Secondary school uniform

[hedwig2001]

How many sweatshirts and polo shirts do boys at secondary school really need?
Currently my DS is in Yr 6. We have 3 school sweatshirts and 6 M&S non-iron shirts. Works ok (when DS doesn't lose sweatshirts!).
Got our secondary school allocation today. Require white name-embroidered school polo shirts at £9.50 each, plus name-embroidered school sweatshirts.
I'm trying to work out how many I will need. Are boys any less likely to end up wearing lunch in Yr 7?

Children can do horrible things to their uniforms at any age [bitter experience emoticon]. Just as they stop throwing food down themselves, they start DT, food tech, science in labs and using a greater range of materials in art; any or all of which can trash clothes.

Start with a couple of each (plus plain polo shirts in the right colour, to go under sweatshirt with only collar showing), and add to them as you find you need to.

We went for 2 bottoms (the girls had 1 trousers and 1 skirt and actually only really wore one depending on what was "in"....apparently now in yr8 DD2 wont wear trousers because that's what yr7 wear -who knew LOL) and 2 sweatshirts/jumpers (one that fits to wear most of the time and 1 in the bigger size to grow into but to be OK for "spare").

Need a shirt a day really- however the DDs only ever had 3 ( at £12 each!) and I wash on Wed night. DS has loads of shirts as his are M+S and cheap really.

Now DD2 is sweaty and smelly, she washes and uses deo but still. She now has a clean sweatshirt a day because of this- DS and DD1 never did - however she has DD1s old sweatshirts so all good.

Most of the secondary uniform has been really decent stuff and lasted a year or more. None of it has been bad value for money (but DS uniform is pretty much all generic with a blazer badge, the girls school is a bit more fussy, but a £15 skirt that they wear for a whole year and is washed every weekend- doesn't owe me a penny! DD2s shirts probably need renewing as they are icky yellow under the arms, but that's at nearly 1yr 6months wear).

THe annoying stuff is the "must have " aprons and esoteric sports kit. I'd ask how often some bits are worn/used before you buy them eg swimming is half a year here- you could buy a cossie in sept and it be outgrown by easter ! We have the prettiest pale blue crested sweatshirt that is "sports kit". DD1 had it for 5yrs and I washed it every half term,and DD2 has it now. I do not think either of them has actually WORN it as they do indoor PE if it's cold!

From yr 7 to year 13 IME boys mostly wear mud. Certainly in years 7 and 8 I washed trousers more than blazer or sweaters due to "rugby" at playtime.

Oh bugger! you've just reminded me DD1 has got acrylic sodding paint on her jumper.

My DS is in Yr7 in September I bought him 5 school polo shirts (school embroidered) 2 school issue jumpers and 2 pairs of trousers.

The polo shirts are now looking a bit grey despite only washing with other whites and I have been tempted to buy new ones but they are £9.50 each and at the moment you can only see the collars when he has his jumper on, they have to have permission to remove jumpers so have held off for a few more weeks!

I originally bought one rugby shirt but quickly bought another as some weeks he was playing rugby on consecutive says (in school team) and could'nt get it washed and dried in time. He has two pairs of PE shorts and two round neck t-shirts as he has to have these for dance as well as PE.

Luckily he didnt have to have aprons and the such like. The biggest waste of money was the school tracksuit think it has seen the light of day once!

HTH

I found ds wore less lunch, but more mud.
Try making subtle enquiries of the school as to any second hand uniform available - buy 2 new and then top up with those they are selling off.