School regimental about uniform - have they gone too far?

[adelicatequestion]

I am all for strict code of uniform but wonder if DD's new secondary school have gona bit too far.

I don;t mind buying the polo shirts, sweatshirt, pe stuff and will buy the school coat (even though she won;t wear it our of school). BUT they also have on the not optional list

rugby shirt
football boots and shin pads
tracksuit top (must be school one)
rain jacket
knitted hats, baseball cap
dance pants
dance t shirt

Now she may play rugby for a couple of weeks or football once or twice. Do I really need to go to all this expense for occasional wear. She's not interested in Rugby and Football and whilst she may play it in pe a few times, I think it is unreasonable to pay all that money.

What do you think

Arf. We have the school coat thing too. £95, bloody hijjus and compulsory. But better than the other local girls' school where all the girlies commute home throughout the winter with only a scarf for outdoor wear - even wearing a blazer is considered non-cool.

Do they not have a 2nd hand option? Otherwise you need to locate a Y8 parent and ask them whether it's all actually necessary. Have you got a v. bossy list regarding the embroidery of child's initials on the outside of said garments as well, in letters of a specified height and colour? 'Nuff said.

It does sound a bit like our local comprehensive. Different strips for different sports - different colours for house teams, school team, normal PE lessons.

Yes, I think it's unreasonable, but not unheard of. Agree with sounding out some parents with older teenagers to see what they can get away with.

No it's a new local state comprehensive school so there aren;t any older kids there. Just one year that started last year.

Sounds like they've let the school uniform suppliers advertising go to their heads. Same thing happened at DD1's new primary school. Thankfully, they fairly brought out a list of the things that were really compulsory, after lots of people objected.

I'd get in touch with the school, if possible, and seek guidance on what items they would let go in case of financial hardship. Even if you are not all that hard up

I suspect a big % of parents wont be able to fork out for that lot. Totally ott - school knitted hat............. Does it really matter?

Could be that the rugby shirt and boots are for hockey, which presumably they would play regularly?

Whoa, that sounds way over the top.

At ds's school, they have to have a school t shirt, any navy shorts, footie boots and trainers and that's it.

They can have an optional school s/shirt, or take in a plain navy one, and can supply their own track pants if they want. They are meant to have blue football socks, but no one wears them.

hat? rain jacket? dnace pants? Have they gone mad? You can but dance pants at his school if you want them (and GCSE students often do), but no way it it compulsory.

The school is in a well-off area with a lot of wealthy parents, and they would go ballistic if we made them buy all that stuff. I know because I teach there, and the school tries to keep the cost down as much as poss

School coat? Pah! Waste of time....they NEVER ware ANY sort of coat, never mind a school pne

wear of course..........

Your school sounds like it may be the same school as my DD1
when I questioned the 'only available at one exclusive sport shop' I was told that as the items have the school logo printed on them they don't count as they are not available from other shops (eg supermarkets at a fraction of the cost). haven't given up though - am waiting for open governors meeting. DDs 'compulsory' sports kit came to over £75 for the basics.
and yes a state school - and the only state school in the area.

I thought they'd changed the rules on this?

yes but the school gets out of it because you can't get a white polo shirt - with the school logo - anywhere else.

But, I thought they had told schools not to have logos on everything