Are you allowed to buy cheap school uniforms? Poll help needed

JBD

oldest child is at secondary [state] school. Trousers, shirts and shoes are generic. Blazer, tie and parts of PE kit [polo shirt and rugby shirt] are from school shop. However they are reasonable prices so can't really complain.
Youngest child is at 'special school'. All her uniform is generic and the school is quite easy going about clothes. [They do have logo sweatshirts but haven't noticed many of the children wearing them]. They don't have a blazer.

CupOfChai

I haven't got any kids, but when I was at "senior school" not all that long ago the uniforms were in the any supplier with iron on (actually, sew on) badge category, except I think you had to get just the tie through the school as nowhere else did them.

The problem I remember is that the colour/style of jumper in particular that was specified, you could hardly get anywhere. I think it ended up we could only find one shop on the high street that did the right sort of jumper. This involved travelling to the then nearest branch of that shop in a city some 20 miles away. And it wasn't a cheap shop!

icelandic_queen

My 3 girls go to church/voluntary secondary and everything has a logo. Everything bought in specific school shop, even PE kit and Drama outfit. The colours are a bit strange and so can't be bought in any of the supermarkets/big shops. Even the 6th form have their own logo which is frustrating because even if the the 5th year uniform still fits it can"t be used as the shirt, jumper and skirt are different in 6th year. I budgeted for 750 quid and I've spent 650 as I haven't bought the rain-coats with logo yet and also I got the shoes, which are colour specific a bit cheaper than I thought.

NicolaL_2

DC's school has switched to a generic supermarket uniform (navy jumpers, white polos) and they now sell embroidered emblems that you iron on yourself (£1). It's a lot cheaper than the previous supplier and there's no waiting for school to send the once a month uniform order and then the further wait for the stuff to be delivered.

And one surprise benefit is that there's no scratchy embroidery backing which is a big bonus if your kid has sensitive skin.

The company that supplies our school can be Googled under iron on school badge.

Kimberley82

Spendless wrote: »

Seriously? I'd be well miffed about getting a phone call at work that said 'can you come collect Jenny, she's wearing the wrong type of jumper'.

yeah it sucks but what can you do

sneezyboots

Can someone who has written something along the lines of "uniforms are not a legal requirement so blah blah blah" please explain your comment?

There is no specific law regarding school uniform in school (some of you specifically mentioning state primary). However the department for education advises schools to have a uniform and sees it adequate that children be told/punished for not complying with school uniform policy. Just because there is not a law that says little Fred does have to wear a uniform does not mean you can send him in whatever you like. If he does not wear it the head can punish him and even expel him (although unlikely) and there is nothing you can do about it. If a school has a uniform policy and a child/parent ignores it they can/will be reprimanded.

Spendless

Kimberley82 wrote: »

yeah it sucks but what can you do

Say 'sorry I am at work. My WM is currently broken when I'm able to I'll send her in the right colour jumper'? I actually did say something similar once when my WM was broke, a teacher told my DD 'tomorrow I want to see you in a school jumper, tell your mum' it was end of Autumn and she was in pinafore and polo shirt. I told DD to say 'mum, says she can't cos her WM is broken and the repair man can't get out for a few days, but she'd appreciate it if you'd wash a few jumpers for her if you're concerned' Funnily enough I never heard another word.