not sure how you can challenge it if the head is being obstructive. I'd be tempted to send her in shorts and see what happened but it sounds like the head would make life difficult.

I guess this is a private school with those prices? I guess if the head's answer is like it or lump it, then you don't really have a choice. I'd agree that you might want to consider if this is the right school for you - IME private schools tend to be way more "traditional" than state schools. Sports they are allowed to play might be another one - if your daughter wants to be like the boys I'm guessing she will be decidedly unimpressed if she can't play football, for example.

Things like this really frustrate me.

What a condescending attitude to have when it’s a simple question of whether a child wears one approved outfit or another.

I fully support uniform, but above all else it should make children feel comfortable.

No it’s a state school, it’s ridiculous , blazers, boaters , and everyone loves the uniform and how smart/different it is! Well that’s the heads line.
I’ve seriously considered moving her because of this, but it seems extreme over a uniform, I’m worried it would set her back further by getting her to settle in somewhere new, also it’s the feeder school for the best secondary in the county, and the others aren’t great, which I care less about right now but may life to regret that by the time it came around.

I fully support uniforms as well but affordable, comfortable and practical which along with poor quality it’s none of these things.

If it's a state school I'm sure there's something that says that uniforms have to be affordable. So maybe that's another possible line of complaint?

Have they actually said that your dd can't wear shorts?

I'm not sure I'd want my kids at such an inflexible school. Mine aren't supposed to wear summer uniform (shorts/dresses) after Oct halfterm or before the March half-term, but when dd started refusing school over it they immediately said she was welcome in anything and the summer dress would be fine. Generally as long as the children own clothes fit for the weather, the school are happy. Thank goodness!

Cycling shorts under the dress for now and say it's for personal comfort.

Wow. I know of a state primary school with blazers, but not £100 ones and definitely not boaters! At my dc primary the girls were allowed shorts and trousers if wanted

@Synthesiser

Wow. I know of a state primary school with blazers, but not £100 ones and definitely not boaters! At my dc primary the girls were allowed shorts and trousers if wanted

I love the idea of blazers (little kids dressed super smart is so cute!) but in a practical sense they are totally stupid for primary kids.

Primary kids should absolutely be getting mucky and enjoying themselves and, most importantly, dressing for the weather. The ‘blazer instead of coat’ in bad weather and ‘must wear blazer inside’ attitudes are absolutely antiquated.

It seems even more ridiculous that some kids are forced to dress impracticable smart when me and OH are sat at home doing our professional jobs in a smartish tshirt and jeans. We take our son to nursery and he dresses smarter than us just in a standard jumper/polo/trousers uniform.

Much as I hate the gender bollocks tell them you are bringing her up as non binary until she is old enough to decide for herself. They won't be able to do anything.

But aside from that absolutely challenge it. For a state school to insist on specific pinafores and blazers, all it does it exclude by the back door those from less affluent families. (that's probably deliberate).

Hmmmm op so your child in a state primary school has to wear a straw boater? And must wear a dress, is not allowed trousers or shorts?

I am a bit dubious if I am honest. A quick internet search has only brought up private schools where straw boaters are part of the uniform.

Anyway, I would totally challenge this. A primary cannot discriminate on grounds of sex or gender. What happens with children who need to wear trousers for religious or medical reasons (such as wearing leg splints - I have certainly come across this) I wonder?

I have googled and found a state catholic primary school with a very distinctive coloured pinafore for the girls and straw boaters.

@Comefromaway

I have googled and found a state catholic primary school with a very distinctive coloured pinafore for the girls and straw boaters.

impressive effort @Comefromaway :)

I'd be going mental & challenging the governing body. My old catholic school makes girls wear skirts or dresses and they aren't even allowed culottes. Blazers too. I'd refuse to send my DC there as it says so much about what they think of girls and their values. My DD have never worn school skirts ever. Their choice from age 3/4

My dd only ever wore “boys” uniform. Is this an option?

One fast google of 6 key words and I found a school in central ish London with a green uniform like that lol

In fact below that on my google search was one in Lambeth also. Also catholic. What is it with catholic schools?!?

@clary there's several state RC schools it seems in London with that description and uniform. It's as if they are trying to look like posh private schools with silly uniforms

I found the Lambeth one, tho to be fair, no kids are wearing the boater in the images. Also the blazer is not £100. Still stupid tho and any school that insisted on girls wearing a skirt would not be getting my vote.

I saw two and the stopped looking at thought they were mad. Corpus Christi has photos of both kids in winter hats and boaters. But not £100 for a blazer anywhere I have seen. But totally playing on the snob factor at that and the one I saw in SW3

@minuetpiece

I saw two and the stopped looking at thought they were mad. Corpus Christi has photos of both kids in winter hats and boaters. But not £100 for a blazer anywhere I have seen. But totally playing on the snob factor at that and the one I saw in SW3

I’ve just Googled Corpus Christi - I’m stunned. I suppose a uniform like that screams ‘private school wannabe’ so probably gets good academic results...

I also find it hilarious they have such a pretentious uniform and then allow the nursery to attend in a tracksuit?

Had a bit of a panic I’d been way too outing but seems it’s not the only pretentious RC school out there. (Though I double checked the pinafore is £50 not £60 apologies for that exaggeration).

Good point about the splints etc, there are a few children with mobility issues but all boys, if she had a disability or special needs they would be more flexible , I know of a couple of children who are allowed joggers rather than school trousers.

I didn’t mean to derail the conversation into the cost/impractical ness of the uniform - that’s my own bugbear with the school that I didn’t fully think through when I chose the school for my eldest, it’s just something that irks me a lot more these days.

My question was just had anyone challenged a policy on girls not wearing dresses. But seems the school is way out of step here, is there actually legislation/guidance that says girls have to be given the option to not wear trousers?