MSE News: Schools urged to keep uniform costs down 31 August 2012 at 4:14PM in Marriage, relationships & families 30 replies 3.2K views

Former_MSE_Helen

"The LGA says families do not have endless cash for new uniforms and it's calling on schools to keep costs to a minimum ..."

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Schools urged to keep uniform costs down

delain

Ha ha good one. Can see the schools and their 'official supplier' cohorts taking loads of notice of that :rotfl:

daska

My nearest academy has shunned the specialist school supplier based not 5 minutes walk away - without even putting it out to tender - and their bespoke colour blazer, jumper etc have to be purchased in a town 9 miles away known to be more expensive (and we live in an area of the country that has high poverty and expensive public transport). The blazers are so lightweight that they all look like carp after half a term.

The only supplier for the academy my eldest son attends is an half an hour's drive away from the school and once again the uniform (suit not blazer!) is a bespoke colour so that parents can't buy an equivalent. OK, it's a decent quality (at a price!) but what's wrong with black?!

My younger son has to have monogrammed shirts, jumpers, pe kit, school bag, PE bag, tracksuit. Once again only available from a single supplier - at least it's the local cheap one but being monogrammed pushes the price up!

It's about time the idiots who publish this realised that 'guidance', without the back up of legislation, makes not one jot of difference. TBH I'd rather they shut up about it than go through this rigmarole at the start of every school year. How about legislation which states that all badges must be available for parent to sew/stick on to uniform from a standard colour range?

delain

Here at the secondary the girls have to have bespoke shirts and skirts (£18 a pop 2 years ago, probably more now) whilst the boys can have shirts and trousers you can get in Asda!

Plus different PE kits and the £50 blazer made of crimpoline and no other coats even in the dead of winter?

luxor4t

My niece goes to the supposedly 'elite' school that insists on trousers with the school name woven onto a tag on the side. Prices between £12.99 and £17.25- maybe the tag is pure gold! (comparable trousers from Asda start at £5.)

mark61120

All of that pales into insignificance as my son's sixth form has decided that the need to wear business suits for school!
They will need two suits and constant dry cleaning as well as formal shirts and ties.

All because they have a public school just up the road who's sixth form have been wearing suits for the past two years.

My son year is going into upper sixth, but they wouldn't even allow them to carry on wearing the existing uniform until they leave next year!
Apparently, this was in response to pupils requests (yeah, right) and that the costings that they have done show it is comparable in cost to the uniform (white shirt, tie and black trousers with black cardigan if required)(again; yeah, right).

daska

It's only comparable in cost if you would have had to buy it anyway!

p.s. it is possible to buy machine washable suits, try M&S if there's nowhere else near you that stocks them

ginger_tony

I despair at schools sometimes. The uniforms are very expensive and in my opnion schools should hold uniform exchanges ie pupils could hold in uniforms that are too small but are in good enough nick for others to get use out of. And the primary sevens could hold in ties , blazers etc.Same should go for secondary The school could charge a £1 or 2 an item and the proceeds could go to school funds for the end of year trip and everyones a winner. People are too proud now a days, no-one wants second hand stuff . The amount of money l spent on my kids uniforms was obscene and if this was available in their schools I would defo buy good quality second hand stuff. And I would willingly hand in stuff i dont need anymore.

daska

ginger_tony wrote: »

I despair at schools sometimes. The uniforms are very expensive and in my opnion schools should hold uniform exchanges ie pupils could hold in uniforms that are too small but are in good enough nick for others to get use out of. And the primary sevens could hold in ties , blazers etc.Same should go for secondary The school could charge a £1 or 2 an item and the proceeds could go to school funds for the end of year trip and everyones a winner. People are too proud now a days, no-one wants second hand stuff . The amount of money l spent on my kids uniforms was obscene and if this was available in their schools I would defo buy good quality second hand stuff. And I would willingly hand in stuff i dont need anymore.

Unfortunately most school uniform is of such poor quality that once out of reception there isn't much good second hand stuff. The days of a good wool blazer being used as goal posts and still lasting for at least 6 kids are long gone.

delain

ginger_tony wrote: »

I despair at schools sometimes. The uniforms are very expensive and in my opnion schools should hold uniform exchanges ie pupils could hold in uniforms that are too small but are in good enough nick for others to get use out of. And the primary sevens could hold in ties , blazers etc.Same should go for secondary The school could charge a £1 or 2 an item and the proceeds could go to school funds for the end of year trip and everyones a winner. People are too proud now a days, no-one wants second hand stuff . The amount of money l spent on my kids uniforms was obscene and if this was available in their schools I would defo buy good quality second hand stuff. And I would willingly hand in stuff i dont need anymore.

Next time you have uniform going spare, ring the school and speak to the pastoral care worker (or equivalent). They will happily take uniform and they will know which families need it and they will most likely discreetly pass it on to them, suggest this to them if they don't say yes at first.

The receptionists will only be able to tell you they don't resell it. It's important to get the right person.

daska

delain wrote: »

The receptionists will only be able to tell you they don't resell it. It's important to get the right person.

??

DS2's primary school sell second hand stuff that is handed in to them and put requests and adverts in the school newsletters.