Insane school uniform rules

[Incredulousme]

I have two DC's at secondary school. My DD is year 10 and DS year 8. It's a great school all round (outstanding Ofsted) apart from their insane rules regarding school uniform.

Uniform for girls

White short sleeved shirt with tie, scotch plaid pleated skirt (only allowed slightly above knee) and jumper. Thick black tights (must be plain and not see-through) Girls have the option to wear grey trousers.

Uniform for boys

White short sleeved shirt with tie, grey trousers and jumper.

My argument is this, two complaints if you like. Girls are not allowed to wear ankle socks or indeed any kind of socks with the skirts and have to wear ridiculously thick tights (thick because thin are see-through which is against rules) all year round. Great in winter but on very hot days you can only imagine how horrible this is and how sweaty and sore they can get.

My second gripe is that neither boys or girls are allowed to take their jumpers off when walking around (inside) school. They are to be kept on at all times when moving between lessons, queuing for lunch and in the dining hall. They are also to be worn in the library. If they are too hot in class they must ask permission to remove it but must put it back on before leaving that particular classroom. They are allowed to remove them outside at break.

AIBU to think this is insane? With regards to the 'tights rule' for girls I have asked on several occasions about the possibility of socks with skirts but told that this is out of the question as sometimes the children are required to sit on the floor. I agree my DD could wear the trousers but why should she have to?

They both came home yesterday melting (yes I know it's lovely sunshine) having worn jumpers most of the day. It's a very busy school and the corridors are packed at lesson change times yet they are forced to wear jumpers!!!! It's mad surely???

The library is a great place for revision but I'm sure having to sit in a jumper on hot days does not make it a very comfortable experience. And yes, I do believe in rules and more than happy to adhere to most but sometimes a little common sense is needed.

Which is where you question the uniform altogether. Because uniform worn properly is so ill fitting and impractical.
Very true.

I was just pointing out that some students do choose to self style their uniform in a way that they know is about getting attention so whilst they aren't responsible for pervy men, there's no avoiding the reality that super short skirts are done because of looks and attention.

A pooly designed uniform is awful

I can personally take or leave uniform bit whatever is decided should be followed. My massive issue is 'uniform.says x y z = parents going out and buying non uniform items'. It pushes schools down the route of being so prescriptive that it gets ridiculous.

The main reason I think a dress code over a uniform is that if there are parents who can't understand 'black school shoes, not trainers' then they'd be the types of parent who'd see 'plain black shoes, no logos' and buy their child a pair of black shoes with neon yellow.detail because well they're black. Or 'no shorts/skirts above the knee for either sex' and they'll decide hot pants are perfect'. Or 'one pair of stud earrings' obviously means 3 pairs of earrings, one dangly/hoops'.
Sadly you can't reason with irritating idiots like that, and so everyone else has to suffer.

The main reason I think a dress code over a uniform wouldnt work

But they are a) doing it anyway witg uniform

And b) everywhere else manages it

For a developed country we have awful educational standards. We are also the ones most obsessed with what kids wear

British schools fall apart with a mohican.

I think the whole system needs looking at tbh