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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Sixth Form Dress Codes

47 replies

Talker2010 · 03/09/2011 13:59

Teen girl is starting Sixth Form at a new school with an "office dress" code

The cost of kitting her out has been, imo, ridiculous but nothing she had was suitable ... jeans, casuals, etc all no-no

I was okay with trousers/skirts and shirts but she has to wear a jacket too

All this alongside books/the usual stationary and a massive increase in travel costs

Getting us ready for the cost of university I guess

Are we all in the same boat?

OP posts:

t0lk13n · 04/09/2011 17:39

My son`s 6th form has a dress code and i HAVE SOENT A FORTUNE SO HE WILL LOOK 'RIGHT'! He can wear anything black,grey or white but no denim! Had to buy all new too! At least he will look lovely!

t0lk13n · 04/09/2011 17:39

spent a fortune it should read....note to self...proof read!

noblegiraffe · 04/09/2011 18:20

6th form funding for schools has just been cut dramatically to bring it in line with that for colleges. My school is cutting teaching time because we now can't afford to put on the same number of lessons for the kids....I wouldn't moan about paying for textbooks if I were you, would you rather they made the savings elsewhere?

Original poster

Talker2010 · 04/09/2011 19:06

We have also cut time noblegiraffe ... and increased class sizes

2 years ago my parameters for s Y12 class were 6-20 (15 in practical subjects) now they are 12-30 (20 in prac)

OP posts:

t0lk13n · 04/09/2011 19:39

Our school has just lost its sixth from to come in effect in 2013, at least 8 staff will be made redundant :-(

t0lk13n · 04/09/2011 19:40

form!!!

alemci · 04/09/2011 20:33

Yes but it is a comprehensive school and I do think they should be providing textbooks. They have alot of money donated by parents as it is a well off area.

The music lessons are extortionate there as well.

alemci · 04/09/2011 20:36

anyway if they expect me to buy textbooks, then why should I have to cough up for some crappy cardigan with the school logo on it when other kids at college can wear jeans. Just annoys me so much.

I have paid for uniform over the years' but I don't expect to in the 6th form. also when they go to university they can wear what they like plus unless you work in the city or in court most work places don't expect women to wear a shirt.

I don't wear one and I always look presentable.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/09/2011 20:40

But if you want your child to go to a certain school, then surely by sending them you agree to whatever the uniform is? September until May is quite a long time to get money's worth out of a cardigan and a 25 pound cardigan is cheaper than having to buy suits.

alemci · 04/09/2011 20:52

Yes but it has changed since she has gone into the 6th form. Last year she could wear (not jeans) to an extent what she wanted and I have already bought clothes for her to wear so that is my objection. She did not have to wear shirts. Plus my other dd is going into Y12 so it would be 2 cardigans plus I think they are making money out of it. To me £25 is a lot of money when I could buy 2.5 cardigans from H and M.

Are the suits for a private school?

I just think they should be able to wear what they like in 6th form as most parents have had enough of forking out for uniform and the kids could be out at work (ha ha in this economic climate) and they are lucky to be able to stay on as far as I am concerned. I mean my own DC not anyone elses.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 04/09/2011 21:11

Not private school, no.

I do take your point about the school making money out of the cardigans - are they allowed to have a cheaper cardigan with the school logo sewn on instead?

Lots of sixth forms seem to be going down the suit route now, it seems. Unfortunately, many parents make judgements on schools based on how strict uniform rules are!

hocuspontas · 04/09/2011 21:32

But they are so restrictive (in our case) that it would be easier all round if they just kept the school uniform - a hard-wearing kilt and a black blazer.

Regarding footwear - it's 'formal' black or brown shoes and either ankle socks or tights. So all the girls are going to wear smart suits, formal shirts and black ankle socks and brogues. I'm sure that is what the go-ahead business woman is wearing these days! Therefore the smart look the school is desperately trying to achieve is not going to happen. Aaaargh! I can feel myself getting cross again...

And as dd2 has just pointed out, a man must have come up with the dress list because who in their right mind would team brown shoes with a grey, black or navy suit.

t0lk13n · 04/09/2011 21:38

And as dd2 has just pointed out, a man must have come up with the dress list because who in their right mind would team brown shoes with a grey, black or navy suit

I so agree! No taste or fashion sense...must have been a man!

alemci · 04/09/2011 22:25

TBH I am not going to lose any sleep over it. I won't be buying the cardi. I would sew a name badge on if this was offered.

My ED agrees with me to an extent so we shall see. I am sure I am not the only parent not happy with this. Mine used to wear a kilt and a blazer. Not my boy though LOL

lesstalkmoreaction · 04/09/2011 22:36

Same grief here with dd, i've lost count of how much money we've spent but to be fair she also has bought some shoes, a jumper and a couple of shirts. The most expensive item was a lovely little fitted blazer from laura ashley which she fell in love with before I saw the price!!!
Also had to fork out £438 for a bus pass for one year.
There is now a replacement for ema delivered by the schools but I had a look and the cut off is £21k so we just miss claiming that.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 04/09/2011 22:46

Our 6th form seems to be the odd one out here, in that the dress code for the boys seems to me to be much stricter than that for the girls.
The code is 'smart-casual' but boys aren't allowed jeans, whereas girls are, as long as they are 'neat and tidy' ffs! No trainers allowed for either sex.

The 6th form is the two single sex grammar schools combined, plus some from the local comps. DS seems quite happy with his three new pairs of chinos, and he already has loads of t-shirts.

hocuspontas · 05/09/2011 08:15

Dd2's just gone off, looking smart but skirt is about 6 ins above the knee. She swears it's 3cm but maths is not her strong point. Her skewed reasoning is 'Well Laura's and Becka's are the same'. There's nothing you can say to that is there...

Milliways · 05/09/2011 17:10

DS has to wear a suit & it took me ages to get one slim enough that was machine washable (M&S XS suits online order only eventually got there).

TBH, it is cheaper than the suit he had to wear in Yr7-11, but agin, with shoes & books (£120!) it was a big bill this summer.

DD could wear whatever she liked, (shorts!) and still made it to a top Uni.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 05/09/2011 17:23

Whatswrongwithyou - I don't think they are actually allowed to have a different rule for boys than for girls, so the boys would be well within their rights to kick up a huge stink about that.

onadifferentplanettoday · 05/09/2011 17:32

For those needing office type wear for 6th form, I work in a charity shop and we get lots of it donated quite a lot unworn with labels still attached so it might be worth a look in your local one.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 05/09/2011 20:39

That's occurred to me before, Remus, but I didn't have a child at 6th form before. Maybe I'll look into it.
In a similar vein, the private school the DCs used to go to, the primary aged boys weren't allowed to remove their ties in summer, but the girls had summer dresses. At secondary level, I don''t think the girls had to wear ties in summer term.

MABS · 08/09/2011 19:51

Skirt suit for dd, navy,blck or grey. No patterns. White blouse,black tights,black shoes.

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