School Uniform questions

Poppy9

We have to buy logo trousers, skirts and pe kit for the local comp. They introduced it a few years ago and some parents complained but they pushed it through. How enforceable is it though for kids already there? Is it a valid reason to suspend a child for not wearing logo'd uniform (aside sweatshirt which has always been) if the trousers etc are the correct colour (black). You can't expect a child to change schools just because a new uniform policy has been introduced half way through their school life.

My dd is going to our local catchment area school. It is hugely over subscribed but in my city you are guaranteed (and indeed expected to take) a place in your local school but by going there you have to abide by their strict uniform rules and buy skirts and trousers only availabe from them. I wonder what would happen if I refused the place based on uniform. Would they the LEA then pay my transport costs to the next nearest school without a strict uniform policy? Mmmh I have to ask this in work tomorrow:rolleyes: When they were first introducing they hoped local school uniform suppliers would supply their logo'd trousers etc but they refused (not enough profit) so now the school has a shop selling it. Surely schools would be better occupied just teaching kids rather than running a shop selling clothes?

Spendless

A friend told me that the parents had complained about logos on school uniform for this year at the school her eldest will attend in Sept and they have decided not to do it, they were going to do it for 1st time this year.

Meanwhile another friend who has her kids at the secondary school my son will one day attend has got to have her childs name stitched on the outside of the PE kit, and of course there is a different kit according to which sport they play. Her 2nd and 3rd share same inital so I asked does it say F Bloggs thinking Frank and Fred could share or pass down but no it says the full name. This isn't private or even a grammar school it is the local comprehensive.:eek:

This is why whilst mine are little I'm buying the uniform as cheaply as I can get

troll35

If the school has a list which includes things like logo'd sports wear with different clothes for different sports etc see if you can ask a parent of an older child if it was worth buying. For my nephews first year at secondary school my sister made the mistake of bying eveything required. My nephew used his football boots once and never needed some items of sportswear at all. Now she buys only the basic uniform and then if he needs other items she buys them as and when required. As it is she's had to replace his uniform approximately every 6 months as he's gone from being an average 11 year old to being a 6 foot plus 14 year old.

Stevenj214

My school introduced a uniform when I was in 3rd year, I think. If you didn't have the school badge on show (ie on a sweatshirt or shirt and school tie) then you were put to the end of the lunch queue (which meant a wait of 20-25mins extra)

inkie

ONe option would to be to obtain an item of the uniform with the logo on (either buy or borrow), so that you have a sample, and then find a local garment embroiderer who, once they have a template for the logo will be able to embroider this onto the plain uniform that you buy. I did this for some uniform that I needed - the 'official' polo shirts were £13 -however, I paid £3 for a plain one and then £2 for the logo to be put on.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

thanks for all your suggestions......i belive in school uniforms.... but it was the intial shock of the price of it all.. its annoying that they got to have the school logo on everything...if this was a business i am sure the monopolies commission would be interested to hear about it......as they have you by the whatsits...as you can not buy it new anywhere else......
i think i wil put an ad on the freecyle site first to see there anyone has any pre- owned school uni for that school......and then take it from there....i dont really mix with loads of people so i dont know anyone with kids that used to go to that school......i did speak to someone in tescos after i had been to the meeting....and her son used to go to that school, and she was saying that the p.e colour jersey which the school said is compulsary ..was a total waste of money, as they only use it if they are picked for teams to play against other school teams......so it looks as thought the school wants to generate more money that's not really warrented for the parents....

as i say i think its just another way of them bumping up they funding....

Raksha

I'm in a similar position - uniform BLAZERS for heavens sake - MUST be worn when entering and leaving school. Problem is, this new uniform has only just been implemented, and wasn't inforce or confirmed when we applied for the place, so how they can say we agreed to the 'terms and conditions' when we applied for the place I don't know........ What bugs me, is it's the Blazer which is compulsory - the navy jumper (which believe is also 'school specific') is optional!

I also don't believe uniform is a cheaper option - kids grow out of their ordinary clothes waaaaaaaay before they wear them out, because they only wear them at weekends and holidays. As for 'having to be designer this and designer that' - not if you assert yourself as a parent and lead by example...

hobo28

Sounds to me the school has a "deal" with their suppliers. I'd go and complain to the head. If no-one complains then how do they know its causing an issue? You might even find they can help or that its not as strict as you first think.

I think to insist on a logo'ed uniform is very inconsiderate to parents who can't afford such "luxuries". It makes no difference to the teaching standards so I can't see the benefit!

Raksha wrote:

As for 'having to be designer this and designer that' - not if you assert yourself as a parent and lead by example...

ha ha, good luck! You'll get a right ear bending and in some cases your child will be picked on for not having the right designer gear.

I remember when I was a teenager, my dad tried to explain to me about the prices of the Reebok trainers I wanted and how his were perfectly good but at a fraction of the price. My response was that I wouldn't be seen dead in his trainers! Now I bought my last pair of trainers from Asda!

Anniek1969

My 2 daughters both go to schools where uniform is compulsory although they are not very strict with it. My younger daughters school allows them to wear trousers from October to April and keep insisting that they must be grey. The problem is that it's quite difficult to get grey trousers that a) fit my daughter properly as she is short and although not fat she is very round around the waist and b) that she likes which is even harder than the first. It seems to be easier to get boys grey trousers and if you don't buy them in July it's almost impossible to get them for October. They have to wear skirts or the schools red and white dresses from April to October. My only gripe with this is that the weather is completely unpredictable in Glasgow and quite often as happened this year the weather can be really bad in April so I think they should be allowed to wear trousers all year round. They do prefer you to wear the school sweatshirts and polo shirts but don't enforce to much.

My older daughter is at high school and she can wear black trousers or skirt and blue shirt, she doesn't need to wear the sweatshirt or have a special pe kit. Their only specifications are that they wear dressy trousers and always wear their tie. I don't buy them jackets until nearer winter and buy my blouses and polo shirts from Asda. I find it's the other things that cost the money like schoolbags and pencil cases and all the accessories they need. Last year it cost me over £20 just for their pencils, pens, rulers etc.

My nephews went to a school that put you to the end of the dinner queue if you didn't have your proper uniform on, like someone else said. I think this is really intimidating for the kids and shouldn't be allowed. My daughters school give out Merits and ABOUT awards for wearing proper uniform and good behaviour and every couple of months they have an outing or disco or some other treat for the kids with the most awards and if you don't wear uniform or your behaviour is bad then you get de-merits and don't get the treats. I think this is a much better way to do it and the kids seem to like it too.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

the comp.. school that my eldest will be going to in september... is a fairly new modern school... so i also think its an image thing......but surely there must be smoe sort of safety net for people like myself which are not on benefits... and have less money coming in than some people on benefits... tax credit has been totally messed up... so not getting anything....now....there seems to be a gap between two sections and i am stuck in it... cant claim....and get help...from certain benefits... and not earning enough money to pay basic bills etc.....and the only way we get by is loopholes..money vouchers and selling on ebay etc.....

i wonder if tony blair and other mps have this type of conversaion.....
sorry about going off on one again....and i am not having a go at people on benefits... its just the system... how the government work things out....