Clothes for school

[notenoughhoursleft]

Strange question. I'm going back to school after a long time out being 'mum'. I've lived in jeans for years and spent 3 hours today looking for suitable clothes. Failed miserably. Where do you get the bulk of your teaching wardrobe from? Just curious.

[BelindaBagwash]

Trip hazard/toe damage never occurred to me. We all wear open toed shoes on the rare occasion it gets warm enough.

[Roseformeplease]

Trip hazard? But we are adults....really. Do the schools have to protect staff against tripping over? Next thing it will be prescribed heel height. What about shoe laces? Will they be gone next? Shoes which are a bit big?


Really? Is there someone at schools who is looking at shoes every day and telling people off like infants? Good grief. Glad I don't work in the kind of place where professionals with degrees are infantilised to this extent.

[DullUserName]

Primary here...
Black trousers from Tesco/Next/DorothyP.
Plain, but bright, long-sleeved tee shirts or jumpers from Next/Primark.
Pretty scarfk or funky necklace to jazz it up.
Plain long cardie with pockets.
Black ankle boots in winter. Black flats in summer.

Sensible shoes are important.

Yes, our Head does check!

[overthemill]

sky am amazed that a sweater isn't too hot but a cardigan is! I find a cardigan keeps me warm enough going to and fro classrooms across playground and I can chuck it over chair but a sweater would make me boil!

I understand about open toe shoes but there are so many hazards in schools most of them unpredictable, so it makes sense to me.

[sky1010]

Just preference over, I prefer a fine knit sweater. Too many layers traps the heat in for me and I get awfully hot.

[sky1010]

Also, I wouldn't like to be wearing a t shirt or vest if visitors pop in when I am cardigan-less.

My school is incredibly formal for a primary. If I am not wearing a pencil skirt and smart sweater, I am wearing a business dress that wouldn't look out of place in an office.

[BelindaBagwash]

Roseformeplease very well put. There would be a mutiny here if anyone told out staff what to wear. I once nearly fell down stairs when I caught the heel of my shoe in my trouser leg. So I guess somebody should measure the width of trouser legs to check they're not a trip hazard!
Seriously, anything could be considered a hazard.

I try to dress smartly. but in a practical way that is appropriate for a primary school.

[CasualJersey]

As te name suggests I'm a fan of tech Boden dress. I team it with tights or Leggins dependant on the season or trmperature.
I wear ballet style shoes mostly but flat knee boots in autumn: winter and a cost but smart cardy.
Looks nice, isn't just trouse and a top and is soooo comfy.

[PhyllisDietrichson]

Check the school what not to wear code, some don't accept leggings or certain footwear etc.

It's taken a while to work out my teaching wardrobe after being a Mum for 10 year. I wear plain dresses in nice colours with funky jewellery and a range of shoes boots (my weakness) n cardies. Also some trousers or skirts with a few interchangeable top combo's. I can open the wardrobe and there's always something to wear that I feel comfortable and smart in. I've spent a fair ol whack on my new wardrobe over the past year, but I feel so much much better.

[BelindaBagwash]

Are these private schools that can tell staff what/not to wear. If any local authority school here tried to do that, nobody would put up with it.

[ScottishGlen]

I'm a TA at a state high school. The SMT recently introduced a staff dress code. It was not well received and to my knowledge is not being enforced. I like to think that I'm old enough and professional enough to decide what to wear without consulting a dress code!

[Forgetmenotblue]

I'm in a LA school and the dress code is part of the Health and Safety policy, and can (and is) enforced. In primary children sit on the floor a lot, so if you tripped and fell on a child (avoidable hazard if due to unsuitable footwear) then the school could be sued. And yes, heel height is covered too...no stilettos etc (tread on a child's hand with a stiletto heel?). Wear a gaping top ("we saw Mrs Jones boobs!") ....all real complaints I've had to deal with as SMT in primary over the years.

[GinandJag]

The school I am moving to has a dress code - skirts or dresses knee-length or below, no trousers. You also should not be able to look up it, down it or through it.

As a science teacher, I don't wear sandals or open toe shoes. I will wear pumps, loafers or boots.

I don't object to the dress code but it is hard to find below knee skirts/dresses at the moment as I am 5'8.

I buy most of my clothes from Debenhams or M&S.