Uniform - opinions please

[seeker]

My dd goes to a high achieving girls grammar school. Outstanding Ofsted, brilliant behaviour, lots of "school spirit" blahdiblahdiblah. The uniform, which is stricly enforced, is navy blue skirt or trousers, open necked white shirt, navy sweatshirt with the school logo and a navy reversible zip up jacket - fleece on one side, waterproof on the other. Neat, easy, comfortable - no problem.

A new head started this term and her first move is to start the process to change the uniform to blazers and ties. I hate girls in ties and I can't see the point of blazers - expensive, not warm, not comfortable - and look awful over growing bosoms!

I can't see any reason for changing apart from her wanting to make her mark. I can see that in a school that needs "pulling up" then a new uniform might well make a difference, but as I said, that's not the case here. What do people think?

I also hate weraing a tie, my last job had me wearing a b**ody tie and waistcoat - which made me feel like a man and back at school.

Sounds like your school did have a good practicle uniform and the new haed wants to change change for the sake of changing. Not forgetting the expense.

When I was at school we had student debates every term to talk about anything we want to change - so that change came from within. One thing that did come up when i was at the forum was uniform and we did manage to get the go ahaed to change the uniform over a two year period.

We changed from shirt and tie to blouse with collar and round neck blue sweater, duffle coat. That is going back - omg 25 years.

I think the new head master is living in the past.

Could the parents object on practical and financal reasons?

Agree - what a fab sounding uniform. Primary schools round here have uniforms like this and then they all seem to go in for kilts and special ties, jumpers, blazers etc at secondary. Interesting the behaviour plummets too, so clearly it doesn't somehow magically make the girls lovely polite and managable...

It seems bizarre to force kids into unpleasant clothes which don't fit, aren't comfortable and cost the earth. It's not as if they are likely to go on to jobs with that sort of uniform is it?

I would campaign against it - do you know what the PTA thinks?

Thank you. I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about school uniform, so I wanted to make sure my attitude wasn't just it buzzing around a bit!

I agree about blazers - a PITA. I wish my dd's school would go for sweatshirt and jacket. Much more practical, with a blazer they still need a coat in the winter.

I agree with the others that sounds a great pracical and cmfortable uniform.
DD3's school also has a comfortable practical uniform. Is the new head actually going to change the uniform.
When the new head started at DD's school there were rumours of the uniform changing to blouses/shirts and ties.
But that didn't happen.

I've have never, ever, ever seen why schools think it's a good idea to dress girls in jackets and tie. Boys are quite likely to wear similar things later on in their working lives, but ... girls?

I've have never, ever, ever seen why schools think it's a good idea to dress girls in jackets and tie. Boys are quite likely to wear similar things later on in their working lives, but ... girls?

Oh, Lord, here I go on my feminist hobby horse.

I hate jackets and ties on schoolgirls. I think that there is a deeply entrenched subtext that says "Education is for really for boys, so if you're a girl and want an education then you need to look as much like a boy as possible" I don't think for a moment that this is consciously in the mind of anyone, it's just there in the DNA of our society.

But then, I was at Greenham Common, so I am very old and have some very odd ideas!

Seeker - you could always ask the headmaster if his ideas are to make the school a replica of St Trinians? Is this his idea of bringing the school into line - not really the thing to do in 2008.

If all else fails through the pervy school uniforms are not appropriate for girls - ties short skirts and blazers are the sorts of things that get all sorts of bad press and are something that needs to be well steared clear of......

Blazers are truly awful - expensive, uncomfortable, don't wear/wash very well and don't even look that smart.

Ties I don't have a huge problem with, I actually think they look smart as long as the 'proper' shirt and top-button-done-up bit is enforced, but then a lot of teenagers don't like that! My older two don't really mind the shirt and tie but would really object to a blazer.

One of my many objections is that isn't problem enforcing the uniform now because it's so low key they hardly notice they are wearing it - and it is pretty difficult to "tartify" as year 9s so love to do!

I just think that blazers and ties will be a constant and unnecessary battle.

Agree - the most important thing is that the girls all wear the same and they willingly wear it. At Secondary uniforms are more expensive, parents are not made of money. Would speak to other parents and see if they feel the same. Don't change what's working!

I will do a search, but there was an article in the Times about a month ago about the resurgence of blazers at girl's secondary schools. Part of the article referred to one particular school where results were poor, blazers and strict uniform policy was introduced, and lo and behold, the results rocketed.
But part of the whole project at that particular school was a consultation with the pupils, who chose the colour and design of the blazer and new school badge. Also, was underachieving before, whereas your dd's school sounds excellent already.
Will do a search for you.

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2943717.ece
Here it is.
Not saying that I agree with the head, but this may be where the idea has come from.

Maybe the head could be persuaded to drop the tie, while keeping the blazer idea? At my school we either wore a revere neck blouse, or a button up shirt with a tie. Either still looks smart.

The main problem with shirts and ties is that the children do not want to wear them with their top button done up and at a regular length so the uniform then looks shabby, and the teachers have to spend a lot of time asking the students to sort out their uniforms, this happens alot at the school where I work. The previous uniform sounds much smarter. Will there be consultation with the parents?

Has it gone to parent consultation? If so then you need to be sure that as many people as possible vote/comment. Often only a few do and so the school decision is made without them.

FWIW my DD is in a uniform with a blazer at senior school. She looks gorgeous in it and she's warm. She has growing bosoms. The blazer is well cut and so far no problem.

Have you actually taken this up with the head? Maybe she has been approached by the elitists and has not had any feedback from parents who are happy with the status quo.

an answer to OP: my dd has huge norks and wears botha jmper and a blazer - this negates the need for a coat she thinks

i think blazers are either for boys schools or are rather "chantelle..esq" in that its someone wanteing the pupils to look posh but the real poshies wear jumpers in hiddious colours

Blazers are quite vile. Remember mine, in the 1970s, with vivid horror still.