School to become an academy - unfair uniform pricing

newgirly

I have three at an acagemy with a very strict uniform policy, (also has a "school scarf") and we certainly don't have money to burn, but my dd is at the end of year 10 and still ha the same 2 school blouses she started in as she has not grown much.

Although its expensive it presents a good image of the school I think than some of the local schools do look quite scruffy, in priamry school it should be more geared towards a comfy resonably priced uniform as they grow faster out of it.

I just buy the minimum amount of everything I can get away with and wash it every night.

shellsuit

jellyhead wrote: »

They're told which scarf to wear? Crikey!

Yep, ridiculous isn't it! I wouldn't even pay £15 for a scarf for myself, so there's no chance of me spending £30 on 2 of them for the kids :rotfl:

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

:eek: Sixth form does not usually have uniform any-more as pupils can be from a variety of other schools. DD has been put with those from a small local private church school. There are 6 schools in the sixth form catchment areas who can choose from two sixth forms or non A level college, whatever suits.

It's the 6th form at their school so there is a uniform and if kids from other schools apply to go there, they have to have the uniform too.

lazer

I went to a Grammer School (NI) and left in 2001

I remember my Blazer cost around £70 then.

And then jumper was blue with lines - so could only be bought from one supplier too, same with the skirt due to the shade of it!

We had pinafores from 1st year to 5th year, when i started, and my mum had bought one in a fire damage sale that was much bigger for when i was in 4th year - the school changed the uniform, and it was skirts from 4th year onwards! - She wasn't ahppy - but I was!

We had to buy
Blazer
Jumper/Cardigan
Skirt/Pinafore
Tie (different tie for 6th Form too)
PE Blouse
PE Skirt
PE Knickers (In Navy!)

Of you wanted a scarf, it had to be the school scarf (around £15 back then), and if you wanted a coat - it had to be the school coat (although this later becasme a navy Regetta rain coat!)
You were allowed to wear the School Jumper for PE also, if you wanted it!

Mrs_Arcanum

shellsuit wrote: »

Yep, ridiculous isn't it! I wouldn't even pay £15 for a scarf for myself, so there's no chance of me spending £30 on 2 of them for the kids :rotfl:



It's the 6th form at their school so there is a uniform and if kids from other schools apply to go there, they have to have the uniform too.

Does seem very old fashioned. Very unfair on parents with totally different uniforms to have to get a whole new set for just 2 years.

Local sixth form has never worn uniform since it began and has a brilliant Ofsted report and well above national average results. Seems that treating sixth formers like young adults rather than older pupils is educationally beneficial.

shellsuit

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Does seem very old fashioned. Very unfair on parents with totally different uniforms to have to get a whole new set for just 2 years.

Local sixth form has never worn uniform since it began and has a brilliant Ofsted report and well above national average results. Seems that treating sixth formers like young adults rather than older pupils is educationally beneficial.

How do you work that one out, when knowing nothing about the school my children go to, or its stats??

I get a new uniform every year for my kids, and just topping up through the year if theu need something. It's only an extra 2 years and don't forget, it is much cheaper to buy a uniform, than to have everyday clothes for kids.

If what you're talking about is a 6th form stand alone college, then the one here does have a uniform, but the school my kids are at have a uniform for the 6th formers, basically so that they are advertising the school.

It won The Times newspaper school of the Year and is one of the top schools in the country. Ofsted gave it outstanding.

I'm not blowing it's trumpet, but just saying whether a school has a uniform or not for 6th formers doesn't come into how good their education is.

Air_Cooled_75

When I stayed on at school (20 odd years ago) our sixth form didn't have a uniform but I notice the high school I live near to now does. I was a bit shocked seeing uniformed lads driving a car one lunchtime until someone told me I have never known sixth formers to wear a uniform before but then I've never lived by a school before.

Mrs_Arcanum

shellsuit wrote: »

I get a new set every year for my kids, doesn't everyone? It's only an extra 2 years and don't forget, it is much cheaper to buy a uniform, than to have everyday clothes for kids.

If what you're talking about is a 6th form stand alone college, then the one here doesn't have a uniform, but the school my kids are at have a uniform for the 6th formers, basically so that they are advertising the school.

It won The Times newspaper school of the Year and is one of the top schools in the country. Ofsted gave it outstanding.

I'm not blowing it's trumpet, but just saying whether a school has a uniform or not for 6th formers doesn't come into it.

Only time mine get new is when they have worn it out or grown out if it. DD wore the same polo shirts for 5 years. Decent quality that lasted, nor do I have spare money to buy new unnecessarily. Locally "new" uniforms seem to be shunned and most endeavour to get them looking well washed ASAP.

Sixth form has always been part of the school & has never had a uniform. The local stand alone college no longer does A level courses as they couldn't compete on quality of teaching for core subjects. The former Grammar school is the only other sixth form locally & they do not wear uniform either. All take students from wherever depending on what courses they want to do due to specialisation. Some go to both sixth forms if the timetables clash.

Point being it cannot be the wearing of uniform that makes the students excel, but just maybe treating them as young adults makes a difference.

shellsuit

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Only time mine get new is when they have worn it out or grown out if it. DD wore the same polo shirts for 5 years. Decent quality that lasted, nor do I have spare money to buy new unnecessarily. Locally "new" uniforms seem to be shunned and most endeavour to get them looking well washed ASAP.

I buy new every year but if something from the previous year still fits and it presentable, I keep it as a spare.

Just to say, I'd just amended my previous post to you, before I noticed that you had posted again.

You said,

Seems that treating sixth formers like young adults rather than older pupils is educationally beneficial.

And I'd like to know how you work that out, seeing as though you didn't know anything about the 6th form or its stats?

embob74

I believe uniforms are shockingly overpriced. When my eldest went to school we were told it had to be logo'd blouses and trousers and the teachers did actually check! A tiny white embroidered logo on a blouse that couldn't be seen unless you peered very closely.
When she started 6th form we were relieved there was no uniform but it had to be "business dress" - surely that is variable upon what business you intend to be in?
I found the uniform policy seemed to be a lot more important to some teachers than their actual teaching. I hate it. I agree with having a polo shirt or jumper with a logo on but ties are outdated and unnecessary IMO. And blazers that aren't waterproof but make it difficult to wear a coat - pointless.
Kids aren't even allowed to express themselves with hairstyles - children with dyed hair got sent home or isolated. Seriously..... isolating a girl out of her lessons for a week because she had some highlights? Not really sure how that assists her education.
As for the argument that uniform makes everyone equal, I don't believe that. Everyone knows who the "poorer" kids are. you can tell by their shoes, their coats, their bags and the fact they're usually wearing hand-me-downs that are way too big or way too small. Way to go for making kids equal...more like making some kids feel very inferior indeed.

thegirlintheattic

Hootie19 wrote: »

Could the schools legally exclude a child from school if they didn't have the uniform as laid down by the school?!

Children can be sent home to change and children can be removed from the general school population until they have the correct uniform. It's quite common in my school for girls with really short, non-uniform skirts to end up in isolation. Same with hair styles, one of my students was kept in isolation till her mum came to pick her up to have her taken to get her hair dyed a more normal colour. What's the point of a uniform policy if you don't enforce it.

Uniform has an impact on behavior, schools will poor uniform usually has behaviour to match. It's a case of if one rule is broken then another can be too. We've started cracking down on uniform - so I do check trainers, ties and top button done up when they enter the room. It also provides a nice routine for the kids.

Things are much better these days. When I was at school EVERYTHING including socks and coats had to come from the uniform shop.

At the school I teach at only jumpers, polo shirts and ties must be brought from the school, the rest is recommended to be brought from the school (makes us money and saves parents from buying inappropriate stuff when the kids go "oh, that will be fine") but a lot of parents buy the trousers, polo shirts etc. from other shops. As long as it matches what's in the uniform policy.

We've recently changed the jumper but kids are provided with a sow on badge for free if they don't want to buy the new one.