Junior school has new uniform policy from Sept - Don't agree with reasons, is there any point objecting?

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The school colour is an unusual one (very so I won't mention it), but atm the uniform is Grey trousers/skirt, white shirt or polo shirt, sweatshirt in school colour (purchased from school with school emblem) or grey sweat shirt. School also sells grey fleeces, with school badge and optional ties, which very few children wear.

So atm, uniform can be purchased cheaply pretty much anywhere, although many children have 1-2 items with the badge. Also practical and easy on the laundry.

It's a very ordinary school in a non-affluent area. Existing uniform is strictly enforced and I'm all in favour of that.

Recently appointed "executive head" (2 days per week - other 3 days at a school in posh area) has decided the children need smartening up, so from Sept uniform will be:

Grey skirt trousers
White "proper shirt"
Compulsory tie
Compulsory weird colour sweatshirt or grey fleece with badge (will have to be bought from school)

Apart from the cost issue, as now no getting it all in Asda or similar, my concerns are:

Do kids with greying "proper" shirts all untucked look any better than an untucked polo shirt?

Are ties safe in the playground? If you can't wear a necklace on safety grounds....?

I will have 15 shirts a week to iron

Buy cheap ones and cut off emblem from old ones and sew it on???? Think it is a bit OTT. And also, think the teachers will just love gym class with 30 kids trying to do up their buttons and ties. Why not enforce show laced shoes too, for good measure.

I think you should complain

In response to the title, if you feel strongly (and you are unlikely to be alone) then put your point in writing, politely and succinctly, to the Chair of Governors. If you know who the Parent Governor is then you could talk it over with them first, but I'd definitely think the point is worth making, esp over ties. Make it clear that you support the wearing of uniform and that it should be worn in a smart manner, but make the point that you feel that costs etc will be a barrier for those who have two or three (or more) children in the school and that you feel that there are safety issues.
Go for it.

Agree with Pot, teachers will soon get naffed off having to help a class of reception children dress/undress for PE

We had this a couple of year ago with local high school - they insisted that kids wore emblemed sweatshirts no matter what the weather. Took a couple of kids to pass out in the summer for them to back down.

I agree with uniform, but this is a step too far. In the current climate, surely schools should be helping parents save money by setting uniforms that are widely available everywhere . I would speak to other parents and get a petition up. If you put your objection to the board of governors they have to respond.

Funny how they leave these things until the end of term to announce ...............

our school has proper shirts and I think they do look much nicer than polo shirts. I don't like the dress trousers with sports top look. You can get non iron shirts. I don't iron and they look fine. They also wear proper ties and afaik haven't had any safety probs. Children have been wearing ties in school for years and I have never heard about it being a safety issue.

I would complain if you can't get the colour jumper at a decent price. There was a thread a few days ago about lilac jumpers and royal blue skirts and someone linked a shop that had loads of colours of jumpers.

other thread

we've got the same thing next year too - v neck jumper, proper shirt and tie instead of polo and sweatshirt. and the v neck is some obscure stripe combo so probably only orderable from school. unfortunately they did do a consult with parents beforehand and apparently most parents did agree to it so my hands are tied really about objecting.

a point worth remembering / checking out : AFAIK the school has to offer at least two alternatives for purchasing school uniform - thus not having a 'monopoly' style arrangement where items must be bought through school. We have a [hideously expensive] option of ordering through an embroidery company, where you tend ot wait 3 months and pay a small fortune; the alternative is go to the indoor market stall and get them for £6. Errr, guess what we do

polo shirts never, ever look good. Never! Shirts and ties are much better. Yes it takes time to fasten a shirt but it takes time to learn to ride a bike and to swim too but we persist with those. Ties and safety - nonsense! Little ones can often get elastic ones with thin and non threatening elastic for ease but again, it's a skill worth learning. Proper shirts are much more likely to last through a number od dc's than baggy and scruffy polo shirts imho

my ds is one of the few in his class who wear cotton "proper" shirts in juniors rather than polo shirts - he has them because polo shirts get sweaty and kick off his eczema...

Schools do have to ensure that they do not have a monopoly on uniform choices.
this is to ensure choice for parents and to ensure that uniform is not too hideously expensive.
As a school governor I recently received literature reminding the school of this obligation.
Maybe bring this up with governing board. I will try and find you more info if you would like.

Am I being dim? Why do you say you can't get it in Asda anymore? Apart from the sweatshirt and or fleece, which you had to buy from school before, the only extra thing you will have to buy from school is the tie. All the supermarkets sell proper shirts too.

From experience (Ds1's winter uniform is shirt & tie, summer is polo shirt) shirts don;t go grey in the way poloshirts do. All his shirts still look white and have plenty of life left in them whereas his poloshirts are rey and tatty and will not last until next year.

I agree with you on the smartness issue though. Ds1 and his cohorts come out of school looking like urchins. Shirts untucked, ties askew (and usually pulled into teeny tiny knots that break your nails when you try and get them off), they look anything other than smart.

There doesn't seem to be the same concern over H&S with ties as with necklaces, for some reason.

DD is due to start in Reception in Septmeber and they've actually changed the uniform for reception because of the way the foundation stage curriculum is now. They've got rid of the ties and shirts (to make changing for PE easier/quicker and make them safer) so they are in polo shirts all year and they've requested that girls wear trousers so they can easily put on waterproof clothing, etc for all the outdoor activity they do. That makes sense to me, shame not all heads are as sensible.

I agree with writing a letter outlining your concerns and ask any other parents who feel the same to write one too. If enough people object then he mat back down a bit. Especially as he can't actually enforce the uniform because it's a primary.

First thing would be not to iron the shirts we have some cotton ones from M&S and I don't think we've ever ironed them still look lovely in the school photo

Seems a bit of a unnecessary change. My children had nice red polo shirts and they stayed bright and smart (enough) for the couple of years they both wore them. I don't know why it is felt that a "smart" uniform makes any difference to behaviour in any case. My neices were at a non-uniformed primary in the UK, and my two in the States and Canada attended non-uniform school (uniforms here are for private schools only) and their behaviour didn't suddenly suffer.

I hate ties on primary school children. Utterly unnecessary. It's not as if girls will probably ever wear ties in adult life, and men are less and less likely to have to wear the "suit and tie" combo. The polo shirt in a distinctive colour seemed a good comprise to me.

I would write and object, and then I would go on dressing them as before to be honest. If enough people do it they should get the idea, and uniform isn't actually allowed to be compulsory at primary level.

Shirts, grey trousers etc can be bought from Asda. Sweatshirt similar to before (or buy a badge) and you have to buy a tie.

Not a biggie really.

I don't iron the shirts, put them promptly on a hanger and you really won't need to.

I don't like ties as I have said on another thread. I'd write and complain, uniform changes are unnecessary and usually just a way for a new head to make their mark on a school. I like polo shirts and I think proper shirts and ties can be made to look very untidy, looking the kids coming out of our two local secondaries!

I think that for primary school the school uniform should be the sport uniform ie only one uniform.

It should be readily available, low cost, simple and look good.

15

how many kids do you have

i had three kids all wearng shirts and ties -i ironed once a week ( usually PE day)

DD's school has recently introduced a new system for its school uniform. We can now buy iron-on versions of the school emblem that you attach to sweatshirts and polos bought at the local supermarket. With the old three for two deal at ASDA a logo'd jumper now costs us £.2.50 instead of £9.

MY Ds's secondary school has just introduced a compulsory new PE kit which can only be purchased from one website.No shop and not from school.So I don't know what anyone without internet access or even a bank account/credit card would do ?

Uniform is never compulsory in state primary schools, is it? (Or have they changed the rules?)

FWIW poly-cotton shirts tumble dry beautifully & never need ironing, as long as you whip them out as soon as they're done

I wore a tie all through primary school and never had a problem. Children learn these things pretty quickly if they have to.

My boys wear shirts and ties. They look really smart, especially compared to some of their friends in polo shirts and have never had a problem dressing themselves. They had regular tie practice after PE.
the only difference to your current uniform is the tie surely?

I have to say, I think you're making a fuss over very little As someone else said, you can buy white shirts in all the supermarkets, and if you get the non-iron ones they stay good for ages.

My DS has been wearing a shirt and proper tie since Year 1. Teach them how to undo it only as much as needed to put over their heads and then it will go back on easily. Same with shirts - only undo top 2-3 buttons and put on over head - no problem.

Bleugh at the suggestion of 'sport uniform' - I assume that means some sort of nylon shell suit????

I agree with school uniform for all for an egalitarian point of view - all the children to look the same, in an outfit of minimal cost and easy availability.

It is ridiculous to put small children in proper shirts and ties.

In secondary school I can see that for boys a shirt, tie and blazer is preparation for socially accepted smart dress code - but a tie for girls?? Whenever do women wear ties unless possibly a really bad air hostess or building society uniform??

That said, a cotton-poly shirt tumble dries a lot better and smoother than a cotton polo shirt so would probably save laundry time.