PE Kit in September

[ihearttc]

We had an email today saying that in September all children will need to wear a PE kit to school on the days that they have PE. I totally understand why, however DS1 is going to Year 11 and doing GCSE PE so the way his timetable works he currently does some form of PE every day which means he will need to be in PE every day. I have no problem with this as such apart from their school PE kit is essentially a PE top and shorts. They are not allowed tracksuit bottoms or tops for PE which will no doubt be fine in September but what about when it gets colder? Trust me I’m far from a special snowflake parent but doing the 45 minute walk to school in the rain wearing shorts in October/November isn’t exactly a great prospect. Typically they send the email out now and school is shut!

could he walk to school in tracksuit bottoms with shorts underneath, and take them off when he gets there?

We have the same advice though school tracksuits are allowed. I am not wild about the idea of sweaty teenagers spending all day in PE kit if they have PE first period, but I don't suppose it can be avoided. I think you should ask about tracksuits though.
The only thing to consider however is that a large percentage of GCSE is theory, so whilst PE may be timetabled most days, it won't necessarily require PE kit every time. I am just hoping school, and my son, are organised enough to be clear what happens on which days!

He definitely does actual PE at least 4 days out of 5. He has 2 GCSE practical days and 2 normal PE days plus theory. He took his kit every day last year as the day they had no PE he’d have football training (clearly that’s not likely to happen) so it’s likely to be the same this year. He can wear tracksuits to school but knowing how difficult they are about things he’d have to take them off before entering the school itself which is likely to be tricky!

My daughter is studying a post 16 dance diploma. She wears dance kit every day but tracksuit bottoms and a hoody are part of the uniform. Its really quite silly not to allow these items.

oh that is annoying that he would have to take them off outside. It's not ideal but ones like these might work, as they have zips at the bottom so he would just have to pull them off rather than having to take shoes off etc
www.amazon.co.uk/Lonsdale-Mens-Open-Pants-Black/dp/B00UFV8PS8/ref=asc_df_B00UFV8PS8/?hvlocphy&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=o&hvadid&language=en_GB&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-4583589104909481&hvrand

Thank you! He has some football ones like that which would work. Just really frustrating, and I totally understand why they need to be in PE kit but their PE kit is so rubbish that it just makes it all rather difficult.

I'd be very doubtful that they will expect DC to spend all day in shorts in November. Just email his Head of Year and ask.

My DS (in Prep school) is also going back in PE kit every day. Frustrating because school uniform (other than the blazer) is just stuff you can get in ASDA. The PE kit, on the other hand, is eye-wateringly expensive. He'll have to have at least 3 sets instead of the usual one (which gets washed between bi-weekly matches). Doing PE in pre-worn kit in one thing, but he can't sit in lessons in it- the place would reek (because of them all doing it- not just my DS ).

I’ve already tried emailing but got no response, always great sending an email like that at the very end of term!

DD's school have said that the wearing PE kit all day does not apply for GCSE PE, as there's only one group to get changed and so they can keep well apart in the changing rooms.

I think schools that only have shorts & shirts type PE kits will have to accept the sense of wearing a tracksuit or similar over the top. September is usually warm, so you'll have a bit of time to push for that when they return.

You may find you get an answer later in the summer OP. I am sure staff will be in nearer the start of term to prepare. There's houng to be more prep to do than before the usual start of a new year after all. We have been told that there will be no contact for the next 3 weeks but that staff will start answering emails thereafter.

Schools have had no choice but to send last minute emails with details, because of the government guidance only being published a week ago.

I'm not wild about the prospect of my DS's Y9 class all sitting there for the rest of the day (mainly in the same room as they won't be moving round school like normal) after a morning PE lesson. And what about if they're all wet and/ or muddy from cross country or something?

But I really don't know what the answer is, it's very difficult for schools. And am glad they are actually going to be doing PE.

We've just been told its PE kit on days with PE as no use of changing rooms. I'm trying to clarify exactly what they mean by PE kit though think they are still reviewing that themselves as there's so much guidance to wade through and plan. I think its probably any PE kit that doesn't mean they need changing room so could wear joggers over shorts and take joggers off for PE. We are getting further guidance end August. DD has said the girls will all wear leggings with shorts over them, polo shirt and maybe add blazers but I'm doubt that's what school had in mind. DS is ASD and saying he's going to wear normal school uniform as its not PE all day and says he's going to be the one guy that didn't get the memo.

Our school are having the same policy, except they MUST wear tracksuit bottoms over their shorts/skorts when nit actually doing PE x