Cheap School Uniform Discussion

euronorris

I didn't make any judgements.

I asked why they wouldn't want their child to wear it and then listed the positive reasons as to why they are there.

And, whilst searching about the law, I found an old BBC article that detailed the OFT's involvement in trying to stop the monopoly issue etc. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6958858.stm

Oh, and just found this from oft: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/consumer_protection/schooluniformssummary.pdf

euronorris

Oh, and this should be helpful to the OP:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/social_policy/consultation_responses/cr_education/guidance_on_school_uniform_consultation_response_proforma

alexandrajj

I am happy to follow school's requests for uniform if they are reasonable & I can see the benefits eg identifying children on school trips. However when they are making, what I believe are, unreasonable demands then I'm not too happy. I wanted to be sure of "the bottom line" before I raise the issue. I think the school is making some unreasonable demands but even some of the more reasonable requests are not applied equally.

alexandrajj

euronorris wrote: »

Why wouldn't you to follow it? Or rather, your child follow it?

School uniforms are there so that everyone is equal, ie, it's not as easy to spot kids from a poor family and also so that the child is equally recognisable if he/she wondered off from school, the school trip or worse.

Part of the issue is that if there are any uniform transgressions that the school are not happy with, I would have thought it would be obvious to talk to the parents when u are dealing with kids aged 4-11. I don't know many 4 year olds who buy & select their own clothes for school. But no, child is humiliated & school never speak to parents directly about any issue.

bravobeastie

Could you tell us the demands the school is making and we may be able to offer more help/information

minimoneysaver

I think in church schools and private schools, they can dictate what they want, but I don't think that state schools can legally enforce school uniform.

delain

They don't sound very flexible, DD1's school has maroon knitted jumpers and gold ish coloured polo shirts, the school are flexible and happy it's pretty much a case of as long as they've got the jumper they aren't bothered if the polo shirt isn't the £8 one with the logo on it. DD likes to wear pinafore dresses anyway so you can't see the logo even when she wears the one t shirt she has with it on

Do the school not have second hand uniform sales? ours does, and the Junior school (dd1 again) put old 'lost property' out on the grass to be 'reclaimed' once or twice a year and DD1's teacher actually said to me to just pick up what you need from there because it's been there for months and they put it out more for parents who are struggling and just to get rid of it than anything else.

alexandrajj

T is a normal state primary with years reception to year 6. Their dress code is quite vague with very few items specifically frowned upon. However it seems to be being interpreted by staff in specific ways. None of my children wear the "unacceptable" items -ever. These staff are picking at what they are wearing repeatedly although we are not breaking the (vague) rules. What they are saying they must wear is OTT. However other kids are wearing the "frowned upon" items & don't seem to be pulled up about it.

Feel like throwing my dummy out of the pram & sending all mine in non-uniform (if uniform is unenforcable) because I'm sick of mine being pulled up on things when they are following the (vague) rules.

jamespir

alexandrajj wrote: »

T is a normal state primary with years reception to year 6. Their dress code is quite vague with very few items specifically frowned upon. However it seems to be being interpreted by staff in specific ways. None of my children wear the "unacceptable" items -ever. These staff are picking at what they are wearing repeatedly although we are not breaking the (vague) rules. What they are saying they must wear is OTT. However other kids are wearing the "frowned upon" items & don't seem to be pulled up about it.

Feel like throwing my dummy out of the pram & sending all mine in non-uniform (if uniform is unenforcable) because I'm sick of mine being pulled up on things when they are following the (vague) rules.

so wearing trousers/skirts and shirts is vague is it

euronorris

alexandrajj wrote: »

T is a normal state primary with years reception to year 6. Their dress code is quite vague with very few items specifically frowned upon. However it seems to be being interpreted by staff in specific ways. None of my children wear the "unacceptable" items -ever. These staff are picking at what they are wearing repeatedly although we are not breaking the (vague) rules. What they are saying they must wear is OTT. However other kids are wearing the "frowned upon" items & don't seem to be pulled up about it.

Feel like throwing my dummy out of the pram & sending all mine in non-uniform (if uniform is unenforcable) because I'm sick of mine being pulled up on things when they are following the (vague) rules.

OK, well I wouldn't recommend sending them in without their uniform. That will only get all the teachers and the head's backs up.

If you feel that the terms, regarding school uniforms, are unclear/vague and that the rules, in this respect, are not being applied equally and fairly, you should call the school and ask for an appointment with either the child's teacher, or the head, or both.

Then you can talk it all through with them and go from there.

A talk may be all that is required.