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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Blazer size and jumper size

27 replies

van1lla · 14/03/2021 10:10

Hi,
DD starting secondary school in September. I know it's a long way off but just planning ahead as spreading out the cost for new uniform. She is 25" around the chest, so was thinking about getting the 28" size blazer. Then it occurred to me that she would be wearing a jumper underneath in the winter. Do I buy the same size for both garments or go up a size for the blazer. Thinking it might be tight with a jumper on.

Any advice on buying secondary uniform! :)

OP posts:
Changemyname18 · 14/03/2021 11:09

Don't buy the jumper. I know of very few secondary kids that wear one and a blazer. And rather than spread the cost by buying things early, put the money aside each month and buy in the summer. Look out for deals for staple non school specific branded items such as skirts and blouses. M&S has done a 20% off school wear in July, buy slightly big and you cant go wrong as ive always found their shirts/blouses staywhite and last.

TeenMinusTests · 14/03/2021 11:16

Agree.
Put the money aside, if you buy now she might have a spurt in the next 6 months.
When you do buy, get the biggest size you can without it looking daft. Many y7s have blazers that are 'roomy' on them.

UserTwice · 14/03/2021 11:44

Buy big for blazers anyway. And agree with PP that most children don't wear jumpers, so you can probably get away without buying one.

(This is the second thread about Year 7 school uniform in 2 days. It's March. Is there a worldwide uniform shortage pending that I've not heard about?)

lanthanum · 14/03/2021 15:14

You could spread out the cost by putting the money aside now, without actually having to buy it yet.

Then you can wait and see how much she's grown by the summer, whether the school offers a chance to try things for size, how secondhand blazers get sold on for your school, find out whether everyone bothers with a jumper, etc.

LadyCatStark · 14/03/2021 15:19

Yes don’t buy it yet, she might sprout up over summer! And agree with the jumper, DS’s hasn’t been on him once and that with the classroom windows being open 🙄

Mumdiva99 · 14/03/2021 15:27

I got my son measured for his blazer (the school uniform supplier was at one of the events we went to in the summer term) - he begged me not to buy it too big (as I usually would....).....he is now year 8 and I've just ordered him a second one as he's outgrown it.

I didn't leave loads of room for a jumper. They are quite thin and fit easily. (As others have said he doesn't wear a jumper much - but as he doesn't wear a coat and walks to school, he does wear it when it is really cold....and as the school are leaving more windows open because of covid I would buy them for your daughter just in case.)

reluctantbrit · 14/03/2021 18:26

About the jumper, at DD’s school it is optional but all girls wear it. Mainly because in winter the school is freezing cold and they need the extra layer. It is then ditched around May/June.

I would check locally what is the norm at your new school.

DD wears the same size in blazer and jumper but we tried it on.

Original poster
van1lla · 14/03/2021 18:49

Thank you all so much for the advice :) It has all been very helpful. I'm just one of those anxious parents lol I worry that I won't be able to get her size as she's so small, plus there are only a few specific shops that sell the uniform. Can't rely on the big superstores for all the uniform needs anymore!

OP posts:
SJaneS49 · 14/03/2021 18:59

My DDs clothes unfortunately only can come from the one supplier, everything is branded! I agree re waiting till the summer but I wouldn’t leave it later than July if you can only use a handful of stockists. Our experience has been that stock runs out and you can end up waiting 2-3 weeks for deliveries so don’t cut it too fine!

While it’s not advice on buying uniform, encourage her to bring her sports kit home once a week rather than keep it in the locker and slip a deodorant can in - they do get pretty rancid! Unlike Primary schools where it’s all about the backpack, I don’t know if it’s specific to DD’s school but large leather tote’s are what all the girls want and carry other than the year 7’s.

MargosKaftan · 14/03/2021 19:04

I've got a year 6 and I've been looking at uniform too - particularly stuff like blazers as its not like I can go to different shops if they don't have one in stock in size in the summer, I've only got the one supplier, very different experience to primary where uniform came from a combination of places like m&s, tescos, sainsburys etc.

I am waiting until shops reopen and am able to take ds in to try them on and get guidance from the shop.

Also if you are concerned about costs, ask about the 2nd hand uniform shop. Many won't have a range in now as the kids have only just gone back at secondary so the normal donations to the uniform shops after Christmas won't have been handed in until this week, and the people who sort it might not have been able to go in yet to collect/sort it out. Give it a couple of weeks.

(And yes to saving the money weekly, not buying in advance. You could just price stuff up now then buy in one hit in July).

Original poster
van1lla · 14/03/2021 21:46

Also, how many of each stuff do you buy? Do you just get the one set for PE and maybe 1 blazer, 5 shirts, couple of skirts? Not like primary where it was cheap and could get a set for each day of the week.

OP posts:
clary · 14/03/2021 21:50

My dd wore the same single skirt from year 7 to year 10. I only bought her a new one because it was looking a bit tatty. It still fitted.

One blazer, one set PE kit, five shirts, wash all once a week.

UserTwice · 14/03/2021 21:53

6 shirts (because they come in packets of 2; otherwise would buy 5)
1 skirt/trousers
1 blazer
1 tie
1 set of PE kit (I guess maybe 2 if your child does masses of extra-curricular PE)

I replaced DD's shirts in Y9 because they were looking tatty. Other than that, everything is going strong (Y10 now).

Original poster
van1lla · 14/03/2021 22:12

So you haven't bought extra due to covid?

OP posts:
SJaneS49 · 14/03/2021 22:44

In anything I’ve bought less due to Covid as on PE, dance & drama days my DD goes in with her PE kit on. We buy bought 2 kilts and 2 jumpers in Year 7 and 4 shirts, one PE kit (hoodie, top, joggers, skort, school red socks) and 2 school summer dresses. You can get away with just one skirt and jumper but I didn’t want to try and wash & dry them over night mid week. It’s a completely different ball game from Primary and costs us around £400. DD goes to an all girls State Secondary, admittedly we live in a wealthy area of the South East but some families must really struggle to kit out their daughters in all the branded gear. Doesn’t seem particularly fair!

Mumdiva99 · 14/03/2021 23:09

I will get my daughter 1 blazer, 3 shirts, 2 skirt or trousers, 1 pe kit (tshirts, shorts, tracksuit trousers, sweatshirt or zip up top).

My son was wearing PE kit at school twice a week for lessons as well as doing a club - so I ended up getting another t-shirt and shorts for him.

Lougle · 14/03/2021 23:18

Look at the uniform policy. At my DDs' school, the jumper is compulsory between October half-term to Easter.

Look for a school FB group. Parents often sell second hand and this year, particularly, you'll find most of it is practically brand new.

Agree with PP about less uniform right now. DDs have to wear PE kit on any day that they have PE, dance or Performing Arts. They're just beginning after school clubs again and they have to wear PE kit to school if they have a sports club after school. In reality, DD3 could wear PE kit on most days as a result.

reluctantbrit · 15/03/2021 07:52

We got 1 blazer, 1 skirt, 6 shirts (pack of 2), 2 jumpers. They do smell after a day in school so a fresh shirt and change of jumper is necessary. The blazer gets a Febreeze treatment each weekend.

PE kit was just one set but for us it is skort, cycling shirts, black leggings, PE top, tracksuit bottom and top. All tops and the skort are with school logo so one supplier, I think that stupid kit was over £80 without the trainers. They are told at the beginning of the topic if they have to wear skort or cycling shorts. And currently all PE is outdoors.

Yes, they wear PE kit/dance kit now on the day it is scheduled but I do hope they change it back from September.

The blazer, stupid thing is so special and has a huge price tag plus dry clean only, lasts normally 2 years. Obviously DD didn’t wear it a lot so it is still ok in Y9 but will need replacing in September.

The skirt was replaced after 1 1/2 years thanks to a growth spur, the school is hard on skirt length. Luckily we found out that it wash’s and drys overnight.

It is worth finding out where you have to buy the uniform from and contact the supplier. Our online one is always sold out by Mid July while the actual uniform shop is ok in August but then you have huge queues and no trying on. We went in May half term, DD could try the stuff on in peace and they have an exchange policy until begInning of August for growth spurs as long as the label is still on.

UserTwice · 15/03/2021 08:13

@van1lla

So you haven't bought extra due to covid?
Fortunately DC go to a sensible school that suggests only that uniform is washed as frequently as possible. And goes on to say that they realise that washing things like blazers daily is impossible!

On the basis they are squashed into a small space and breathing on each other all day with very little ventilation, I don't think uniform washing is a particular Covid concern anyway.

UserTwice · 15/03/2021 08:16

And to add - my DC's school still have them changing for PE! So if you are factoring in thing like Covid rules, you do need to check your individual school. Although the rules might all be different by September anyway.

Original poster
van1lla · 15/03/2021 08:55

Thank you for all the messages! Great to hear the advice from parents who have gone through it all. My mind is easing a bit now. x

OP posts:
LavenderDiamond · 15/03/2021 09:01

Hold fire on the 'no jumper' advice.

We had no jumper as non in stock and by end October it was freezing with just a shirt and blazer. Obvs they won't wear a coat !

TeenMinusTests · 15/03/2021 09:22

I think coat wearing is child & school dependent.

Both my DDs wore a coat. They walked to school, and at school had lockers they could choose to store a coat in. All their friends who walked to school also wore coats.

re Coats. If you are getting one, the school may have rules re colour & logos. Also make sure they are big enough to fit over blazers. My DDs carried lightweight pack-a-macs at the bottom of their rucksacks to save getting soaked when it was non-coat weather.

UserTwice · 15/03/2021 09:31

They walked to school, and at school had lockers they could choose to store a coat in.

Echoing the school dependency.
One reason that no one wears coats at DC's school is that the lockers are too small to effectively store them and they aren't allowed to wear coats in school (there is a locked room where you can also store coats, but apparently using it is seriously un-cool). If your child does take a pac-a-mac or umbrella on rainy days, also remember a plastic bag for it to go in during the day so it doesn't soak everything else.

MondeoFan · 15/03/2021 09:42

My daughter wore the jumper and blazer when it was really cold. Jan-March I'd say.
I bought one blazer lasted year 7-9 then another blazer 9-11

I don't like buying things massive as think it looks ridiculous. My daughter was/is very slight though.