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Secondary education

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Original poster

Length of school skirt for Year 7

30 replies

muttonjeffmum · 24/08/2013 23:00

My DD starts year 7 this year and we have had a nightmare with the school skirt. The school only allows 2 styles which, of course, have to be purchased from the school outfitters. One style was awful and the second style suited her much better. The trouble was they didn't have one long enough in stock but they ordered her a longer one.

The school's uniform policy stresses that skirts for year 7 should be below the knee to allow for growth. My DD is already 5ft 4 and the skirt comes to about an inch above her knee. A friend who's DS already goes to the school said she could get a warning for incorrect uniform.

Should I write her a note for the first day? I've bought the longest skirt in the shop. I'm I worrying over nothing? Maybe they need to be a little more flexible in their choice of skirts. DD doesn't seem worried - she said I'll just tell me it was the longest we could get.

What do you wise MN's think?

OP posts:
Iamnotminterested · 24/08/2013 23:13

Dd wears M&S trousers.
Could your Dd?

Iamnotminterested · 24/08/2013 23:13

Dd wears M&S trousers.
Could your Dd?

Iamnotminterested · 24/08/2013 23:14

2 pairs, obviously...

tiggytape · 24/08/2013 23:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoComet · 24/08/2013 23:22

There is no point worrying about the length of school skirts.

What leaves your house isn't what enters school.

The length of skirt worn in science is not the same as the one worn the rest of the day.

This is to say, with in a fortnight all the girls will roll their skirts over at the top as short as they can get away with. Mr Science has an unhealthy fascination with teen girls legs and, bar the SLT, seems to be the only teacher who can be bothered to moan.

Trousers are useful for when the SLT are having a major moan. Although given the prevalence of leggings and black skinny jeans last term, they probably wish they'd just ignored girls skirts.

In short, uniform is a farce 99% of girls would rather wear, jeans, Tshirt, hoodie and trainers and the boys would too!

Original poster
muttonjeffmum · 24/08/2013 23:29

She has already got the longer length - it is 20" in length. The owner of the school outfitters said he is going to contact them in September to tell them that these skirts just don't go long enough. We have brought trousers but she prefers skirts because she suffers from eczema and it is aggravated by trousers.

OP posts:
luxemburgerli · 25/08/2013 07:27

I would write her a (permanent) note to carry about, and if there is any trouble deal with it as it arises. After all, they can't expect you to buy a skirt that doesn't exist, so there isn't really an alternative.

Unless the school is very strict with enforcing uniforms, the year 7s will only have skirts below the knee for about the first 3 days anyway!

luxemburgerli · 25/08/2013 07:28

PS in the note I would ask the school to contact you - and write your phone number - if there is an issue.

Original poster
muttonjeffmum · 25/08/2013 09:51

That's a good idea luxem. It's not like we haven't tried and the skirt is in the specified style. They are very strict with the uniform - apparently it's checked as they walk in through the barrier each morning.

OP posts:
luxemburgerli · 25/08/2013 10:39

In that case, perhaps you could try contacting the head of year/form tutor in advance, as well as giving her the note?

You might try asking for clarification on what length is actually allowed too, because if the skirts are to be that long to allow for growth, then obviously at some point in the year(s) they will be shorter.

PearlyWhites · 25/08/2013 10:55

My dd is the same she has the waist of a nine year old in school skirts at 14. So her official school is shorter than it should be . I think the problem is they make school clothes with fat kids in mind. My dd is an adult age 6 so thin but not super skinny.

louisea · 25/08/2013 12:05

Pearly: As a parent of "larger" children I would disagree with your comment about "fat" children. I have as many problems trying to find uniform to fit as those with "smaller" children. Trying to find regular clothes is even harder. Everything is cut very narrow and forces kids in to innapropriate adult sized clothing. What is needed is for the manufacturers to take a better look at today's kids so that they can provide better options and for schools to be more flexible in their demands.

mummytime · 25/08/2013 12:10

20" is not long enough, I would email the school about it. My DD has issues with school skirts being in year 9 going into 10, and not excessively tall; a 22" length was still too short, and she is the smallest waist size (if she got bigger they'd be even more inclined to be rolled just to keep it up). In our case they managed to source an alternative longer skirt.

DalmationDots · 25/08/2013 17:37

Sounds like the school isn't too fussy as long as it isn't indecently short, or they would say 'skirts must be no shorter than X cm above/below the knee' rather than a vague 'longer than to allow for growth'.
Considering your DD is very tall and as long as she isn't breaking uniform rules like rolling it up/wrong socks/wrong coat etc then I very much doubt any teacher would tell her off.

If the school are incredibly strict on uniform or she is very anxious about it then write an email or note now explaining and asking what they suggest or whether it will be OK.

LadyLapsang · 26/08/2013 09:39

Couldn't you just let the hem down or take it to the cleaners for them to do it for you?

NoComet · 26/08/2013 10:35

It's very simple, the schools want longer skirts, but in reality the suppliers (manufacturers/trutex/school shops etc) know the DDs won't wear them and most mothers end up compromising.

If they actually made/sold very long skirts the supermarkets would instantly start making secondary sizes a bit shorter and they'd lose the market over night.

tiggytape · 26/08/2013 10:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoComet · 26/08/2013 10:58

I guess regional fashions vary. Certainly here skirts are worn short and trousers tight and sixform skirts are invisible.

GraduallyGoingInsane · 26/08/2013 11:08

We had a similar issue - my DDs are very skinny and their waist size is around 4 age groups down from their actual age (my 17 year old fits age 12, my 15 year old fits age 10 waist, my 13 year old fits age 9 and my 10 year old fits age 7). Their winter skirts are from a set supplier and for secondary there wasn't a waist size small enough. We moved buttons as best as we could, but it was a nightmare.

I was worried but pretty soon realised they weren't the only skinny kids at school so there were other Year 7s with skirts sliding low on the hips rather than at their waist as they should be. Year 7s generally look a mixed bunch - too big blazers with room to grow, part way through the year they have trouser legs half mast and skirts too short as they hit their growth. Unless its deliberate (ie hemmed shorter, rolled up) most schools are forgiving in year 7. She won't be the only one, so I'd give her a note for her pocket saying its the longest length and not worry too much.

That being said, as many others above pointed out, I don't think any of mine did even one week at secondary before the skirt rolling began in earnest, so your DD will probably have a similar length skirt as the others (if not longer) before you know it. Tiggytape, I need to enrol my girls at your DS's school or get out the staple gun to attach their skirts somewhere in the region of their kneecaps.

Bunbaker · 26/08/2013 11:27

"I think the problem is they make school clothes with fat kids in mind. My dd is an adult age 6 so thin but not super skinny."

I agree. Sorry louisea I can never find clothes for DD (13) that aren't too big on the waist. She is slim, not skinny and all 13 year old clothes are far too wide for her. I have to buy adult size 6 because she has very long legs.

My problem is that school skirts just aren't available in the length that the school would like them to wear. I have had this conversation with the head teacher and she understands that because the short skater skirts are in fashion she knows that most parents are not deliberately trying to flout the rules.

AmazingDisgrace · 26/08/2013 12:23

I have similar issues with DS1. 14yrs old 6 foot with a 26" waist. His school are very specific re trousers which is fine but 26 waist and 32/34 leg do not exist

NoComet · 26/08/2013 13:32

Having a well built and a very slim DD, I have come to the conclusion that school uniform from the school suppliers is made to fit no body. None of the skirts are as long as the HT would like, on either DD.

We have a choice of a shapeless rectangle, with or without, a waistband, that's it.

Amazingly these two styles seem to be cut so they don't fit, either a very slender average hight 12 yearold or a very curvy, adult size 12, 15 yearold decently.

DD1's fit better than DD2's, but only if they are way too short.

NoComet · 26/08/2013 13:34

The school suppliers trousers are even worse, but black trousers are available everywhere.

Our skirts are a funny colour.

cocolepew · 26/08/2013 13:39

I have the same problem, though there isn't a certain length for DDs high school. She is skinny with really long legs. The skirt DD1 had in first year came to her knees, the same skirt on DD2 is halfway up her thighs.

I would second writing a note for her to keep on her. It's not as if you have bought it somewhere else.

NoComet · 26/08/2013 13:52

The trouble is school skirts are as lazily designed as is humanly possible. DD1's nicely fitting M&S denim skirt is 4 properly cut panels, with a waist band and nicely contorted pockets.

Her school skirt is two rectangles of too light fabric slapped together with the only shaping provide by two tiny darts. Not long enough to accommodate even DD2's non existent hips.

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