Teacher uniform opinions

[Sandals12]

I'm a home economics teacher with two young children about to return after maternity leave. To take the thinking and work out of choosing an outfit each day I was contemplating making myself a uniform. Tapered, navy smart trousers, smart trainers, polo shirt plus jumper with school logo. Or maybe a fleece over polo with logo?

Any thoughts? Would it look professional. I was thinking because we are a practical subject it would make sense for various reasons.

I don’t think you should wear a school logo jumper (you’d look like a pupil) but otherwise sounds good!

Why on earth would you wear a school logo? But otherwise good idea.

Only PE teachers allowed to wear trainers in any secondary school I've worked in.

I like your idea of a 'uniform' but I just have a couple of pairs of trousers, skirts, a few similar tops and a couple of smart jumpers. The kids will deffo notice if you wear the same two tops all year! Don't wear a school logo top outside PE OP, the kids will take the mick.

Our pupils don't wear school logo jumpers as they wear blazers. See in nurserys and some special schools they wear school logo polos and fleece. During covid because we were walking a lot the or teacher suggested we could order school logo t shirts and jumpers for comfort. This was taken up by some teachers. I had the uniform idea in mind long before.

But I see what you mean by the logo looking like some primary pupils. I just thought it would turn it more into a uniform rather than I random coloured jumper with smart trousers. It's good to hear people's opinions. I know the fashionistas among the staff wouldn't entertain this (although a few surprised me by wearing the jumpers during covid, maybe they felt less pressure to be fashionable each day).
I feel I just want to be there to teach pupils in comfort but also look professional.

Excuse the typos and missing grammar haha. Out of work mode atm!

I think it sounds like a good idea, but don't make it too much like the pupils' uniform - eg have a different colour jumper to theirs,

My husband has to wear the school logo however he is a PE teacher so gets about in black and grey Nike gear all day.

@Claretmum Yeah so envious of the comfort of PE teachers. The fact that during covid staff wore the logo jumpers made me think this paves the way for me to introduce my uniform. I bought 3 coloured jumpers at the time. In the HE classroom we are constantly on our feet. My trainers are definitely not sports trainers. Plain white leather. Lots of staff wore them with dresses in summer and it seems now a more relaxed style is accepted in offices etc. Ie dress trousers plus trainers. I'll maybe look for navy trainers.

@catsonahottinroof yes I already have a few diff colours. They wear blazers too so quite different. Trousers and shoes similar to pics.

The other thing is to consider effectively something like a chefs white's top with school logo to chuck over for practical lessons (even if not food related)

@SophiaLarsen yes good idea. I had considered that too ti keep clothes clean. My main motivation was to not have to think about what to wear everyday and have an excuse to look the same everyday.

I just have about 8 dresses that I wear for work. Grab one at random on a morning and put it on. So it's not a uniform but it's no effort and I know I'll look presentable in what ever I happen to pick.

I think seeing a teacher in everyday clothes and not a uniform is part of what humanises them and makes them approachable and welcome for the children. I think the idea of teachers being in uniform is sad and corporate like.

I'd love a uniform! Imagine not having to think about what to wear every morning!

@pastafairyan good point though most of the time I'm wearing an apron with ducks on it over the top of my clothes so it won't look very uniform-like to them, just to ease things for me. Tbh I have a fair range of clothes i could wear but it's the shoes I struggle with, pumps were handy but not easy to cook in etc.

I would go with plain blouses from somewhere like Lands End who do the same shape every season in a range of colours, or maybe even plain polo shirts, and plain cardies similarly, but not do the logo or fleece thing. It will feel like a uniform to you, in that it feels the same every day and you don't have to think about it, but no one will think it looks like a uniform.

Some secondary schools round here still do polos and sweatshirts so logo'd uniform would be too much like stuff kids wear to me, but I have not had your experience of teachers wearing it.

In lots of primary schools, there are staff polo shirts and/or fleeces with the school logo on which teachers can choose to purchase. I loved mine! Some petite members of staff were mistaken for Year 6 children though 😁

I think it's a great idea OP 😉

Surely nobody calls it Home Economics these days!?

Not a teacher but I had an organised workwear schedule - I had set outfits and they were always worn as outfits. No mixing and matching and set shoe pairing (actually had a pair of driving shoes and just left both pairs of work shoes in the car boot to switch into). It was fab just being able to pick a hanger up and throw whatever it was on without worrying about the colour combos.

For a teacher, I’d avoid wearing logo’d stuff personally unless it’s specifically to do with your subject. Surely you can get other jumpers that would do the job?

Finding something that works for you is the most important thing though!

Teachers at my DDs school wear school logo’d clothes all the time. Hoodies, smocks, fleece jackets… It is a primary school though.

Think it’s a great idea for high school teachers to wear uniforms, especially when they are so pedantic about uniform rules in some schools.

im also sure many teachers would like it, I know I use to like wearing a uniform for work, took all the decision making and cost away from me.

@crazydood yes the curriculum calls it home economics. The economics of the home...cooking, cleaning, health, nutrition, budgeting, family life, parenting, food and faith, eco living.

@AliceMcK yes any previous job I had a uniform in I loved it too. One less thing to think about.

I'm kind of surprised that anyone who isn't forced to wear a uniform for work would actually choose to voluntarily wear one tbh, but if it's convenient for you then go for it!

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/371252/2011-11-25-gcse-subject-criteria-for-home-economics.pdf

I think having the same top in different colours and then the same trousers is the best and easiest idea.

@SisterGeorgeMichael yes probably stay with the navy trousers and alter my coloured tops to suit my mood!