Where are you getting your school uniforms from?

hello007007

Where are you getting your school uniforms from? I know a lot of places where the uniform is cheap (from MSE) but is the quality there? There's no point buying cheap if you replace it 4 times a year.

I normally get what I can for the youngest from Aldi but this year they didn't have the sizes ��.

Branded items are from the school uniform supplier/shop. Shoes from shoes zone (twice a year). Sock and underwear are from Primark.

The older kids are moving school and for the first time in years only the blazer and jumper are branded meaning I don't have to buy everything from the school supplier which was very expensive.

I need to get coats, unbranded unform( shirts/trousers) school bags, stationary, track suits, trainers, pe kit/bags etc... (3 kids)

onlyroz

I tend to get most of the unbranded stuff from Tesco, with underwear from Primark, and school shoes from Clarks. My son is starting secondary school this year and so I have to get him a branded blazer, jumper, tie, rugby shirt, PE polo shirts and tie from the school uniform supplier. My daughter will be getting hand-me-down school sweatshirts and PE t-shirts so I don't need to buy her any branded stuff this year. They also need new school bags, which I'll be getting from Sports Direct.


I treated my daughter to a fancy lunch box from Smiggle, which cost £16.50 :O

GwylimT

Clothes from the school shop, all cotton no nasty plastic clothes, shoes are from start rite and PE trainers are as well. We normally buy a second hand cotton blazer from the school shop.

I'll be able to donate her blazer, skirts and a summer dresses to the school shop as they're in very good condition.

LilElvis

Pinafores and skirts from M&S - they last all year, the pleats stay in and they don't need ironing. Already purchased when they had 20% off a couple of months ago.

Dreading the trip to Sports Direct in the hunt for football boots for my daughter's midget feet.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

I got my 2 their school uniforms from Aldi when they were "Special buy" - I'm getting their shoes from Clarks outlet I think (Although eldest is desperate for some lelli kellys.... )

Spendless

College for my eldest this year so for the first time in 13 years I'm not buying him school uniform. :j He does need a 'college wardrobe' but that can come from anywhere and he's not a teen into brand names, so double joy.

DD is a different matter! Goodness knows what I'm going to do. She is very small height wise but at 13 she's developing shape. It means trousers aimed at children don't fit, womens sizing is far too long. BHS who stocked the best range for non standard sized clothing is closing and I haven't come across another supplier who did such a variety. She did get a skirt shortly before school finished and wore one for the first time since she was 8! Fingers crossed they're still 'fashionable' come Autumn term. She dislikes the school embroidered jumper only available directly from school as she says it's too thick, but I ahem have located a thinner version elsewhere in the past Shirts are easy, usually from somewhere like Matalan or one of the supermarkets. Probably got enough PE kit but any surplus needed will come from Sports Direct.

Bag and stationery, think I'll give some money and tell her to organise a shopping trip for them with some mates towards the end of the hols. Keep her occupied whilst we're working.

Tigsteroonie

Sweatshirts and slim trousers from Asda; polo shirts from any supermarket, I'm not fussed.

The last 3 pairs of Asda trousers for our 6yo son* actually lasted two school years, so yes, cheaper brands can take the wear and tear. Sweatshirts get bought annually because he grows out of them. Polo shirts are bought twice-yearly, mainly because they get too grubby.

(If you think that because he's only 6, he's not very active - think again! He's autistic and at a special school, so he's incredibly active, rarely sits still.)

kathrynha

Asda probably for trousers, polo shirts and cardigans. PE kit still fits. Shoes will come from a small independent children's shoe shop.

Making the most of buying uniform cheap, because it is last year at primary, so will be a lot more expensive next year

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

When the offspring were at primary, the nursery uniform was a branded sweatshirt and trackies from the school with a cheap polo shirt and velcro trainers, the summer uniform was the above, but with generic shorts or a blue checked dress with any cardie in the right shade of blue (shoes from Clarks). So it was fairly cheap - a sweatshirt would last a couple of years.

Secondary was a LOT more expensive, but still allowed for a few generic items.


The school I work at now has just changed their uniform, from generic + tie, blazer and jumper, plus sweatshirt & polo top from the local outfitter. The new uniform is only available from the school;

Branded

Skirt
Rever collar blouse
Blazer
Tie
Jumper
Shorts
Polo tops
Sweatshirt
Trackies


If girls want to wear generic trousers like the boys can, they also have to buy generic white shirts and a school tie.

I'm not entirely certain why they have to wear a tie if they want to wear trousers - I suspect that nobody thought girls might want to wear trousers when the designs were approved. I do think the new uniform is very expensive for a school with higher than average numbers on FSM, but, apparently 'it's similar in price to other schools locally' (they're academies).


The most entertaining thing I've heard is the number of parents coming in and remarking 'oh, it's a Catholic Girls' School Uniform' - not as a criticism, but, yes, it's identical in all but colour to the uniform preferred by every single sex Catholic school for about 10 miles.

The Head hadn't thought of that.

moomoomama27

My school aged children are now in secondary school, so I get all their uniform from the recommended local school shop. It is expensive with Blazers at £40-£45 and trousers and skirts starting from £16, but the quality is amazing, and well worth spending out on, as it generally lasts as long as they fit it. The trousers and skirts have big hems, so they can get a few extra months wear out of them. Both children, fully kitted out, including 2 sets of everything, PE kit and trainers, shoes and backpacks etc.. has cost me approx. £600.

Lucyxx

I like Next and M&S for the non branded bits of my childrens uniforms. The polos especially seem to look decent after washing hundreds of times. I love the prices of Asdas, but found they didn't wash as well. To make up for paying more I buy a bigger size to see if I can get more wear out of them. Shoes will be from the Clarks outlet shop. Although they don't seem to be good discounts anymore.

Something I have found though is the material of my sons school trousers smells horrible when they come out of the washing machine. They didn't used to years ago I'm sure. I'd love to find some that don't smell like that. I think both Asda and Next ones have done it.