School to become an academy - unfair uniform pricing

mazza111

Without a doubt the kids look smarter in uniform. However, I don't really think trousers and/or skirts need emblems. Or clothing that's not on show, like polo shirts if they are under the school jumper/sweatshirt. TBH the school uniform policy worked at our school, black trousers (any kind), plain white shirt and tie or school polo shirt, school sweatshirt or jumper. Think the only place the emblem is needed is the top clothes if you know what I mean. Think them putting badges on trousers is just taking the proverbial.

We didn't have much choice tbh, there was only one shop stocked them. And had to order them at the start of the school holidays to guarantee they had the size when needed. But found the first year was most expensive. 2 of everything, then make them do a year, and buy one of the next size if that makes sense. Yes, the school shop here even sells socks, some of the primary schools have socks as part of their uniform. Can you imagine them all getting mixed up at PE. The school trousers that the school shop sold weren't much cop to my wee lad either as he was so tall and skinny, if I got them to fit his waist they were a mile too short :rotfl: But Tesco and Asda both done the adjustable ones which were great!!! Sorry, but I would have refused to pay double the price for trousers that didn't fit him when I could go to asda and get them.

Anyhoo, I wish you luck with it all, thankfully that's my last one left school, so no more hunting around trying to get troosers to fit him

jackieb

I ordered a school sweatshirt today for after the holidays. My daughter's school uniforms state they can be red or black. Left it too late to get a red one last year, so i've got in early this year! 30.50 for a hooded sweatshirt with the school emblem.

I agree that they really don't have to have emblems on trousers or skirts - that's just daft.

Mrs_Arcanum

jackieb wrote: »

I ordered a school sweatshirt today for after the holidays. My daughter's school uniforms state they can be red or black. Left it too late to get a red one last year, so i've got in early this year! 30.50 for a hooded sweatshirt with the school emblem.

I agree that they really don't have to have emblems on trousers or skirts - that's just daft.

:eek:

All we have to have are green logo sweatshirts @ £14.50 each. Green logo polo shirts @ £11.00 each (these are worn all year).

The only other items are white PE polo shirts with a logo (only required if they play inter school competitions) and a special polo shirt for the school bands.

All available direct from school.

Otherwise Black trousers or skirts from anywhere.

balletshoes

OLDBILL wrote: »

Hi everyone! :beer:

I was just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat. Our schools are set to be merged into an academy to provide for 4-19yr olds. Part of their policy is to have a uniform (even for little ones) which is fine. What has upset ALOT of parents is that there are such strict rules to adhere to in order for your child to comply with the uniform policy.

We are not allowed to shop in Asda / Tesco or M&S or anywhere other than the schoolwear shop. The prices quoted for the uniform are:

1 x blazer, 3 x trousers, 1 x pe kit polo, 1 x pe kit shorts) from the uniform supplier this cost is £122.89 :eek:

If we could shop elsewhere and add the logo to a blazer, we could purchase alternative similar styled items for £30.50 from an alternative leading high street supplier.

Has any other academy tried to impose similar ridiculous prices for uniform and removed parental choice?

What did you do?

Also, we have only just been made aware of this and the children are expected to be wearing this from September - which gives us no time at all to take any action, change things or be consulted in anyway.

They are trying to argue that we get a grant for parts of the uniform but that is only for pupils between certain ages and only comes to £60 - nowhere near what the full uniform costs. Plus when you factor in that most children will require more than one set of the uniform... this is getting really expensive!! :mad:

What are your money saving expert views on this?
How can we fight it?

Like other secondary schools, our Academy has a long list of uniform rules and "must-haves". In practice though, the only school-shop distributed "must haves" have emerged to be the school blazer (it has very distinctive piping and badge) the school PE polo shirt, and the school tie. Also the school tracksuit if preferred (but this is not compulsory unless your child plays a sport for the school).

Everything else thats on the list can be bought anywhere you like, so long as its the right colour/length/fit to satisfy the school uniform rules.

luxor4t

"The cost of a uniform should not stop parents from sending their child to the school of their choice. Governing bodies should consult parents for their views and concerns before changing or deciding on a new uniform policy."

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/schoolslearninganddevelopment/schoollife/dg_4016078

jellyhead

Both of my children's schools have changed uniform for September. One has become an academy and introduced a blazer, but the main thing for us is that we can buy trousers and black PER shorts elsewhere.

I can understand them wanting everyone to be wearing the same colour polo/blazer/sweatshirt/tie but I do think it's unfair to expect parents to buy trousers from a uniform shop.

I would fight it if I were you - agree to the blazer, tie and PE shirt but say you want to buy the PE shorts and the trousers elsewhere.

You didn't mention shirts, is it shirt and tie? Our schools allow plain white shirts that can be bought anywhere, with a school tie. Primary will allow plain polos.

Desperado99

I think that a lot of schools are slipping back into the old ways with uniform.

We have three schools in our town, from september, all three have items that can only be bought through the school, or academy sponsor.

We have just started looking at kitting DD out. Blazer/jumper/tie/PE top (summer)/PE top (winter)/Polo shirt (summer)/PE skort (!?!) are only available in the school shop.

Up until this sept the PE kit was a simple polo top/black shorts available from anywhere but now they're all in house colours (yellow/red/reversible) so we have to pay more to buy them from school.

Hootie19

Could the schools legally exclude a child from school if they didn't have the uniform as laid down by the school? I don't mean if they didn't have any kind of a uniform at all - but supposing the parents did buy polo shirts, trousers etc from the supermarkets. Would the schools be within their rights to deny the child an education because the parents either can't afford to, or just plain don't want to, spend ludicrous amounts of money of clothes just for school?

I remember nearly dropping to the ground when, 15 years ago, I had to buy my kids a sweater for school - at a mere £18! All it had was a tiny letter Q embroidered on it. And after half a dozen washes it was ready for the bin!

duchy

I can't believe anyone would consider home schooling solely because they didn't like the school uniform policy

kingfisherblue

One option might be to have badges made. I had two sons in the local catholic primary, and they needed sweatshirts with a logo on. For summer, they needed polo shirts with logo. These were quite expensive (but nowhere near the price others have quoted).

One parent contacted a local company that embroiders workwear. They paid £15 to have an almost idential badge made - it couldn't be identical due to copyright, so the rose that was in the centre was a few millimetres bigger. As the design was then available, anyone could go in and have the design added to their own clothing, or they could buy from the company.

To have a design added to your won clothes, it cost £3 per item for upto four items. Five plus, the cost was £2.50 per item.

If I had known the parent who paid for the design in the first place, I would happily have contributed, but I believe their child was older and had already left the school when my boys started there. It saved me quite a bit of cash over the years. (incidentally, I only found out about this company after contacting Trading Standards. I mentioned it to another parent, who gave me the company details).