School changing to an Academy - Uniform costs!!

[CardyMow]

My DD's Secondary is changing to an Academy in September. During the consultation process, I asked the HT at the meeting if there were any plans to change the uniform like they did at the other Secondary that has already changed to an Academy, and only gave out one free set.

The HT reassured me, in a public meeting in January (the minutes of which are available) that they would most definately NOT be changing the uniform.

Fast forward to this week - we get sent home a price list complete with pictures of the new uniform, that can ONLY be bought from the school, at eye-watering prices. Only one free set will be given out. And none of the new, school-logo'd PE kit will be given free.

Horiffic white knee length pleated school skirt with black plaid pattern - £25. School trousers with Logo on the waistband (visible when blouse tucked in) - £22 a pair. The school will only give girls a free SKIRT. My DD hasn't worn a skirt since she was approximately 18mo. She wears trousers that cost me £12 for two pairs from Sainsbury's. She gets through a minimum of 3 pairs a week. I don't have a tumble dryer, so everything has to be dried on the airer and can take 2-3 days to dry (crap spin on my washing machine), so overnight washing and drying is not an option. Logo'd embroidered shirts, £17 each. New blazer (though this would be included in the free set, as would the new tie). New PE jumper, new PE trousers with logo, new PE shirt with logo instead of the plain white tesco one she has currently , new PE socks (logo'd, natch). Nothing coming in at less than £9.50 - and that's for the PE socks. OH - Logo'd kit bag too.

I am VERY pissed off annoyed, as 1) DD is already IN adult sized clothes, goes into Y10 in September, and her uniform would have lasted her till she leaves, and 2) I am NOT paying that amount of money for a pair of trousers EVER, and 3) I don't even HAVE that sort of money to pay for uniform, as I am on benefits.

There's no grants for uniform in my LEA, hasn't been for years. There's no Social Fund to get a loan from any more. I can't get a loan from anywhere else - not even Provident or Greensward because my LL (Housing Association) has barred them from conducting business on their properties.

And to make things worse - there is a high chance that as my younger dc's primary school is in the process of conversion, for September, that I may ALSO be facing this issue with those 2 dc, and then be unable to hand down any of the uniform I had saved from DS1 to DS2.

There is not a hope in hell of me affording ONE child's full set of uniform come September at these prices - three will just be impossible.

Are they REALLY allowed to do this? Change the uniform, just giving one free set, and no free PE kit, despite reassuring the parents that the uniform wouldn't change, even for dc in Y10? They will let the current Y10 (next years Y11) wear the 'old' (current) uniform, but not my DD's year and below. IMO, that STINKS.

Do I have any way to challenge this?

Takver, he's an archaeologist.

Why do you need 3 pairs of trousers?? Even at a very good boarding school where laundry is done for them fortnightly they only need 2 pairs of trousers at most. And you don\t need a tumble drier to have them hang for a day or two at weekend.

The quicker they all wear uniform the quicker the discipline will improve and with it results.

Ds has three pairs of shorts. I'm rather at the thought of them only being washed every two weeks.

The quicker they all wear uniform the quicker the discipline will improve and with it results.

Haha. Joke right?

But it costs a lot more to outfit them in those clothes for every day wear, and fashions change and they will want the latest fashion for school so replacing a lot more often. One of those hoodies costs £50, a lot more than a blazer. It would be lot more noticeable if they only had one, if they are wearing it day in day out.

Am shocked by your attitude therose - no insult from me because you sadden me that you can be so utterly high handed. Lots of us work hard too - sometimes for very little reward. Let's pray that you never have to find out just how hard life can be because I can tell you right now you will have one massive shock.

What the uniform is does not make a difference - changing from sweatshirt to blazer will do nothing to boost results. I am all for attention to small details - we are strict on uniform, bags etc, but the only item that has to be bought from us is the sweatshirt. Everything else can be got at Tesco.

£6.50 on ebay, finishes in a couple of days.

I'm being disingenuous, of course that's the best rationale for uniform, and of course it's harder to get the very latest on ebay (though realistically, anyone is going to wear their best stuff for a newspaper photo). I still think the amount of time and energy spent on uniform is a waste and that there are plenty of perfectly good schools without it. The uniform sweatshirt/jumper plus generics is a good compromise, which the OP's school is deliberately ignoring.

DS's basic uniform was:

Prep - blazer, plain white shirt, plain grey trousers, jersey, tie.
Blazer was expensive, shirts and trousers M&S, Jersey - yes expensive. Sports kit - good grief. However, there were regular 2nd hand sales and when he joined the school I bought 1 blazer (full price), and shirts/trousers from M&S. The rest, including jersey, socks, sports kit was £27.00 at the 2nd hand sale.

Senior school - much the same. One blazer lasted for three years - £95. His trousers are the £12 ones from M&S.

Doesn't sound too bad does it. What I don't get is if one of the most exclusive schools in the UK can manage a reasonably priced school uniform and tidy(ish) pupils, why can't all schools.

Adds caveat that the sports kit is expensive and ds has a lot but only because he is very very sporty. The non sporty boys get away with the basics.

DD's independent school uniform (we moved her after two years at a comp) was slightly more expensive than the comp and the bill for kitting her out came to £400.00 .

All the schools my DC have ever attended (four in total, two state, two private) have had very well organised second hand sales. Overall I have spent far less on school uniform over the years than on their casual clothes or on my clothes.

Imho the cheapest solution is neither non-uniform nor very formal uniform but a basic uniform of dark trousers/shirt/sweater that can be bought from any outlet: cheaper than the full works special school blazer but harder wearing than most clothes a child might want to wear.

(Though, bruffin, if you have non-uniform, there is always the possibility of explaining to your child how much they can spend on clothes and make sure they just don't get any more money)

I LOVE the idea that Uniform is essential to make a good independent school. Happygardening will chuckle when she reads that.

At my girls school the uniform was ESSENTIAL to reduce bullying.
And at my DCs school it levels the field between those who shop at Hollister or Primark.

And I agree that making existing pupils change uniform is wrong, no matter which sector its in.

Cory - I've just realised that I know some of your DHs current and ex colleagues!!

"Though, bruffin, if you have non-uniform, there is always the possibility of explaining to your child how much they can spend on clothes and make sure they just don't get any more money"

I would much rather they look the same,and not have to worry how they look at school and who's wearing what. The only question is "have I a clean blouse/shirt" today, not spending ages deciding what outfit to wear.

As long as uniform regulations are stuck to, it doesn't matter what the uniform is. And IMO the cheaper and simpler the uniform is the more people that will stick to it. It's hard to get a jumper/shirt/trousers wrong but with the whole blazer/tie situation there are a lot more regulations to be broken. Surely that's simple enough for schools to understand?

The best uniform comprimise I've seen is a woolen v neck, school tie, white shirt and navy trousers. Nothing complicated, nothing expensive (only tie and jumper from school shop) and everyone looked smart.

It could be worse though. I remember at secondary there was the choice of two blazers, one considerably more expensive than the other. That left a lot of scope for bullying :(

Actually, I agree with you, bruffin. As long as the uniform is affordable for all the parents at the school. Which is why I think the description-of-type-but- no-specification-of-outlet is the ideal compromise.

Have you asked why are they changing uniform just because they are changing to academy status?

Our secondary school changed to academy status last year but treated it purely as a funding change - the name of the school and the uniform (very practical sweatshirt and black trousers or skirt) stayed exactly the same.

There's really no need for all this uniform bollocks - it just seems llike HTs and governors getting a bit giddy over their new found power.

I think the uniform change is often unavoidable if they are merging with another school, as sometimes happens when they integrate a previously 'failing' school into another more successful one nearby, and then expand the premises. But I'm not sure if this is the case at Hunty's school.

However said it smacks of 'rebranding' is right though - that's exactly what it is. Schools that convert to academies are often considered to be undesirable schools. Very good schools rarely convert - if it ain't broke don't fix it. The whole rebranding thing to to scrub out as far as possible any evidence that it is still basically the same school with the same pupils, and to try to give it a completely fresh start so any unfortunate baggage (ie local and wider reputation) is not dragged along with it. The uniform/image is very much part of that.

whoever, not however

very good schools rarely convert - sorry, that's not true. The Coalition has been offering cash incentives to schools rated 'outstanding' to covert.

huntycat - why is your school converting, do you know?

hilly - not sure where you get the idea that good schools rarely convert. Our school is not a poor school (75% A-C inc Eng and Math, 65% EBacc) but has converted for funding reasons, as have nearly all the other excellent schools in SW Surrey and Hants. None of them, to my knowledge, have considered it necessary to ape independent schools by specifying ridiculous blazers or tailcoats or whatever it is that the uniform-weirdos think is necessary for a good education.

And of course at 6th form they wear what they want.

I agree with Cory that a simple uniform of dark trousers / shirt or polo shirt / sweater is both perfectly smart and affordable for all.

(and of course, OLD Roman sewers - I was imagining some kind of globetrotting drains expert . . . )

All the schools in our area that have converted are rated outstanding by Ofsted with the exception of one school.
In our school nothing has been rebranded, there have been no visible changes, nor at the other outstanding school.
One outstanding school has just changed tie and blazer badge.

Is your school an 'outstanding' converter, hunty or will there be a sponsor involved?

There are no laws but there are strongly worded guidelines about the cost of uniform, advance warning (which I think you were not given) and a running in period where the old stuff can be worn to use it up and allow for financial issues.

Our school did this bullshit last year and we wrote to the governors and complained formally. they did not like it ONE BIT and did their best to get around the eventual decision (to allow a year's grace, before making it compulsory) but it did achieve something, so we were glad we complained. At least it's allowed us to use up the old stuff.

Be prepared to fight this tooth and nail, go to Ombudsman, after governors, if necessary. They are being really unreasonable. You have a chance of winning.

I'd recommend ACE helpline (google it - good website) and also look on the DFE website for uniform guidelines.

Gather signatures...facebook is good for this, though we didn't have time so only got about 40 by passing a letter round the playground. But it still did some good.

I hate this arbitrary shit and am angry on your behalf. Good luck.

Btw just about everything they are proposing goes against the government guidelines.

I justwanted to add that there may be help available through the school for those with financial concerns, we were told this but it's the idea of creeping to the HT cap in hand that makes everyone just suck it up and feel really angry. NO one wants to do that.