School uniform and benefits

mumps

notanewuser wrote: »

My scientific calculator was programmable and could do graphics (I sat my A levels in 1996). That was the requested calculator. We had to turn up for our exams 10 minutes early so that the invigilators could go around and "reset" them all to avoid any cheating.

That rings a bell, I think my DD had to use a school calculator or have hers reset. I must ask her when she rings.

notanewuser

mumps wrote: »

That rings a bell, I think my DD had to use a school calculator or have hers reset. I must ask her when she rings.

There was a hole in the back that they pressed with a pin.

gemini12

[ We had a skirt with a bib top in year 7 and 8, in year nine we unpicked the bib top which made the skirt drop to our waists making it longer and we then wore that until sixth form when the uniform changed,.[/QUOTE]


Not sure that would have worked in my case. 4ft 11ins at the start of year 7- 5ft 8ins by year 10.:rotfl:

time2save

HotBubblegum wrote: »

Im not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but i cant find anywhere else suitable to put it.
We moved area to the west midlands at the beginning of Oct 2012. I approached the local authority so my daughter who has just turned 14, could attend a local school. I received the forms and sent them back.

I had to ring them just before Christmas 2012 as i had not heard anything and by this time my daughter had been out of school a long time. They said she was on a waiting list on a few different schools and all i could do is wait, but they would send an appeal form so i could appeal on her place on the waiting lists, which they did not send.

Then finally on 14th January 2013 i received a phone call from a school that had a place, we visited and formally accepted the place and i received my letter of acceptance yesterday 29th Jan with a start date of 4th February (next Monday).

We are a family who unfortunate because of the move, in receipt of JSA until we can find jobs.

I telephoned the local council for help with uniform costs as all i had was a jsa payment on 29th and a tax credit payment on 26th which has to also see to bills, living expenses, travel and food costs. The council said they did not help with cost of uniform anymore and that the school itself will help.
I emailed the school and received an email back saying unfortunately they do not help with cost of uniform, but they maybe able to find her a skirt. They said most parents go to Asda for the uniform because of cost but some items required like the blazer & badge, House tie, House pe kit could be brought from the official supplier of the uniform for that school.
If i required assistance then there is a charity in the area that may help with costs.

So i emailed the charity and received an email back saying they cannot assist me as i have not lived in the area for 5 years!

The problem lies not only with the cost , but the little amount of time i am expected to get the uniform (a week and a half) on JSA and child tax credit! Also my daughter is a little on the larger side and 5.3 tall and size 8 wide fit shoe...So the visit to asda only frustrated because they do not go up to her size and not a lot of uniform was left, Ive checked online store too and they do not cater for a size 18 school shirt amongst other things. I have been around the usual high street stores and i cannot purchase a shirt appropriate for school as they all have open or low necks not button to the top. These shirts from the uniform shop are £15 for 2 add that to the logo`d pe kit and school socks and the blazer with badge and house tie...and its standing at £98 just for those items, which cannot be got from anywhere else

There is nowhere else to get a blazer from as supermarkets ive checked around the areas and online do not have the size in stock and school shoes in a wider fit are not easily available from the high street.
Ive so far managed to get her black cardigans x 2 @supermarket cost of £24 for both and 2 x trousers from matalan £12 for the two. She still needs shoes, trainers, and swimming costume yet!!

I have had to cancel my direct debits, sell some of my items and miss payments to be able to get some of the money this uniform will cost , which is totaling £180, because my daughter is not a standard 14 year old size, and cannot get into the supermarket sizes that shes expected to get into which has upset her a lot and put a lot of pressure on me!

Most parents have the time to get the uniform over the summer holidays (as i have previously before moving), but unfortunately it seems in this day and age everyone is looked upon the same, and no one seems to take circumstance into account!

The whole episode has been a nightmare start to finish.

I am now in debt because of this. Does anyone know if i can recoup the costs i have had to outlay? Any advice anyone can offer please?

OP, you could try the Family Fund for help?

They're a Reg Charity and were set up by Govt,

I think they still fund them but may be wrong?


:A

time2save

mumps

gemini12 wrote: »

[ We had a skirt with a bib top in year 7 and 8, in year nine we unpicked the bib top which made the skirt drop to our waists making it longer and we then wore that until sixth form when the uniform changed,.

Not sure that would have worked in my case. 4ft 11ins at the start of year 7- 5ft 8ins by year 10.:rotfl:[/QUOTE]

Maybe not but in the early sixties they did tend to buy school skirts very long, well the whole uniform tended to be several sizes too big so "you got your wear out of it" The poor younger kids who got the hand me downs got very well worn uniform.

Dunroamin

mumps wrote: »

Maybe not but in the early sixties they did tend to buy school skirts very long, well the whole uniform tended to be several sizes too big so "you got your wear out of it" The poor younger kids who got the hand me downs got very well worn uniform.

I'm puzzled when people talk about having to buy a new blazer every year as mine was bought too large for the first year and lasted me up to the fifth form (just about). Even those who had a late growth spurt never bought more than two.

plum2002

Dunroamin wrote: »

I'm puzzled when people talk about having to buy a new blazer every year as mine was bought too large for the first year and lasted me up to the fifth form (just about). Even those who had a late growth spurt never bought more than two.

me too, in fact the only new stuff I had for school after 1st form were shoes and trainers/plimsolls, underwear and socks

System

notanewuser wrote: »

My scientific calculator was programmable and could do graphics (I sat my A levels in 1996). That was the requested calculator. We had to turn up for our exams 10 minutes early so that the invigilators could go around and "reset" them all to avoid any cheating.

It was easier in my day. You were supplied with a new copy of Chambers 4 figure log tables in the exam. You could take your own slide rule though.

Calculators weren't available/too expensive

satarical

mumps wrote: »

Don't you think children also need to learn that they can't have everything they want? I have had four go through grammar school and they did some trips and not others. Not all children do the trips, mine would work out with their friends which trips they would try to go on e.g. one wasn't keen on skiing but the other three all loved their skiing trips.

To be honest I would be horrified if one of my children suggested that one of my grandchildren should ask me for two horses, to be honest I would be horrified if they were to ask for anything. I give them lots and I give it gladly but they would get nothing if they started asking for it.

ETA Just noticed your username LOL.

There is an old saying: "Those that never ask don't get"

Would your view on not giving if asked go as far as to those that ask for payments from the Welfare system?

satarical

Dunroamin wrote: »

I very much doubt that I would be surprised as when I went to grammar school (many years ago) everything had to be bought from the local expensive department store. We had to have tunics, shirts and jumpers in the winter and dresses in the summer, as well as a blazer, beret and regulation mackintosh. There was also PE equipment, science and art overalls, regulation shoes (Clarks only) and even indoor shoes.

My dad was a postman, my mum did some cleaning and there was no financial help. My parents made sacrifices, worked longer hours and prioritised school uniform over clothes that are worn out of school which many people aren't prepared to do these days. So you can see that I do actually have experience of coming from a low income family and having to buy expensive uniform items.

They did it the right way in my opinion. Shame that society today doesn't have the same ethics about providing for their children.