School Uniform

mammyof7

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Possibly if they've recently changed over then they don't want to relax the new blazer rules too often.

I think it's madness personally. A few of the schools I go into for work have the blazer/shirt/tie rule and the school that is the most flexible with the kids on hot days and between lessons is the one that has the kids who have the most pride in their uniforms.

I really dislike policy that sees kids keeping their blazers on in lessons. I don't like to work wearing my jacket and I don't see why the kids should be any different. It especially annoys me if the staff don't have the same strictness on their attire. It just makes the kids resentful.

Totally agree with you there.

mammyof7

rachbc wrote: »

We had this at my sons school - email went out on friday - by mon at 11 they had had so many complaints that they changed the rules.

Really! That is fantastic. At least they have listened and acted on what has been said :j

shelley_crow

This isn't a new thing, I started high school in 1997 and this was in force then.

We had to keep our blazer on at all times while on school grounds although we could take it off if the class teacher said we could. A few time I had to take messages to teachers in other classes and had to put my blazer back on to walk around, anyone caught without a blazer was given an automatic detention. The headteacher would annouce in the height of summer when it was acceptable for us not to wear blazers, normally a week or so before finishing in July. It was very hot and stifling but as far as I know no-one fainted.

I always found it worse that we were expected to run 1500m in PE, normally on the hottest day of the year. That really did make more than one person faint.

jackyann

Personally I cannot believe the way in which we seem to think that adhering to an antiquated dress code makes kids perform better.
I was a nurse (see post above) and our uniform became more practical over the years and is now sensible. I wouldn't take barristers as a role model for anything, and the police also have sensible rules - they may get hot in their anti-stab vests, but there is a good reason for them.
I think a sensible dress code is fine, but antiquated uniform shows no respect for the pupils.
My sensible dress code would be jeans, T / polo shirt & sweat shirt. We've had lots of European exchange students to stay with us over the years - they were amazed by the blazer / tie rule. They all dressed in the usual teenage uniform as above, and were all high achievers.

pulliptears

Same in DD's school as well. They can take them off in class but between lessons they need to wear them. Its understandable, there are usually visitors within the school ranging from local businesspeople looking to sponsor/help the school as well as occasional press, offstead etc. Nothing looks worse than dozens of kids wandering around with shirts hanging out and blazers tied around their waists.

It presents a much better image of the school. I've worked in a few high schools and they all adopt this policy.

mammyof7

antonia1 wrote: »

We had this at my school (I left 8 years ago) and I believe it is still in place. I survived (as did my fellow pupils). There are many jobs where you are expected to stick to the dress code no matter what the weather (police, nurses, lawyers etc), so I don't see what is so terrible about starting the habit in teenage years.

ETA: Do agree that teachers should have the same rules though.

That's absolutely true. However I do believe that a lot of professions adapt their dress code to the weather, such as the police wearing short sleeves.

Also for the record I qualify myself as a teacher in 12 months time and totally agree with you that teachers should have the same rules. I would feel so guilty for my pupils to be be sat there in blazers, tights etc whilst I was wearing some sort of cool summer number.

rachbc

mammyof7 wrote: »

Really! That is fantastic. At least they have listened and acted on what has been said :j

Yes i was suprised - but pleased they are responsive and thinking about the needs of the kids rather than 'image'. Ironic isn't it that kids get criticised for being 'image obsessed' and wanting designer clothes or fashionable whatever but when schools are image obsessed its apparently good for discipline....

I expect my yougner daughter is taking after me in her opinions - when told she couldn't wear nail varnish in recpetion class she asked why the head had her nails painted then!

antonia1

jackyann wrote: »

Personally I cannot believe the way in which we seem to think that adhering to an antiquated dress code makes kids perform better.
I was a nurse (see post above) and our uniform became more practical over the years and is now sensible. I wouldn't take barristers as a role model for anything, and the police also have sensible rules - they may get hot in their anti-stab vests, but there is a good reason for them.
I think a sensible dress code is fine, but antiquated uniform shows no respect for the pupils.
My sensible dress code would be jeans, T / polo shirt & sweat shirt. We've had lost of European exchange students to stay with us over the years - they were amazed by the blazer / tie rule. They all dressed in the usual teenage uniform as above, and were all high achievers.

The professions I mentioned were an example, not an exhaustive list. Lots of office workers have to wear suits all year round, particularly those in industries where you have clients. My own office (engineering) is fairly relaxed, but when meeting a client I have to wear a suit inc jacket no matter what the weather.

I fail to see how having a uniform shows no respect for the pupils. And the OP doesn't mind the uniform, only how the school is policing it during the hot weather.

mammyof7 wrote: »

That's absolutely true. However I do believe that a lot of professions adapt their dress code to the weather, such as the police wearing short sleeves.

Also for the record I qualify myself as a teacher in 12 months time and totally agree with you that teachers should have the same rules. I would feel so guilty for my pupils to be be sat there in blazers, tights etc whilst I was wearing some sort of cool summer number.

Totally agree about adapting in summer. In my school we were allowed short sleeves and open necked blouses in summer. The boys school still had to wear ties tho.

Raksha

My son's school have also over hauled their uniform. They now have to wear white shirt with top button done up, tie in house colour, knitted sleveless v neck jumper and blazer, black tailored trousers, dark socks, black 'leather' shoes. The head has the option of brining in 'Summer' uniform, which means no jumper or blazer, at some point during the warmer months, and until then, they must all wear full uniform, which is totally impractical during the wet but warm months.

balletshoes

I'm sure this subject comes up every year around this time .

My DD's next school has the full uniform including blazer at all times, shirt buttoned up and tie tied at all times, rules. The male teachers have to wear suits at all times, with ties tied. They can only take off their suit jackets and loosen their tie if they give permission to their class to do the same.

I have no problem with this rule, it is similar to the rules we had at my high school.