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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

Year 11s taking exams in mufti clothes - views please

28 replies

MyballsareSandy · 08/06/2015 10:05

Bit of controversy at our school at the mo - it is usually very strict on uniform - year 11s have a leavers assembly just before half term, prob similar to most schools, as it's the last day that the whole of the year group spend together.

The year 11s then come in for their exams/revision sessions as and when, in their own clothes. I don't see a problem with this but there have been a few complaints - mainly about some kids looking scruffy, but also about girls in 'inappropriate' clothing - very short shorts, crop tops etc.

Just wondered what MN view is. This is the first year the school have done this.

OP posts:

SunnyBaudelaire · 08/06/2015 10:06

honestly does it matter in any way at all what clothes year 11s are wearing to take their exams?
People that are getting het up about it....must have v dull lives tbh.

ememem84 · 08/06/2015 10:20

I remember being told when I was y11 I wasn't allowed to sit an exam because I was wearing flip flops. Too noisy apparently. So I took them off. Wasn't allowed to sit exam wearing just feet. Not appropriate.

Was sent home to fetch a proper pair of shoes.

thunderbird69 · 08/06/2015 10:21

At my son's school they have to go in school uniform - they are very strict on students' appearance. Sixth form have to wear smart business dress.
I can see the advantage of dressing in casual clothes as they can dress more comfortably to suit the weather, but they are still representatives of the school and should probably be respectful of this - eg nothing too revealing or no 'rude' pictures/messages on t shirts etc.

Who has complained?

Original poster

MyballsareSandy · 08/06/2015 10:23

A few parents have complained - year 11 parents and those with younger children. I've also heard that some of the teachers don't like it.

OP posts:

Original poster

MyballsareSandy · 08/06/2015 10:23

Oh and a couple of governors are against it.

OP posts:

Theas18 · 08/06/2015 10:24

Who cares as long as if any rules are applied they are applied equitably ( eg no shorts for girls means no shorts for boys either etc). A sudden change of dress code though IMHO is likely to man they spend far to much time and energy agonising over what to wear and it really needs to be a " non event" ehen you'e a GCSE to sit.

Much easier for school to say " uniform as usual" as ours does .

GobblersKnob · 08/06/2015 10:27

I can't believe anyone cares, people have too much time on their hands. I hate the recent idea of dressing sixth formers in business dress, when do they get to be teenagers, to dye their hair blue and wear tee shirts assembled almost entirely out of marker pen and safety pins? Life is too short.

SunnyBaudelaire · 08/06/2015 10:27

yes DD's school is 'uniform as usual' - certainly makes life simpler on what are v stressy mornings anyway...besides DD seems to like putting on her uniform for the last few times. DS just goes in jeans and t shirt but then he has to do his exams in a separate room anyway .....having been excluded since April.

SunnyBaudelaire · 08/06/2015 10:29

I agree gobblers 'smart business dress' for sixth formers is so ridiculous. They should be in tie die t shirts and flares fgs....or whatever is 'in' these days.

MythicalKings · 08/06/2015 10:33

It's fine. Uniforms shouldn't be compulsory anyway, let alone when they have officially left.

I bet a lot have been thrown out now so they can't suddenly tell them to wear them.

SecretSquirrels · 08/06/2015 10:34

People have actually complained that the year 11s are allowed a bit of slack? As if those poor kids haven't got enough to worry about with 57 GCSE exams.

GobblersKnob hear hear.
People seem to boast about the fact that their DC school have sixth formers wearing business dress as if somehow that means they are cleverer, will work harder, get better results and have a better life than the peasants who go to college in their scruffs.
It's all pure snobbery.

thunderbird69 · 08/06/2015 10:37

I'm not sure if the snobbery comment was aimed at me??!

My DS is leaving after exams to go to college and wear tie-dyed flares etc

Earthbound · 08/06/2015 10:37

I think wearing own clothes when they don't normally is a bad idea, simply because it adds a layer of 'what shall I wear' anxiety to what is already a stressful time. Uniform as usual means they don't have to think about clothing at all which is how it should be on exam days.

maryso · 08/06/2015 10:57

At some point, everyone has to choose what they wear on a daily basis. Some poor sods don't get a chance to try this until they get to university.

They never have this problem in well-run schools without uniform. It'll have been worked out and dealt with, years before the exams.

DC have sat exams in a variety of apparel from full robes to full free-wear. None of them have had any problem getting comfortable, and decent, so I would say that it's more important to focus on that rather than what others think. DC think hot pants and crop tops are the dregs for academic or mating purposes, so perhaps I can afford to more chilled than some.

SecretSquirrels · 08/06/2015 11:02

thunderbird69 No it wasn't, sorry. I know a few people IRL who make a big fuss about the fact that their DC sixth form wear business suits as "it teaches them how to dress properly for employers" .

I guess the problem with allowing this for a couple of exam weeks when they have had 5 years of uniform is that some will be distracted by worrying about their own appearance. DS would probably turn up in his PJs

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 08/06/2015 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IHeartKingThistle · 08/06/2015 12:22

I was a secondary teacher back in the days when you had to invigilate. Even in uniform I've seen boys distracted by the visible bra strap or ridden-up skirt of the girl in front. So call me old fashioned but for the sake of giving the poor hormonal teenage boys a fair shot, I think they should be appropriately dressed.

IHeartKingThistle · 08/06/2015 12:23

Whether that's uniform or mufti!

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 08/06/2015 12:27

YY Iheart I agree, the boys should be appropriately dressed...

WTF with the business dress???? What a piece of nonsense.

hellsbells99 · 08/06/2015 12:39

My 2 DDs are both in the 6th form - officially no uniform, but they nearly all wear jeans anyway so look like they have a 'uniform'. I would hate them having to wear 'business dress' and as someone else has said, when they get to university they will be in jeans etc. Both DDs do science subjects, so a lab coat on top of jeans is practical whereas a lab coat on top of a suit doesn't look as comfortable!

InstitutionCode · 08/06/2015 12:46

I agree that a sudden change from uniform, just to do the exams provides an unnecessary layer of distraction.

Non-uniform days always cause some trauma as children stress over what to wear and whether they got it right - they don't need that while they're doing exams.

And then there's the distraction of looking at what everyone else is (or isn't) wearing.

I wouldn't worry about them being scruffy or inappropriate, but I don't see the point of changing it now.

EvilTwins · 08/06/2015 18:04

Kids at my schoo, wore non-uniform for exams last year and uniform (new Head) this year. This year they are much calmer and much more orderly.

I think this is to do with the kids though, and the new Head, and bugger all to do with what they're wearing.

DosDuchas · 08/06/2015 18:06

LOL at MUFTI

i never knew anyone said that any more

gobbin · 08/06/2015 18:06

...let alone when they have officially left

Official leaving day across UK is classed as 30th June. Our school only gives study leave from after May half term - pupils can come in to subsequent revision sessions or when popping in to see staff in mufti but must wear uniform for exams. Entirely appropriate, given the formality and seriousness with which exams should be taken.

Tinuviel · 09/06/2015 09:46

To the PP who said that 'business dress' for sixth formers is a recent thing, that was our school dress code for sixth formers in the early 80s - so hardly recent. And we really didn't mind - it was better than wearing school uniform.

Much easier to say 'school uniform' for exams - makes getting ready easier. They could ease off on ties/blazers and just insist on trousers/skirt + shirt.

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