Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

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

Secondary schools without school uniform

31 replies

Moid1 · 05/10/2014 13:24

Other than Bedales or Frensham Heights do you know any secondary schools without uniforms - private or state?

Thanks

OP posts:
AmberTheCat · 05/10/2014 13:34

The Cherwell School in Oxford.

oneearedrabbit · 05/10/2014 16:32

Bryanston (Dorset) just has recommendations of suitable clothing, I believe.

TheCheeseAlarm · 05/10/2014 16:41

Fortismere in Finchley

AuntieStella · 05/10/2014 16:42

St Paul's Girls

happygardening · 05/10/2014 16:45

I think according to a friend whose DC was there up until this summer Bryanston has much stricter guide lines for "suitable clothing" than it used to have, e.g. it's dark trousers, polo shirts of certain colours etc.

LAlady · 05/10/2014 16:51

Leighton Park near Reading

LAlady · 05/10/2014 16:55

Sorry, my mistake. It has a more relaxed code at certain times but there's an uniform

happygardening · 05/10/2014 17:07

My DS has to wear a suit (worn by most years) or they can wear dark trousers, chinos (although I believe technically not allowed) and jacket including tweed, only during lessons and shirts/suits/ties/trousers can be virtually of any colour (no cream suits or I think tartan ties or maybe tartan shirts). The rest of the time they are free to wear what ever they like even for games there is no compulsory branded track suit. Odd brightly coloured socks are des rigueur at all times.
Not exactly no uniform but quite a bit of freedom definitely more relaxed than many.

frogsinapond · 05/10/2014 22:57

summerhill

UniS · 05/10/2014 23:01

Sands school, ashburton, Devon.

BlueSix · 05/10/2014 23:09

Parliament hill and I think acland burghley In North London

Eastpoint · 05/10/2014 23:10

Queensgate, French Lycée & King Alfred school in Hampstead

Moid1 · 05/10/2014 23:12

Thanks, fascinating to look at all these schools. We are looking for DS1 who loathes uniform with a passion.

OP posts:
happygardening · 06/10/2014 08:33

OP I like your DS1 loath uniform, I particularly despise tail coats, boaters, caps, branded track suits and things hanging out of socks. In my ideal world I would abolish it. It's very hard to find schools without uniform who are not heading firmly down the very alternative route for some reason I'm not able to understand.
Many independent schools have frankly ridiculous uniform often encouraged by the parents. Over the years and on more than one occasion I've heard parents state that they want others to know that their DC's go to an independent school not the local primary/comp and that if they see them in their ridiculous fancy uniform before and after school they will know!

CadmiumRed · 06/10/2014 08:35

Camden Girls

GregorSamsa · 06/10/2014 09:38

There used to be loads in North London, but most of them (Hampstead, Haverstock, Highgate Wood, APS) have succumbed to the uniform juggernaut over the past few years.

The ones still holding out (and likely to continue, fingers crossed) are Fortismere, Camden Girls, Parliament Hill and Acland Burghley. They're all state schools with varying levels of sought-after-ness, but crucially all have a critical mass of middle-class parents who feel very strongly about the liberal ethos, so the non-uniform aspect is very much part of their identity.

Most of the high-profile non-uniform schools outside London have a similar intake, eg Cherwell in Oxford, and formerly KEVICCS in Totnes (although they are going the uniform route too).

Private schools with no uniform tend to be either alternative (eg. King Alfred's) or so sought-after that the absence of uniform adds to the mystique (St Paul's Girls).

Interesting article on non-uniform schools here.

I really cannot see the logic of assuming a school will magically be transformed by making all dc wear polyester blazers. I dont find the 'preparing pupils for work' argument convincing either - the only work that has that kind of dress code is eg. working behind the counter in a building society. And the same goes for 'high academic standards' argument - have the people making these pronouncements seen what university students and lecturers wear? Would standards at Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial rise further if everyone was made to wear cheap suits?

I'll stop ranting. Blush

alittletreat · 06/10/2014 11:15

I hate ties and blazers especially the pencil skirts and ties on girls. Why our kids have to dress up like male politicians!

T-shirts and sweaters are perfect for everyday school learning activities.

SoldeInvierno · 06/10/2014 16:58

leighton park is like a uniform without a uniform. Jumper and tie, but no blazer in years 7 and 8. The shirt can be white or blue, and socks can be blue, grey or black. It feels very relaxed which suits me fine as well. I hate uniforms

MrsSchadenfreude · 06/10/2014 21:20

St Chris in Letchworth. Very few of the international schools have uniforms.

MrsSchadenfreude · 06/10/2014 21:24

Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes.

BirdintheWings · 06/10/2014 22:01

Anthony Gell in Derbyshire.

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 07/10/2014 10:08

I hate strict uniform rules - how on Earth my DD is going to learn better because her socks are black instead of grey is beyond me. And I would presume that a school that doesn't have a uniform policy has a good ethos about this. However, this would be way down on my list of things to consider when choosing a school. I really wouldn't choose a school just because of this - I think you need to weigh up the pros and cons of all your possible schools (including the uniform aspect) and not automatically discount ones with uniforms.

motherinferior · 07/10/2014 15:46

Yes, much as I absolutely loathe uniform (didn't have it at primary) it wouldn't be my main criterion in choosing a secondary

Moid1 · 07/10/2014 17:38

Ah we'll, no but what if you have a phobia of buttons, badges and actually getting dressed into an uniform in the morning is a huge stress which makes you angry before the day starts. I have lived this since he started reception.

OP posts:
CadmiumRed · 07/10/2014 19:54

That sounds very hard.

Is there any help? Has it got worse as he has grown older or better?

I hope you find something that suits. But very few secondaries seem to manage to resist the push to ever more demanding standards of uniform.