Getting more and more pissed about school uniform at DD's primary school

[StaceyBranning]

My reason for being pissed off is that there are three boys in DD's class that do not wear the right uniform, not even the right colour. DD's uniform is blue and the jumper or cardi has to have the school crest on. The polo shirts are to be white but can be plain and the bottoms are to be navy for girls and grey for boys.

The uniform is not cheap and like most of the parents I have forked out as that is what is required. What is really pissing me off is that these three boys all come wearing grey jumpers! Not even blue!

Despite numerous notes home in school bags nothing has changed, why should I pay out for the uniform when other parents seem to be just getting away with not having to!!

If I had known I could get away with not buying then I would have saved myself money and sent DD in whatever I wanted!

Every morning I see these boys and get more and more pissed off every day!!

Sorry rant over!

I think legally at primary age they cannot enforce a uniform.

PITA for you, but boys parents may know this and the school won't be able to do much about it (unless private - in which case they can do what they like).

Have you thought that they might not be able to afford the right uniform? Or that the school is doing everything it can to make the parents conform but they just won't?

I would find something else to use my energy on if I were you!

I agree it is annoying, but my first thought would be poor boys, uniform is there so all children look the same at school and feel 'unified', these boys must feel odd wearing different, and if letters are going out about it they must be picking up on it.

Don't get me wrong I would be furious too, but nothing you personally can do now. My old school uniform was navy blue and my mum always used to complain it was hard to get and less reasonably priced so I see where you are coming from there too!

I know how you feel. Children at our Primary are not allowed to wear trainers, but the amount of boys that do go in them is untrue. I fork out for proper school shoes for DS's and just know the day I sent them in trainers - they would be told off. Trousers are supposed to be grey - one boy in DS1's class wears blue sometimes.

It is frustrating but at least our children look like the majority and not the minority!

I think you should be annoyed at the school for insisting on a uniform that is so expensive that some families are struggling to afford it for their children. I feel sorry for the kids to be honest.

You are paying out for the uniform so your daughter is happy at school. The boys' parents for whatever reason cannot or will not do this - I bet the boys would love to be in uniform. They aren't doing it to spite you.

If it's a state school no-one can make them wear uniform. If the school insists on choosing a uniform that's expensive then it's their own fault if not everyone wears it.

Why do you say the uniform is expensive anyway?

The only thing you mention that is not available for a few quid in Asda or Tesco is the crested jumper. Ours are £10 which I think is totally fine.

I agree it's annoying if you have spent that and other parents are opting for plain jumpers not even in the right colour, but take consolation in the fact that yr DD looks smart at least.

No sorry I don't feel sorry for their parents. I don't have money and struggled to pay for DD's uniform (yes I agree it is far too expensive) I ended buying some 2nd hand bits from the worn beofre stand in the school reception.

The fact that one of the mothers drives to school in a brand new Merc really doesn't lead me to believe they are poor!!!

It is just irritating me that the school keep sending notes out the book bags saying they enforce a scrict uniform policy yet some just ignore this!!!

There is always a huge selection on teh worn before stall so really they don't have problem!

Sorry, like said this is really pissing me off!

many supermarkets have their own range of schoolwear, jumpers start from about £2-3 IIRC

don't see what you're getting annoyed about tbh,doesn't really affect you.

Some people don't think it looks good for the school to have some children out of uniform.Is this what annoys you.Would you really let your dd go in wearing whatever you wanted?

Have you complained to the school about the cost of the uniform? Our crested sweatshirts cost 8 pounds - everything else I get from Woolworths or Tescos.

I REALLY don't understand why someone else breaking the rules makes you so angry - it doesn't make any difference to you does it?

If you are struggling to pay for DD's uniform then why don't you do the same? Go for a non-crested high street version.

I don't see why the other children wearing the wrong colour should personally bother you though.

DOn't take it so personally - the parents aren't doing it to piss you off.

I'd be more annoyed at school tbh. They are the oens that told you to get the expensive uniform.

Just get cheaper versions next time.

The school can send out as many notes as it like saying that it enforces a strict uniform. Legally it means diddly squat.

As others have said, at a primary school unless it is an independant school they can not enforce a uniform or even a dress code. They can not dole out any sanctions if the boys continue to flout the rules.

You say why should I pay out if others get away with it. Don't pay out then and send your dd in whatever you want to, there is nothing stopping you.

Maybe the parents don't like the concept of school uniform for primary age children? Or maybe the children suffer from eczema and the synthetic materials in the uniform makes it worse.

Whatever the reason, it's unlikely to be that they want to piss other parents off.

Why do you care? I don't even really notice waht other kids wear

and what Colditz said

Have you considered getting a life?

I agree with the OP - DD's school uniform can all be bought from the high street, apart from the tie which costs a couple of quid from the school office, but there are a number of parents who insist on sending their kids in wearing a variation on the theme.

Our new, enlightened, and very capable Head has been sending letters home reminding all parents of the rules, and there have been letters home to the individual parents. If some choose to ignore it then it becomes harder for all the other parents who support the school and their uniform to justify to their kids why they should wear the uniform.

IMO - if you don't like the uniform then go elsewhere.

Ahh....here's madamez with her habitual 'get a life post'. Yawn....

The second week my ds was in reception, his £8 school sweatshirt got white board marker on it (not washable), so I haven't replaced it, instead he has a plain jumper and still wears the marked sweatshirt. Also, they changed the uniform the term before he started so that only white polo shirts could be worn. I've always been a real stickler for rules & regs but in this case I have decided that ds can wear the old coloured polo shirts (he is not alone) because I was having to throw away at least one white shirt a week which I did not think was acceptable. In every other aspect of ds's school life I do exactly as the school asks, eg reading etc and I think that is the most important thing.

Some parents really don't like uniform. Should they all home educate then, because an increasing number of schools have started to introduce it.

Hardly any other countries insist on uniform especially for primary age. The system makes them conform so much, can there not be a choice for those who want to wear different clothes?
What is the pressure for everyone to look the same?

Thanks PG that was exactly my point. I am not the only Mum who is annoyed by the i have heard several conversations in the mornings between other Mum's who have noticed and are pissed off. It draws your attention to it more when teh letters are sent out. Isn't the whole point of a uniform that everyone wears the same???

I'm still confused as to why your dd's uniform is so expensive