School uniform policy. is it going too far?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Secondary school uniform policy, is it going too far? I mean, back in my day it was a stud for an earing, skirts to 2inches above the knee max, as long as you had school ties and school colours on it was fine, 1 inch heals max, trainers only in gym and outdoor sports, wear any PE kit that suited.


Now My daughter has ASD/ADHD, She has sensory issues in which she cannot have certain materials touch her skin, it makes her skin crawl, she's not too bad in shirts so long as they're not restrictive and not too silky and have all tags cut off.


She is a Size 6 maximum very slim and petite (she is exact of me when I was her age, could eat anything and not put a bean on) so getting trousers for her is a challenge in its own right add in other factors and school uniform policy and I'm between a rock and hard place looking for needles in a haystack.


School policy states:


No skirt above mid knee.
No trousers that have a zip pocket, no trouser to have a rear zip pocket, zip up to waist band accepted with clasp. No Jeggings, No leggings, No jeans, No Leggings under skirts.
School Gym PPE uniform must be adhered to No skorts. No tracksuit bottoms, No white tennis socks, suitable footware to be we worn for outdoor or indoor gym use Must use anti skid Socks whilst indoors for pe at all times when partaking in Gymnastics (available at school shop) School branded and badged socks are avaialibe in the school shop for hockey, rugby, football,netball, cross country, Must have school badge on bottoms and top of school PE weather proofs (avaialable in the school or authorised local sports center), School badge on school jumper, cardigan, and jackets (available at the school shop).
Winter jackets can be home supplied but must be Black in colour, no drawer strings for the kneck area or hood, No hoodies, V kneck jumper only we advise you purchase winter jackets when available order forms will be given to pupils on last day of term, please hand these back in by 30th September.


School only buys in size 8 and this is massive on both daughters, trousers I can find that she can wear come with zips, or school condemn them and tell me she cant wear them as they don't conform to school uniform policy fully.


Their shop items are expensive, £49.99 for a school winter jacket, considering I have twins both 13 in school, that's £100.00. and don't get me started on gym stuff.


Ive spent the best part of £800 on stuff since September this year trying my best to get my girls to conform to uniform policy, what ever I do its not good enough and they want me to take them out to buy more, or call me in to trawl through the shop stock looking for something that will fit, be the right material, be the right size etc and nothing does trousers wise for her.


When is toime to say to a school enough is enough, with this its going too far and costing parents on low incomes too much each and every term.

Comms69

Is this a new policy?


I'm guessing it was similar for the last two years too? So you must've known about it.

BorisThomson

Surely the school offers clothing in children's sizing?

Just had a look at Tesco uniforms and they offer several trouser options that would fit their criteria.

What are other children wearing?

happyandcontented

If you can't find trousers that fit her/suit her issues and conform to the uniform policy then she will have to wear a skirt.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Comms69 wrote: »

Is this a new policy?


I'm guessing it was similar for the last two years too? So you must've known about it.

There were amendments to it this term.

Starrystarrynight1

Wow! It sounds like the school have a bit of a racket going on there, OP!

Have your daughter's conditons been recognised by the school as falling under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010? If so, I would hope that the school would make some allowances as to what your daughter wears, taking into account her needs; maybe so you could purchase trousers that will fit her elsewhere etc.

Pollycat

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

Ive spent the best part of £800 on stuff since September this year trying my best to get my girls to conform to uniform policy, what ever I do its not good enough and they want me to take them out to buy more, or call me in to trawl through the shop stock looking for something that will fit, be the right material, be the right size etc and nothing does trousers wise for her.


When is toime to say to a school enough is enough, with this its going too far and costing parents on low incomes too much each and every term.

What has the school said when you've explained your issues?

Mela322

I think schools are going too far. What does this actually teach them for the real world? They will know how to follow rules with all the other rules they follow including a lightened up uniform policy. Rules this tight are just about power. I just reinforces that the government want to raise up children to look alike and think alike. Picture a tin of sardines all look exactly the same and are perfectly arranged in the tin.

Uniforms are great but they shouldn't be this strict and if they want them this strict then they should be offering them at affordable prices and have all sizes needed.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

The school is well aware of the disabilities and the traits this gives her. Theyre not accommodating to the fact she has sensory issues.


When she doesn't do pe because she hasn't got the right stuff, or wants to do it but haven't got the full uniform on they either tell her off for not doing PE then tell her off for NOT having the right PE uniform. It seems like a no win situation at time.


The standard material for uniforms she don't get on with, hence why we have issues getting trousers, I know its not the schools fault for her sensory issues, she has a diagnosis, they have this in writing.


I explain this over and over and over and school states its our policy and we have to enforce it, if we didn't children would abuse it and it would be a free for all of children wearing what they want, so all children must conform to uniform policy or sit in isolation all day.


Now when ive explained that this could border on disabilities act and Equalities act, They state that's for a court to decide but until the day they get taken to and forced to change the policy the policy will be enforced.
I find it ironic that bullies get a day off or week off to think about their actions, yet when someone who wants to conform but can due to a medical condition they get isolated from the rest of the school.
Shouldn't it be bullies get isolated while those who can and wont conform either get a chance to change or also be placed in isolation?
Oh well.


Ive been in every well known higstreet place known to man or rather woman in a 20 mile radius of home, Weve been in small time shops, markets, It needs to look like the material from a school trouser, but not be THE material if you get what I mean, Not too silky, not rough like school trouser material, not too strechy, Not skinnies (they haven't allowed skinnies since year 8), be a size 6, no zips, not leggings or jeggings. Cant shop online because you just can feel the material online, so amazon out, ebay out etc.

Comms69

Mela322 wrote: »

I think schools are going too far. What does this actually teach them for the real world? They will know how to follow rules with all the other rules they follow including a lightened up uniform policy. Rules this tight are just about power. I just reinforces that the government want to raise up children to look alike and think alike. Picture a tin of sardines all look exactly the same and are perfectly arranged in the tin.

Uniforms are great but they shouldn't be this strict and if they want them this strict then they should be offering them at affordable prices and have all sizes needed.

That's just nonsense. Each school sets it's own uniform policy, it has nothing to do with central govt.


If you don't like it, you can ofcourse homeschool your kids....

TBagpuss

I think it would be worth raising the issue both of the school shop not offering clothes in your daughter's size, and your daughter's ADHD id that is part of the reason whyu it is so hard to find alternatives. (e.g. if this limits what you can buy due to the feel of the fabric)
Raising it as a request for a reasonable accommodation under the e equalities act may mean that they are more receptive.

You can also look at whether other parents are equally unhappy - if you can raise the issue as a group with school governors this may help, particularly if you can suggest suitable alternatives.

You might find it helpful to raise the issue of whether the uniform is so restrictive (particularly if it effectively forces everyone to buy from the school) that it is disadvantaging children from lower income families
This https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-advises-schools-and-suppliers-over-uniform-prices is a few years old but you might find it useful as something to refer to and to question whether the schools policy adheres to the guidance given (or any more recent guidance, if there has been some - I don't know if this is the most up to date on the subject)