Petition to the government about expensive school uniforms

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Hi all, our oldest is off to secondary school soon and I was dismayed to see how much uniforms cost, especially logoed items. I've started a petition, if you'd like to join me, sign up :)
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/226145

I'd like to see a ban on unnecessary uniform changes such as between year 7-9 and 10-11. A parent could have just bought new uniform, then need to buy the same size in a different colour just because the child is in a new year at the same school. Alternatively, children are left in too small uniform because there is no point in buying uniform that they are only allowed to wear for a term.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/226145
Hoping this link is now clicky

Completely agree, we've just been through complaints procedure with our school over this and completely ignored parents, against the DfE's uniform guidance. It's going to cost parents a fortune.

Signed.My dd starts y7 in September & the tartan skirts that are compulsory for y7 & y8 girls are price starting from £23.99.My dd is quite tall so am assuming when I go to buy them they will be nearer the £30 mark.This is an academy.Boys on the other hand can where black or grey trousers from wherever.Its ridiculous.

CountingDown Girls can't wear trousers? In a state school?

Yes unbelievably annoying. My dd's blazer and compulsory coat are both over £100 each!

It's not an academy either. The whole thing including PE kit has cost £500!

The option of trousers is there for girls but these also have to be a particular style & material,but as most of the girls there wear skirts,this is what my dd wants, especially for the warmer months.Just wish they could just have the plain black or grey skirts from Asda or other supermarkets.
We have also just had a letter from the school last week stating that the school bags must be a backpack,not handbag style.Luckily I hadn't already bought her school bag before receiving the letter.

Do you mean the girls have to buy trousers from a single supplier, but the boys can buy any school trousers in black or grey? If so, I would certainly be making a complaint about that, girls and boys should have the same choices. Both boys and girls should have the option of shorts too in the summer term, my DS has to wear trousers all year.

Girls often don't get the same choice because they / their parents don't stick to the uniform rules.
They get special trousers because otherwise they buy skinny fit or try to wear leggings.
They get tartan kilts or similar because they roll up other skirts.

That is sex discrimination, surely? Why not just allow generic school trousers and shorts for all children?

Girls often don't get the same choice because they / their parents don't stick to the uniform rules.
They get special trousers because otherwise they buy skinny fit or try to wear leggings.
Pretty much (and you only have to browse MN at the start of each year to find how many parents are seemingly incapable of understanding basic uniform like 'black leather or faux leather shoes'. For some on MN that translates to 'buy a pair of branded black trainers and then start a thread where you are fuming about your child being spoken to about uniform'). Uniform rules end up catering to the low point of people who just don't understand that a pair of leggings are not school trousers. It drives me mad that up and down the country schools are having to go down prescriptive uniform routes, but it's done because some parents are entitled idiots who think their child is above the rules.

I hate the principle of single supplier uniforms and think uniforms should be as basic and affordable as possible. I also think when uniforms change students in y10+ should be allowed to wear the old uniform until they leave.

Our school has recently announced a uniform change, but it is so gradual that my DD who is about to go into y9 isn't impacted by the change unless she wants to be. Sensible HT.

I'd better clarify - school only goes to y11

Hey, up to 99 signatures :)

I completely agree. You should be able to buy all items from an ordinary supplier, whether that's Asda, M&S or John Lewis depending on your budget.

Other than a tie, why does anything need a logo on it?

Don't forget PE kit too. Lots of schools have their own (DS's school does, though to be fair it has washed really well so is probably worth the money) but I don't really see why you can't buy a standard t-shirt and shorts from the supermarket.

Hi

I’ve just joined mumsnet to reply to this post.

My daughter is starting high school this September and when I went to the uniform shop (which is compulsory) I nearly fell over and had a heart attack at the prices I have to pay. The cost of the uniform is a whole month of my wage (I work part time) I could buy triple if I was to shop at my local supermarket!!

Anyway, I’ve signed the post and shared and a few of my friends have signed too.

We must keep this thread going and keep sharing. Maybe nothing will happen right now but we need to be making changes ready for September 2019.

I am not backing down on this one. I’ve emailed the high school twice on Facebook messenger and they have read the message but I’ve had no reply. Nor do I think I’ll get a reply. They only brought this compulsory uniform that had to be brought from a certain shop out this term. Apparently the school gets 10% back from the uniform shop?!

Yes. At both ds’s & Dds school boys can wear any grey trousers but girls have to have logo skirts or one particular style of trousers.

Yes, my DD2's school has just changed the uniform to bring in a branded, single supplier tartan skirt for girls, that has two lengths and a non-adjustable, fitted waist, with pleats, so that girls can't roll up the skirt. Regulation is that it can't be above 7cm from the knee. Each skirt is £22.50-£25 depending on size. Because they have brought in the skirt, they have also had to change the colour of the branded blazer, costing £32.50, so as new starters, we can't buy second hand uniform, because the whole uniform is new this year. They have also, for reasons unknown, changed the logo slightly in the PE kit, too, so no 2nd hand there either. It has cost us £150 to buy the bare minimum of uniform for her.

This is so bad. They are the same sort of prices I have to pay. I feel really sorry for the lone parents who have no money and are already budgeting for Xmas and birthdays. In 2015 MP’s were trying to stop all this but shock they never followed through to their promises. I wish al parents in the schools would refuse because what would the schools do then?

The more I hear about school uniforms, the more outraged I am by this. I cannot believe that schools can continue to force parents to pay these inflated prices. Apart from taxes I can't think of anywhere else where we are forced to pay out like this, and at least we get to vote for who decides our taxes!

Sorry but they were uniform 5 days a week it’s hardly that expansive. Plan better buy in small batches. I do hate the supplier for my DDs school but the school do also have a good second hand shop.

£20-30 a skirt I would say is very expensive. And how on earth can you buy in small batches when a child changes school or the school changes uniform.

Ridiculous comment.

It’s not expensive if you can afford. But what if we can’t afford it? What’s if we have (like my self) a child’s birthday in September November December and Hainault. Plus budgeting for Xmas! You can buy 3x skirts from the local supermarket for the price in the uniform shop. That’s the same as the other items aswell. Me and my partner both work and have to take a small loan to purchase uniforms. This is why it should be optional. If you can afford it great! If you can’t..we’ll you should be allowed to let your child wear budget uniform

You can't buy in small batches when the stockist only gets the new uniform two months before the child starts school. It is very expensive and regardless of how good the quality is, when it's a forced purchase, it's wrong that it is so expensive.