Teachers - esp secondary - your advice on work wardrobe is needed please

[Themumsnot]

I am starting a secondary PGCE in a couple of weeks and am having a bit of a wardrobe panic. I have approx £300 to spend on clothes and shoes and want to get the basics to see me through my first teaching practice. I own no formal skirts or trousers and I don't have a suit. I do have several smart knee-length dresses (Boden jersey numbers or similar). Would they be appropriate?
Also I live in flat knee-high boots in winter, and Converse the rest of the time. I cannot wear heels. I did a weeks teaching experience last term and was crippled after one day in quite moderate (2-inch) heels. Is there a way of wearing flat shoes and skirts that doesn't look too frumpy?
Can anyone suggest a sensible way of putting together an appropriate work wardrobe? I guess I need a suit of some kind but I'm hopeless with separates. I'm 47, size 14-16 and hourglass shaped, so it is a bit of a struggle to find trousers that fit well and blouse buttons tend to strain over my amplitudinous norkage, which is never a good look for a teacher.
All advice and suggestions much appreciated.

Another science teacher here. I echo not spending too much on clothes because easy to ruin them with chemicals. I've ruined many skirts and trousers brushing against desks that have traces of chemicals on. Also sneakily hidden chewing chewing gum.

what the heck is chewing chewing gum?

I think I wrote a post exactly like this last year when I started my PGCE!

I agree with it depending on teh school, Vary from jeggings and comfy jumpers to smart shirts and trousers for all. Dresses with flat boots work well and trousers with v necks and vests good basics.

Agree with long necklaces getting in the way (and braingin kids if you aren't careful), but scarfs can be handy for hiding cleavage if you feel you need extra coverage for some classes
Check stretching adn bending everytime and if you can ALWAYS have a pocket. Really handy for pens while walking round, or remotes for whiteboards, or a tissue for when you get a cold.
I always had makeup, hairbands and sewing stuff in my bag, and spare shoes, deodarant in my car!

Nail varnish, nice watches and bracelets/rings, earrings and hairbands are good to break the ice with some children, and a good handbag will get noticed by the girls you need to be on your side.

Good luck, it is great fun, hard work but great fun, you'll meet loads of lovely people.

For my PGDE placements I bought a couple of A-line skirts, a pair of nice smart flat boots, some half-sleeve t-shirts and a couple of scarves. Just get stuff that you can mix and match. Not too expensive because it could get marked.

I agree with the poster who mentioned layers. I don't stop during the day (not unheard of for me to need a pee at break and not actually go until school finishes) so I end up sweating like nobody's business. Light jumpers/cardigans are as warm as I go.

I usually end up looking like an absolute hot mess by the end of the day anyway. When I finally make it to the bathroom I look in the mirror and think "shit, have I been walking about with marker stains on my boob and pen on my face ALL DAY?!" I always mean to touch up my makeup but most days come home looking like a clown.

The kids notice your clothes very much. I love that. My Y11s used to despair because, during the snowy weeks, I forgot to change out of my hiking boots. They thought it was 'cute' apparently, which is moderately patronising... :P

Good luck btw, I'm an English teacher too and I remember my training like it was yesterday! It'll be mental but hopefully fun too.

Roar at sewing kit!!

God you lot need to chillax.

Good luck to everyone one on this thread who is starting a PGCE in the next week or so!

Bit harsh Hall

It is a legitimate question for lots of trainees posting on here. I'm not that into clothes and loathe shopping for them. Howeve, over the past decade I have been a postgrad student, SAHM and charity worker. None of these roles has required much more than jeans or leggings and a variety of shapeless supermarket t-shirts . None of my manky wardrobe is fit for purpose. I still have my older more formal clothes but I am not the same shape as I used to be and styles have moved on a bit. I am about as likely to freshen my make-up or sew on a button/hem during the working day as I am to become President of Bolivia I have always been the sort to end up with pen marks/Tippex/general grubbiness on my by close of play. Others are more particular (I and envy them )

Obviously, there will be a variety of budgets, some leaner than others. What I have found helpful is the "play it safe and smart" policy until you get a feel for the school. Also the layers and investing in a warm coat for playground duty.

Tbh I think hall was only shocked by the sewing kit suggestion being a bit ott..

I guess it is but there may come a use for the odd safety pin as an emergency cleavage rescue solution and I will be glad if it. I certainly don't expect to find the time to get my cross stitch out in the classroom...

I amnpissing self at sewing kit

Laugh away, but sewing kit saved me. I never used to have until a I found a girl crying in the corridor one breaktime because her skirt had broken. I sat her in my room and went to get a needle and thread from textile dept and fixed her skirt. She was nightmare in my lessons before this and had driven me to tears at least once (not in her sight though)but afterwards was an angel and even encouraged others to behave.

I used it again a few weeks later to fix another girls shoes - instant gratitude.

Whatever gets them onside imo. Same reason I always carry tampons/pads even when I don't need them.

I sewed a top button on a form member's shirt a few weeks before summer - you're only laughing because you've never needed one.

Youree not her mum. I don't even hive tissues. They can bloody buy their own

I would try and wear what you already have and then see what everyone else is wearing. Usually on training days the staff dress down but you probably already know that.

i tend to live in long sleeved t shirts in the Winter, with cardigans and smart trousers. I also wear skirts and would wear a Boden Dress. I don't own many shirts but I have the odd Summer blouse/top which I wear.

Definitely layers as you can be hot then in another classroom it is freezing.