School uniform in sixth form

[theae]

Just beginning to think about possible sixth form options (that is A Level: do they still call it sixth form?) for dear daughter (1st year GCSE). Exploring with her what she is likely to want and it seems that a major factor is freedom of clothing.

At her current school (independent day school) they have to continue wearing the same uniform but with a different tie in the sixth form and this shocked me. Surely the beauty of the sixth form is some more freedom?

I attended similar school in another part of the country 20+ years ago and we had a dress code of essntially smart skirts and blouses for girls, any colour suits and ties for boys - not much different from a school uniform granted but still we were given some freedom.

Is it now more normal for schools to insist on uniform in the sixth form?

@JennyDune that is complete garbage. What do you judge a school on BTW. Results? Preparing pupils for the real world? Mental health outcomes?

Here all the 6th form in state schools don't have uniforms. Not sure about the local independent schools. There is a 6th form college but nearly all are schools.

However the most telling comment on this thread is the one along the lines of the better the school the stricter the dress code. I suspect that is exactly why some schools ask their sixth formers to wear suits et al.

Yes always easier to teach some people already motivated to conform.

My DD's 6th form (state school) is smart business wear - so suits. Boys have to wear a tie. They've always had a strict uniform policy in school though and they don't relax this just for 6th form. A college is an option if more freedom is wanted.

This is a nightmare at DD's school. They used to say office wear, but then lots of students wore relaxed office wear as that's what their office working parents wore. So now it's dress as if you are going to an interview . Constant black marks if your shirt has come untucked, or a v-neck jumper is worn instead of a jacket. Shoes must not even remotely resemble trainers or boots. Skirts are supposed to be knee length. It's also the curvier girls that are targeted for criticism, because of the way their clothes fit. We've had to replace so much and can't really afford it. Quite frankly a proper uniform would be easier. This is a (not very good) state school. The local college only has the most basic rules, yet the kids seem to manage to dress sensibly.

A college is an option if more freedom is wanted.

It's not though. Our local college doesn't offer the same qualifications unfortunately, and we can't afford to board out to a different area.

My child's uniform in 6th form was business dress. There is no way I'd be choosing a sixth form for my child based on being able to wear what you want.

It's completely nuts ! Our very competitive church comp insists on smart business wear . (Why ? They aren't in an office !) The local girls grammar gives not one stuff and the kids wear everything from business suits to trackies/leggings.

Result ? Most girls stay on at the grammar whilst high proportion of comp want to leave for more laid back but vastly less academic college. Some just transfer to the grammar.

It's all madness. The kids in 6th form are almost all going to Uni where clothing isn't proscribed.

A lot of good school sixth forms now require a proper grown-up suit or equivalent. It was a pain to find one that fit a small 16 year old along with the shirt/shoes etc (you feel like you have mastered secondary school uniform sizes then you have to start again at year 12). But it is better really - smart work wear is often easier to wash and quicker to dry than heavy sweatshirts and jeans etc, another 2 year reprieve from some of the cool girl/boy pressure, no thinking about what to wear in the morning 5 days a week. Obviously these benefits might apply more to a child who doesn't have a strong need to dress individually.
For what it's worth, the girls seem to wear what they like anyway and no-one wants to be telling 16-18 year old girls what to wear, so they don't.

State school sixth form I went to it was smart business wear.

However state school sixth forms here it's main school uniform into sixth form.

I thought it very odd but there's a scheme were they bus between different schools to wider range of A-levels offered. Apparently they do see children in other uniforms looking lost occasionally - usually because room/teachers aren't where they're supposed to be - so I suppose it helps identify them.

Some of DDs friends went on the scheme they aren't allowed on the other schools buses - so all the schools run their own bus shuttles between campuses but if your school bus doesn't turn up you can't hop a ride on other schools bus. So supposed it helps identify them there as well.

DD1 went to college clothes weren't a huge draw more everything being on same site and much better results - even so I think she relived not to have to deal with the increasing pettiness of uniform rules at her old school.

Even the schools no longer part of the scheme seem to have kept the unform into sixth form. I still find it odd but but perhaps it's creeping in.

@Placido

I judge schools based on academic results and the proportion of pupils who go on to study good degrees (medicine, dentistry, etc) or good universities (red brick, etc).

And you can most definitely judge a school/cohort's behaviour on appearance. As someone who lives near several schools, the children/school who are well dressed usually behave more orderly.

I had school uniform in sixth form at my comprehensive school back in the ‘80s. There’s still a uniform in sixth form now. Seems normal to me.

I've never know a sixth form to have a uniform. Round here it's office wear.

DS2 is in year 9, I'll have a look at their 6th form dress code. I'm interested now.

There's no information on the website, which is annoying.

It's uniform (slightly different uniform to the rest of the school) at my kids secondary school. Its same for other schools in the area too. I also had to wear a uniform in 6th form so it seems totally normal to me.

Ds has "business wear" which is defined as a dark suit (for the boys), shirt and the school tie with proper shoes for boys. Ds calls it a uniform as he wouldn't dream of wearing any of it for any other occasion. (Dh goes to work in jeans and jumpers / anything he likes.....)

I have 2 kids at grammar school sixth form

Both have no uniform.
boys school asked for no hoodies ripped jeans.
girls school has no rules at all as far as I can see

Ds's sixth form is pretty strict. At the open evening the head laid it out that they have a dress code and it includes, no shorts, no sandals, no vest tops, no hoodies, no joggers and no ripped jeans. Cue loud sighs from lots of girls wearing ripped jeans some of which revealed entire thighs and looked more like chaps than jeans.

The head said quite frankly if you care more about being able to wear ripped jeans to college then we don't want you here as you do not have the right attitude. He said you have plenty of time outside of college to "express yourself" clothing wise and you can do it then. You come here to learn and progress, not walk a catwalk. Loads of parents were nodding in agreement.

Amazingly it is oversubscribed every year and there is plenty of choice locally. It has really good results and cares more about your attitude to learning, your engagement with college life including all the clubs and enrichment activities than it does about top grades. They focus on the individual and achieving their goals rather than being selective. I can't fault it. And before anyone says they must bake in summer, nope, it is a modern purpose built place with air con and a fucking branded coffee shop inside. Times have changed.

Different for each school here..2 pretty much wear what you like with some limits 1 Different tie, 2 business smart, privates all suits for boys.the girls private is own clothes within a tight framework.

My ds changed from a suit school to a wear what u like.....which is fine but they also had to meet minimum standards as well...which we discussed beforehand so clothes couldn't be the only factor

My husband wore full uniform in sixth form - independent boys.

I went to a state sixth form college and had no uniform or dress code really.

@JennyDune do you really only judge a school on those limited criteria?

@JennyDune also absolutely nonsense that smartly dressed children behave better. I have a DN at Eton and there is plenty of drugs and drinking and vandalism and bullying going on there I can tell you!

Most round here specify formal business attire (suits) or office wear (ie smartish casual, not denim or sportswear.).
DD travelled some distance to a more liberal college, where as a PP said, they emphasised turning up on time and doing the work over the students' appearance. I was fully supportive of this. I felt she needed to grow as a person and find out who she was rather than be squashed down.

[quote JennyDune]@Placido

I judge schools based on academic results and the proportion of pupils who go on to study good degrees (medicine, dentistry, etc) or good universities (red brick, etc).

And you can most definitely judge a school/cohort's behaviour on appearance. As someone who lives near several schools, the children/school who are well dressed usually behave more orderly.[/quote]
Ah well your prejudices would be misplaced near me then.