School Uniform Supply Monopolies

GobbledyGook

Completely agree on the God complexes.

It's funny though, they obviously don't realise the impact their attitude has. I work in schools, generally a different one morning and afternoon. I honestly believe that the schools I work in where the HT's are like the one at my DD's school - friendly, approachable, firm but fair, treat the parents (and staff) like adults and not over the top in the rules and regulations are much better. The children tend to be better behaved and the home-school relationship is much, much better.

In some of the "I'm the HT so I'm in charge of everything" schools the atmosphere is appalling. Staff can be demotivated (especially if a HT has favourites!), children hate it, parents hate it because the children do and everything just makes for a rubbish time.

dark_lady

And i am willing to bet that some of the teachers striking this week have victimised children in the past for having bits of their uniform missing due to the parents being on a low income.
Bearing in mind that they are striking due to money i find it a bit hypocritical tbh when some of them actively discriminate against kids and parents who are on a low wage.
It was only after reading this thread that i thought of it this way.

rosalie-lavender

Well to be fair to the Head at the school my daughter has just left, she inherited the uniform and stockists from the previous head. The uniform is actually quite smart and not too badly priced now there is more than one stockist. One of her best ideas was the tie with the logo woven into it. Previously ties were being worn ridiculously short-and still are in another nearby school. The logo has to be below the knot and it is impossible to get it below the knot without having the tie a sensible length. The tie can be bought at a reasonable price from the school office.

I think a lot of the Head teacher. She clearly cares a great deal about the students and is always to be seen at every school concert, show or other event unlike the Head at the school my friends son attended. She said she had only seen him once in all the time her son had been there and had never seen him at any of the shows her son was in. In contrast our Head is not above getting up on stage and performing with her students.

£150 is a ridiculous amount of money to have to pay for a school blazer and there is no way I could have afforded to pay that much money for uniform for my three, no matter how good the school was.

lolly_896

nikki1520 wrote: »

I've just been to the parents meeting for my little man's first school. Again, one supplier with extortionate prices. The children are divided into groups and when they were reading out the list, I was wishing for a red or blue polo shirt for my son, as I know these can be bought cheaply, but no, I got emerald green.

Lovely colour, but only available from the single supplier at £7.50 each. Aaargh! Have looked everywhere, but no joy..

I spent more on 2 polo shirts and one sweatshirt than the entire rest of the uniform from m&s- wonder which will be the better quality? Not holding my breath for m&s stuff looking shabby first!

I think it's really wrong. Luckily we can afford it, but I feel for families with several kis who are struggling!

I havent read through but Asda now do Emerald Green Polo's

http://direct.asda.com/george/school-uniform/boys/polo-shirts/0100103,default,sc.html?cm_sp=grgschool-_-panel4-_-Polos

And i'd bet it's not a state school charging £150 for a blazer.

Our school is pretty much logo'd jumpers £9.95 from the PFA or £6.50 direct from the Trutex shop, Ties are £2 Polo shirts are not allowed. Optional PE Kit is £10 for shorts, T shirt and Gym bag all logo'd which we havent bought purely because 30 of them in the class all with the same kit is a recipe for disaster.

In the school shop it is £1 to have there name embroidered under the emblem we have DS surname instead of forname so the jumpers will be handed down to DS2

moomoomama27

lolly_896 wrote: »

I havent read through but Asda now do Emerald Green Polo's

http://direct.asda.com/george/school-uniform/boys/polo-shirts/0100103,default,sc.html?cm_sp=grgschool-_-panel4-_-Polos

And i'd bet it's not a state school charging £150 for a blazer

Even the private schools around here don't charge anywhere close to that for a blazer! Sounds a bit much, I struggle to buy that any school/colleg charges that for a blazer!

rosalie-lavender

moomoomama27 wrote: »

Even the private schools around here don't charge anywhere close to that for a blazer! Sounds a bit much, I struggle to buy that any school/colleg charges that for a blazer!

There would be a parental revolt round here if the local schools tried to charge that much. I can think of very few people I know that would pay that much without complaint.

jellyhead

Primary school here doesn't punish children for not having correct uniform. They are told off for not bringing in PE or swimming kit, but would not be punished for not owning the correct stuff in the first place.

High school was too harsh on the PE kit issue - it's not as if a just-turned-11 year old can get a paper round to buy their own kit.

vax2002

The trouble is you are trying to argue with a school head who can earn around £1400 a week, they just do not understand how such costs reflect on families, you are not going to make them understand either.
A motto given to me a long time ago was remember when dealing with teachers or TV company people.. you are not dealing with normal people, so dont expect them to be so.

pigpen

lolly_896 wrote: »

And i'd bet it's not a state school charging £150 for a blazer.

Then you'd be very wrong because it is!

Mrs_Arcanum

My biggest gripe is the VAT. Thankfully got DS enough for a while pre increase but still a huge jump from primary sweatshirts at £7 to secondary at £13.50 (now £14.50) :eek: At least all ours insist be uniform is a polo shirt & sweatshirt. DD is still wearing her polo shirt from year 7 (now in year 10).

Yes, secondary schools do add VAT to ALL sizes regardless of legality. :mad: