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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Kids staying in uniform after school

97 replies

MilesManchester · 19/10/2025 22:55

When I was a teenager, I'd get changed as soon as I got home from school same as most people. My 2 DS are in years 9 and 11 and stay in their uniform the vast majority of time after school, seeing no point getting changed. Is this commonplace? I don't get it 😁

OP posts:

LBFseBrom · 20/10/2025 23:48

I used to get mine to change out of uniform when at home, there were no complaints, most children want to.

My mother wouldn't allow me to change so I had to sit in it all evening. I hated that.

DappledThings · 21/10/2025 06:34

MilesManchester · 20/10/2025 23:42

Mine put hoodies on over their shirts and ties, I think their ties should be removed if they're trying to be comfy

Why? If they don't find their ties uncomfortable why should they pretend to because you think they ought to be uncomfortable? It's quite odd to decide that something you find uncomfortable m must be universally so.

I've never been uncomfortable or unable to relax in a tie, jeans or a bra but there are those who claim it to be impossible to do so and are ripping those items off as soon as they are home

yikesss · 21/10/2025 08:24

Mine have always got changed straight after school, when they were younger they played out on the street so just became habit I think

MarchingFrogs · 21/10/2025 09:46

MilesManchester · 20/10/2025 23:42

Mine put hoodies on over their shirts and ties, I think their ties should be removed if they're trying to be comfy

You are their parent. So its up to you to ask / tell them to take their ties off (and presumably, you have done this). If they then don't, either they are just being bloody-minded, or, because their ties aren't actually uncomfortable, they just forget that they've still got them on.

It probably won't add much more to your armoury to be able to say that 65% of the people who posted on my thread on Mumsnet think that you should take your ties, if not all of your uniform, off when you come in from school, though.

Angelil · 21/10/2025 13:02

We used to stay in our uniforms. But then again we did a lot of after-school activities (choir, school play rehearsals etc) and often wouldn't be home until 6 so it was likely dinner and then into PJs only at bedtime. If we had done dance club or aerobics or something we had a school sports uniform as well. If we were sweaty from sports we would obviously get changed after that so we could shower etc but again probably straight into PJs most of the time, just to be comfy. Not into other clothes usually unless we were going out somewhere.

BigAnne · 21/10/2025 15:18

Do all the primary school kids who keep their uniform on never go out to play after school?

Pricelessadvice · 21/10/2025 16:09

I changed straight away as I found uniform uncomfortable and formal.

DappledThings · 21/10/2025 16:24

BigAnne · 21/10/2025 15:18

Do all the primary school kids who keep their uniform on never go out to play after school?

Ours are either straight into the park after school with all the other kids just in uniform or going home to get changed for a specific activity. There's not really any going home then coming out again that goes on.

TheFiveLakes · 21/10/2025 16:38

My parents made us change, butvwe had fewer sets than kids do these days - for secondary I had only one dry clean only skirt, and I think three blouses to last the week.

I sent my kids to non uniform schools so no need to change (and non of the drama those who incorrectly believe every day will be like a uniform school "mufti day" predict 😝).

goldenautumnleaves25 · 21/10/2025 16:42

BigAnne · 21/10/2025 15:18

Do all the primary school kids who keep their uniform on never go out to play after school?

They do, in uniform. uniform is a lot harder wearing than most clothes - and gets washed anyway. I have boys, so trousers/shorts, no silly dresses.

Ddakji · 21/10/2025 16:43

MilesManchester · 20/10/2025 23:42

Mine put hoodies on over their shirts and ties, I think their ties should be removed if they're trying to be comfy

Well, surely them deciding how they’re comfy is what “should” happen!

Disturbia81 · 21/10/2025 17:51

I took mine off as it wasn’t comfortable and it needed washing

TorroFerney · 21/10/2025 17:56

MilesManchester · 19/10/2025 23:20

Our two DS always remove their school sweatshirts and put on hoodies over their shirts. Surely their ties should be off? 😁

Why “surely”? there’s no right or wrong.

Yourinmyspot · 21/10/2025 22:33

We always got changed when we got in from school. I’m on of five and my Mum wanted us to keep our uniform clean for as long as we could to reduce her washing!

SophiaSW1 · 21/10/2025 22:44

Mine refuse to change. It’s up to them. They get clean uniforms every day so it doesn’t really matter. But I always think they’d be comfier getting changed but apparently not!

Bowies · 22/10/2025 04:00

My situation is the opposite - as far as I remember anyway I stayed in uniform (bar the tie) while DC change.

Yes it’s strange they are happy to stay in their ties but at least shows they are comfortable!

CountryChristmas · 22/10/2025 04:04

My kids couldn’t wait to get changed out of uniform. They would get changed before even having a chat about their day.

katand2kits · 22/10/2025 20:18

My kids (yr9 and 7) usually can't be bothered to get changed, except for removing the tie. I'm not complaining as it cuts down on the laundry.

lilkitten · 23/10/2025 11:21

I struggle with this with DD. She's 12, she won't get out of uniform unless she's going somewhere in the evening, it's hard to even stop her sleeping in it. But she's autistic, she says it's the comfort of the clothes and she feels safe, and putting new colder clothes on feels uncomfortable. I don't mind if she stays in it after school (pretty sure I couldn't be bothered to change out of uniform either) but I'd like her to not sleep in it.

Goingbonkers247 · 24/10/2025 13:51

My son is in secondary and has to wear a blazer and tie. he puts his snuggly onsie on as soon as he's in. lol
I grew up in Australia and we always got changed as we'd go straight outside to play on our bikes or head to the beach so i've just bought him up to do the same. although we don't have a beach in Watford and he can't ride a bike. lol

MargaretThursday · 25/10/2025 17:00

We had to change out of uniform, but it was (even second hand) our most expensive clothing and we'd be wearing it until much too small. We also only had one set, so if something spilt on it, or I pulled my dsis into the bath when she played a trick on me, then we didn't have the uniform the next day.

I never made my dc change. They sometimes chose to. But their uniform was at primary level very cheap and at secondary, fairly cheap.

Skybluepinky · 25/10/2025 18:17

Stayed in mine unless I was going out, clean uniform every day, the only ones I knew that changed were those whose mum only bought them one uniform and had to wear it all week.

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