Ridiculous uniform policy for secondary

[freakinthespreadsheets]

I live in a fairly poor working class area, former mining village. I don't even have secondary age kids but this has got me riled up.
The local secondary has been taken over by a MAT and introduced a new uniform. They say that the blazer, PE kit and jumper must be logo'd from the supplier (which i think is pretty standard everywhere) but also that every item MUST be Trutex branded. Shirts, trousers and the skirt (which you can't even find a dupe for if you wanted to as it's a silly tartan design). No supermarket brands allowed. The boys trousers must be sturdy or slim fit, girls can be slim fit only (so "fuck you" to girls with thick thighs then??)
They also insist the trousers must not be skin tight fitting and the skirt must be knee length, or detentions will be issued (but they're only allowing one design/fit, from one supplier, so if it doesn't fit a taller/chunkier teen then what are parents to do?).
Not to mention the fabrics are scratchy and kids with sensitive skin (I was one, and Mum had to order my uniforms online from a place that did skinkind fabrics) who might not get on with the plasticy Teflon fabrics.
I find myself fuming on behalf of these parents and teens - as a curvy, tall female with sensitive skin this would NOT do for me at all! Not even sure what my question is, I guess am I being unreasonable in my thinking that this is OTT and doesn't follow the new government guidance (which I know isn't fully compulsory but still)

Edit to add : in a poor working class area, to set a kid up to attend the local high school looks to be around £350 for uniform - the prices are awful, £35 for a skirt etc

I found the list of items not to be worn for health and safety reasons especially clothes that can cause injury very interesting too!

Yes, I know it is just guidance.

Last year spent £250 to kit DD out for secondary. Two skirts, one blazer, two shirts (specific style so they end up more expensive everywhere ), summer pe kit (skirt and tshirt) and winter PE kit(leggings and long sleeve top).

That's it. Fucking ridiculous really.

@TizerorFizz most children's feet have stopped growing by 12 or 13 though so crocs would be fine.
My daughter wears crocs almost every day (she has a large selection of colours).

Children don’t need to look smart at school. They need to be dressed in practical clothing suitable for the weather and made of materials which are comfortable and long lasting.
Thank goodness for DT’s non uniform school where jeans, T-shirts and a hoodie were the norm.

I think every state school in Scotland is required to have that list in their uniform guidelines as all the local primary and secondary schools have it and I had a nosey at the Hyndland Secondary handbook since it was mentioned up thread and they also have it despite not having an actual uniform

It makes sense in areas where there are issues with factions like fights between different football supporters, though depressing that its needed.
No such restrictions here but no one is fighting in my town over opposing hockey teams despite the big rivalry between the two teams from the nearest city (most in this town support one or the other) and boys often wear hockey shirts from their team to school. And wearing their sports clubs clothing at school is a big thing at the moment if they're in a club themselves.

😂😂😂😂😂

Wear a slip? You want a teen to wear a slip when there is a thread going on now in the Style section with people saying they didn’t know it was even possible to still find some! When most people associate a slip with an old lady??

come on. This is just a ridiculous comment.

I think cycling shorts are a much better option, especially for teens. I can just imagine my girls faces if I suggested they wear a slip 🤣

@DavidRosesEyebrows I don't even understand why if in order to wear one thing you have to wear ANOTHER thing to make it comfortable. Clothes (especially school uniform) should be comfy and suitable to start with.

I didn't really mean in this instance, I just meant in general no kid would wear a slip and cycling shorts would be more appropriate. I totally agree that school uniform should be comfortable and readily available at a reasonable price.

@DavidRosesEyebrows they shouldn't NEED to wear cycling shorts under something though.....just be able to wear something suitable to start with.

So why do slips exist? Just wear something suitable in the first place.

@DavidRosesEyebrows mostly due to modesty reasons. Petty coats used to be a thing too.

@DavidRosesEyebrows exactly !!
There should be no need for an extra bit of material to make the first bit of material suitable 🙂

I cannot understand why people have such an issue with uniform policies in this country. It’s bizarre.

I agree. We should just get rid of uniforms once and for all.
No sequins, no revealing clothes, no heels - that should be it.

Well you're obviously lucky enough not to get chub rub 😂

@DavidRosesEyebrows oh I do !
I had to buy a tub of sudocreme the other day to get rid of a sore spot.
That's my point though.... clothes should be designed to be fit for purpose. Chub rub shouldn't exist.

@Needmorelego not sure it's the dress/skirts fault my fat thighs rub together😂

@DavidRosesEyebrows that's why I don't wear skirts or dresses 😂

There usually is an alternative to slim fit uniform trousers, even if thats all thats pictured on the website or brochure. Your neighbour needs to either pop into a school uniform shop or speak to the school.

Even schools know you can't fit children into one size/fit trousers.

This is short sighted

I don't think the issue is with wearing a uniform. It's with it being so specific from a certain supplier. DDs school did this last year with skirts. It had to be one of two designs from a certain supplier, each costing £30. Realistically you need two skirts. But even so, I can get a decent quality school skirt from
Asda for £10. It's three times as much. A lot of families simply can't afford it

You have obviously not dealt with a HT who insists you follow the uniform exactly

Ds had to drop out from attending the senior school we had chosen because the shape of his feet couldn’t fit into the required type of shoe the the uniform list specified

@Needmorelego You must spend more on crocs than a decent pair of shoes! My DDs had one pair of school shoes. Not ones in all sorts of colours. They had trainers for leisure and sandals in the summer. That was it. Loads of crocs is pure luxury.

@SummerDays2020
Cost of one Secondary uniform: £42

£40 is the cost of blazer £20 trousers or skirt £9 tie and the cost of white shirt. - state catholic

Honestly, £42 is cheap