Hampton School uniform

[Tolacar]

Hi, my son is starting at Hampton this coming September. Trying to get organised on the uniform front, appointment booked with the school shop in August. I’d be grateful if any Hampton mums could advise what items can be bought from regular shops, ie trousers, jumper etc. Many thanks

Not a Hampton mum but another independent one (from age 3+).

I have never bought school shirts. Ever. John Lewis are fine (as is Asda).

I have bought one pair of school trousers for the start of term (going into year 7) so that I can colour match them with John Lewis later on.

The school told me to buy our own black V neck jumpers.

One thing I was told by a current mum is to NOT buy the school backpack. I asked older DD about this (she's now at uni so has gone through the system) who agreed. She said a school backpack would be deemed as nerdy.

It looks like the general rule of thumb is that you only need to buy compulsory branded items from the school (blazer, tie, sports stuff) so anything not branded can be bought elsewhere as long as the colours match.

Blazer, tie ,sports kit only needed from school shop. Actually the school shop is not expensive for an indie school and the blazer is a cheap machine washable one . I buy shirts/ trousers online for convenience but I also get DS to pop to school shop to top up if he has got a hole in some trousers playing lunchtime footie. The school shop give advice on quantities ( bare minimum because shop open most days and they keep a note of the sizes you bought so easy to top up ) , have some special offers ( eg free tie with 2 packs of shirts), suggest larger sizes for boys to grow into ( we’ve not had to buy new sports kit yet!) and we were told not to buy the school shop non branded coat because we would be able to pick up something cheaper elsewhere and it was bulky - and only need a coat if a boy had a bit of a walk because it’s not “cool” to wear a winter coat! Boys on bus sneak hoodies on under their blazers. So all good advice). We did buy a sports bag at the shop - it’s not Hampton branded and not nerdy!

Thank you so much, makes life simpler! I’m guessing grey trousers from M&S then?

I suspect that those will probably be the wrong colour. DS wears the David Luke ones in black .and it always looks to me that the other boys are wearing black (even though I vaguely recalls the list says dark grey). I would buy one pair at the school shop and then match the colour for future reference or at least look at the colour and check the high street trousers are the right colour. The David Luke brand ( which I buy online) is the same ones they sell in the shop and and are pretty sturdy. They might be a small amount more than the marks ones but they will last ( last time I looked). I’ve got other DC at other indies and their uniform is way more expensive at other schools than the Hampton school shop. I would definitely look there first. Also if your DS plans to play football make sure you get the 3G pitch friendly football boots.

Thanks! Yes I’ll buy one pair of trousers and colour match. I just bought some boots and they’re moulded studs so here’s hoping they are ok! With the black jumper, did you bother or do they not wear them?

Remember chatting about uniform with a friend who's DS is starting at Hampton in Sept- she said someone with a DS higher up is the school said they NEVER wear jumpers!

Very few boys wear the jumper. Up to you but I really wouldn’t buy at this stage - if it’s a very cold winter you can always get one later ( online or send your son to the School shop).