School Uniform !

Zara33

mumps wrote: »

Mine never had black and red jumprs either? They did have a navy blue sweatshirt with a red and white embroidered logo.

:rolleyes: Have you actually tried it?

mumps

poet123 wrote: »

Of course cost is a factor for many, and in most schools some kind of arrangement can be made for those who are in this position, either by supplying a sweatshirt via lost property or selling on via the PTA secondhand uniform. I fully appreciate that and am really sympathetic to those issues.

Where my sympathy runs out is with those like the poster here who accepted a place knowing the uniform rules, and who can afford to comply, but then chose not to on the grounds of "principle".

Where are their principles in accepting a place in a school which has clearly spelled out uniform requirements, but then go on to make a fuss about complying?

I knew school uniform requirements but not price, we didn't get the price list until we accepted the place and children had passed the entrance exam. It would have been a dilemma if we had known as I do think the uniform was a rip off but it was a good grammar school and we didn't like the alternative. As it was I got round what I could on the uniform, found a school with identical skirts in another town, their local co-op sold the skirts cheaper so I bought my daughters there. I got similar blouses from Woolworths, not identical but close and half the price, never got picked up on. PE kit I only bought the essentials no hoodies, track suits, water proof jackets, swimming costumes etc. On cold days pe teachers did let them wear non uniform kit. I bought daughters pe kit in year seven, they changed it in year eight so I bought the basics again, the following year it changed again and I became a difficult parent and said no. My daughter really hoped she would be banned from pe but it wasnt to be.

I did know the price when my son went there as his sister was already there but I could hardly say he couldn't go when she had so I had to bite the bullet. When they finished with uniform I was thrilled. It was like a complete liberation after over 30 years buying, repairing, washing and ironing school uniform.

mumps

Zara33 wrote: »

:rolleyes: Have you actually tried it?

No but I did accidentally wash one with a red towel and the logo became completely red. I bought a colour rescue thing and washed it so it was just pale pink. My son wasn't impressed.

By the way where did black and red come into it?

BeenieCat

I think Zara was saying she has added red and black dyes to the jumpers but it's never ruined the logo.

poet123

mumps wrote: »

I knew school uniform requirements but not price, we didn't get the price list until we accepted the place and children had passed the entrance exam. It would have been a dilemma if we had known as I do think the uniform was a rip off but it was a good grammar school and we didn't like the alternative. As it was I got round what I could on the uniform, found a school with identical skirts in another town, their local co-op sold the skirts cheaper so I bought my daughters there. I got similar blouses from Woolworths, not identical but close and half the price, never got picked up on. PE kit I only bought the essentials no hoodies, track suits, water proof jackets, swimming costumes etc. On cold days pe teachers did let them wear non uniform kit. I bought daughters pe kit in year seven, they changed it in year eight so I bought the basics again, the following year it changed again and I became a difficult parent and said no. My daughter really hoped she would be banned from pe but it wasnt to be.

I did know the price when my son went there as his sister was already there but I could hardly say he couldn't go when she had so I had to bite the bullet. When they finished with uniform I was thrilled. It was like a complete liberation after over 30 years buying, repairing, washing and ironing school uniform.

But that is what good parents do. Going back 30 years when I went to Grammar school, uniform was very expensive (in real terms far more so than today) and only available from one specified supplier, but it was an achievement to get there, and most parents simply did what they had to to afford the uniform. Then there was no help either. Today, lots of people want it all, and want to have a good schooling, yet flout the rules as well.

mumps

poet123 wrote: »

But that is what good parents do. Going back 30 years when I went to Grammar school, uniform was very expensive (in real terms far more so than today) and only available from one specified supplier, but it was an achievement to get there, and most parents simply did what they had to to afford the uniform. Then there was no help either. Today, lots of people want it all, and want to have a good schooling, yet flout the rules as well.

Actually there were grants for school uniform 30 years ago, I know that for a fact in my home city but can't swear for every education authority. I think we will have to agree to disagree as I do not believe schools should be able to exploit their position in the market place to overcharge parents, as usual it is the most vulnerable who will suffer.

poet123

Having to have a sweatshirt with a logo is hardly exploiting their position imo. As I said my issue is not with those who have genuine financial problems, but those who stand on some misguided principle.

Grants may have been available, but as with most things they were for the poorest only, the average parent was not eligible, and had to scrimp to afford the uniform.

Zara33

BeenieCat wrote: »

I think Zara was saying she has added red and black dyes to the jumpers but it's never ruined the logo.

That i was small kid red jumper black logo no problem, big kid black jumper white logo again no problem.

mumps

Zara33 wrote: »

That i was small kid red jumper black logo no problem, big kid black jumper white logo again no problem.

Logo must be different, useful if you can do that. On the evidence of the red towel it wouldn't have worked for me but as of July 2008 we have been a uniform free home.

mumps

poet123 wrote: »

Having to have a sweatshirt with a logo is hardly exploiting their position imo. As I said my issue is not with those who have genuine financial problems, but those who stand on some misguided principle.

Grants may have been available, but as with most things they were for the poorest only, the average parent was not eligible, and had to scrimp to afford the uniform.

At £36 a pop (prices in 2007) I think it was. It wasn't just the sweatshirt, I think the girls blouses were the most annoying thing.