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

Btw if you think that the girls all have short skirts when you see them in the street, it’s because they roll them up asap.
Skirts ARE the right length in the school.

@freakinthespreadsheets that's ridiculous. Some girls will simply not have the right body shape for slim fit trousers and they shouldn't be forced to wear a skirt because the trousers won't fit them - because on some girls skirts are also a dreadful fit.
These schools that do this - it angers me so much. It really does 🙁

It's ridiculous.

I worked in a former mining town in Scotland. All the secondary schools in the LA had much the same uniform - any black skirt or trousers, white shirt with school tie. Any black jumper or cardigan. Optional black blazer, normally bought en masse by school - badge and braid already attached. (Could be removed if you changed schools.) Some schools also allowed a polo shirt - black or white.

Most parents bought uniform items from Asda's.

@TizerorFizz You were admonishing me on another thread for daring to compare the level of education at an outstanding primary and Godstowe preparatory boarding school, where you sent your children. As much as I agree with your views on more traditional uniforms and shoes, I doubt you are in a position to preach to others about the affordability of it!

One child went there @ElsaLion . The other was state. I have been a primary governor at two schools and chair of one. The whole reason I’m querying the overall cost is the amount of uniform purchased. It’s just not necessary. Therefore Godstowe has nothing to do with my views and neither does my bank balance. I was Chair of governors of a school in a deprived area and I’m wholly conversant with a reasonable uniform policy. I know people struggle but buying lots of uniform isn’t necessary nor lots of shoes in a myriad of colours. So I do think I’m qualified to have an opinion @ElsaLion because I’ve direct experience. Also Godstowe had a very reasonable second hand shop. Something most state schools don’t bother with although there are charities that do.

@freakinthespreadsheets Ive seen these tartan skirts. Mostly at independent schools. It is over the top.Heads might like the skirts but I’d buy supermarket for everything else! I’d also make an official complaint and hopefully everyone else would too. However cutting down on items bought will help.

Looking at the girls wearing micro skirts, they don’t have baulky waists. Maybe teachers just teach? They certainly aren’t checking at the school gates.

Re: the micro skirts. Round here, they're buying them that length.

@FeistyFrankie

Wear a slip.

have you met a teenage girl since 1950?

and what do you suggest they wear under trousers?

@freakinthespreadsheets

I though the trend was for schools to be less focussed on branded gear & being more on board with supermarket range uniform??

they need to stop being so up their own arses, especially with the CoL crisis.

I think it's ridiculous. My kids highschool you have to wear a white shirt and tie and then black everything else jumper trouser, skirt , denim jeans, shoes , boots ,trainers so long as they are black with no logos. They all look fairly smart, it can be bought from anywhere and there is enough room for personal style/ preferences.

My DS is about to start an independent school (age 10) and I've been pleasantly surprised at how little I've spent on uniform - despite being told regularly that my choice of school means I'll drop £000s on uniform.
All branded stuff second hand - just the blazer and all sports clothing. And they allow any brand trousers, shirts, socks, jumpers. So that's all supermarket. The girls need to wear the kilt though. In total I'll have kitted him out for the year - and next for the most part - for around £250 including shoes.

So thankful for our school with a sensible head. Only need a branded sweater and tie. None of that outdated blazer business! Branded PE shirt and hoodie but can be worn all day on days when the DC have PE. Buy the rest anywhere you like - M&S sale/TU/Aldi/Oxfam. No one cares! And every morning they have a ready to learn few minutes, and if you’ve lost your pen or forgotten your protractor, they’ll lend one to you. Great school, kids love it, parents happy. Sensible. It’s not hard.

I'm quite bemused about schools that care about skirt length. So long as the wearers are decent, why on earth are school staff wasting time caring about the exact length? Does it really matter if it's an inch below the knee or above?

I would far rather that they cared about teaching and learning.

If the fabric is itchy wear a slip??

Goodness, when I was in school several decades ago we wouldn't have been seen dead wearing a slip, and I doubt that that's changed subsequently. Why should girls be made to wear an extra layer anyway, especially when it's hot?

That sounds great.

My DD is at Secondary so I couldn't do with just 2 blouses. She is autistic and has some motor skills issues so spills things a lot hence needing 2 jumpers!

Yes, they check the skirt length (they're not over the top if it's just above the knee or something) and the girls don't wear super short skirts - I see it at other schools but they don't have the on the knee rule.

My DD can't tolerate tights so likes trousers in the winter.

Different DC have different needs. Mine needs a fresh blouse everyday so I can't get by with just 2. She spills things on her skirt/trousers/jumper sometimes so I can't get by with just 1. She can't wear tights so I need trousers in winter.

I agree. However, I think it is to avoid super short skirts. My DD's skirt is just above the knee now (having grown) and nothing has been said. I note, though the girls at her school do not wear the really short skirts you see at other schools without the skirt on the knee rule.

The skirts are a big initial outlay but they last forever and still look like new. Our school did a survey to see if they should get rid of the kilts for a plain skirt and it was overwhelmingly rejected mainly because one skirt lasts the 5 years just gets shorter and they’re still in perfect condition to hand down or buy secondhand. On the other hand the boys trousers get a couple of terms at most so the overall outlay is higher

I seriously think they should just ban school skirts. Trousers or jogging bottoms for everyone. School skirts have unhealthy connotations which is why some schools are so strict on the length.

Laughing a lot at the idea of buying one item of uniform for the whole week. My two boys come home every day with mud/food etc on their clothes. One of them was plastered head to toe the other day, including his coat, because he was apparently making an ant home with his friend. Not sure how he even found the mud as they have a tarmac playground!! I would have to wash at least one item of clothes every single day and get it dry for the next morning if they only had one shirt or pair of trousers. They are still at primary but secondary is rapidly approaching for the older one and he's not really any better at keeping his clothes clean...

The skirts don’t tend to be itchy. They’re just a smooth fabric with tartan print

We live in an area where 50% of kids are on free school meals. This sounds like the uniform of every secondary school in our area.

@Danascully2 Some boys seem very messy. My girls didn’t spill food. Nor get muddy. There was no mud available. Didn’t notice this in many schools to be honest. All I’m saying is that loads of uniform isn’t necessary. For most a quick spot wash works.

As for wearing joggers - my DDs would never have wanted this. Neither liked trousers when primary age. We found less arguments over skirts as trousers are difficult for varied shapes. We also found a skirt lasted several years and several shirts doesn’t cost too much. You need a coat anyway so it’s a case of buying wisely.

Every time I read these threads I’m so glad DT’s were at a non uniform school from ages 4-18. Much more practical and so much cheaper as they wore the same things as they would at weekends and holidays. No bullying over clothing as no one paid any attention and no time wasted by the school policing any breach of uniform.

This is not it. Girls are rolling up skirts very high so it hardly covers their bottom. Common practice. Most often it looks inappropriate not to mention that it doesn't strengthen their safety when they walk to and from the school
By defining how long is the skirt they prevent rolłing skirt up.

Huge unemployment in the area?