School uniform

[KMHD]

My eldest goes to our local state Secondary school in Sept, we have received a uniform list from them. All children must wear trousers/skirts with the school logo on. Boys are able to get their trousers from a well known supermarkets embroidery service. Girls must get their skirt and trousers from one supplier in the town at the cost of £16 each item. Am I being unreasonable thinking this us hugely unfair....is there anything I can do, I don't want to crest difficulties for my child in their new school but it seems incredible that girls must pay significantly more for their uniform than boys? Thanks

DDs school is the same, not sure there's much can be done about it. Tbh, the prices aren't much more expensive per item than a pair of decent boys trousers from somewhere like M&S. Girls have to wear regulation trousers so they don't turn up in skintight trousers or leggings.

It does not sound very expensive though . Is it worth the effort of complaining? The boys uniform must be very cheap and cheerful. Possibly poor quality.

The reason is if they let girls wear black trousers they'll take the mick. And wear totally inappropriate trousers, so they have to stipulate an exact style. Which does cost more.

My teen ds wears slim fit school trousers (no logo) which costs similar.

It seems unfair that there is a "choice" for boys but not girls. Have they explained this?

The reason is if they let girls wear black trousers they'll take the mick. And wear totally inappropriate trousers, so they have to stipulate an exact style. Which does cost more.

😱😡

Plenty of girls at our local comp who manage to attend school in a sensibly shaped pair of trousers. Not all girls want to dress "sexy" for school.

Same at our children's state school but I do not mind paying for a quality pair that will last. Prices aren't dissimilar to other shops trousers/skirts. Looks smart too when logos are on.

The reason is if they let girls wear black trousers they'll take the mick. And wear totally inappropriate trousers, so they have to stipulate an exact style. Which does cost more.

Yeah, those bloody girls. Not sure why we even let them in schools

What makes boys apparently so much more trustworthy than girls?

£16 is not too bad for trousers or skirt provided they are relatively hard wearing. I'd be happy with that as ours cost more!

The boys at our school take the Mick and wear skinny jeans too...

It would annoy me on principle too. Would anyone be likely to notice if your DD wore the supermarket ones? To the people saying £16 isn't much, no it isn't but if you know you can buy plain black school trousers from any if the supermarkets for around £6 each, then it's a big difference, especially when you need several pairs.

£16 per skirt or trousers from the official school shop .

There was no correlation at dd's state school between parents who were strapped for cash and expensively clad 12/13 year old outside school.

At £16 a pop It's probably up there with the cheapest clothing for teenagers.

Why do you need several? Dd's skirt at comp was £27 in 2009. She had one. Her skirt at the Indy she moved to for Y9 was £43. She had one.

The philosophy of thrift and cost per wear me thinks

I would not be happy. DD2 is tall, very slim, not an easy fit at all. She wears adult work trousers from Sainsbury's because they fit her. A sole supplier is unlikely to be able to accommodate outliers like her. And all that is before we get into the whole thing about how boys can be trusted with supermarket trousers but girls can't. Words fail at that level of revolting sexism and I doubt it is legal to have a different policy for field only. I would be making discrimination the focus of my objections rather than price.

I think the discrepancy in cost should be pointed out to the Governors, as should the apparent breach of best practice by narrowing to single supplier.

Do you have a PTA? Because a body speaking on behalf of many parents might be more effective than an individual.

It is just plain wrong for girls uniform to be markedly more expensive than the boys.

"At £16 a pop It's probably up there with the cheapest clothing for teenagers."

That must depend on where you usually shop. It's nearly treble the price of supermarket school uniform (my teens had ASDA trousers, which lasted well)

I think the poster means many teens might wear £70+ trainers, £50 coat and carry a £30 school bag and own a £500+ iPhone so £16 seems like a drop in the ocean.

Is it an academy?

Why would you not just get the regulation uniform? I know it is unfair on principle, but your DD is about to start a new school and not having the logo uniform is going to make her stick out like a thumb amongst the other new intake.

Do not understand why any parent would want to inflict additional stress on their year 7 child moving up to secondary school when they have enough to contend with already being at a new school.

It could also lead to potential bullying. £16 is not that expensive for school uniform imo.

bugaboo it's perfectly possible to get your child the regulation uniform and start taking action against the school for discrimination. That's what I would do.

DD2's non-logo but very smart 'school' trousers cost £12 a pair, so not much cheaper - the point is that they fit. Our school does in fact sell (non-compulsory) 'recommended' trousers - which would either be shin length on DD to fit at the waist, or would accommodate two of her if they were long enough.

I don't see why the school can't just have one rule for everyone, preferably a rule involving non-logo schoolwear, and then enforce it. No-one in their right mind really believes that skinny jeans or leggings are 'tailored trousers', they're just trying it on.

Buy a regulation skirt and wait and see what trousers the other years wear when she starts. Dd1 school has the same; regulation for girls not for boys. In reality girls wear non regulation and any colour backpack instead of black only.

Makes me laugh the whinging at uniform rules these days! When I was at school, wrong trousers / skirt / shirt or whatever meant you had to go and take it off and put your PE kit on!