School uniform policy. is it going too far?

maman

happyandcontented wrote: »

In normal circumstances a uniform is a good thing, it enhances the community feel of the school. It is a leveller.

The OP has specific issues which mean they are struggling.

I agree.

Mela322 wrote: »

And how many more of these schools are heading down this same route? More and more and more are in the news and on social media. The schools may have their own policies but you can clearly see it's trickling down for the top.

So many people are blind to what is happening in our schools, to our children. It's so subtle but it's there and schools are no longer the institutions they once were.

I don't speak nonsense, I speak experience and research. Over 3 year's worth with my youngest 3 and the full 16+ years with my oldest.

I don't think it's subtle at all. It seems obvious to me. It's all part of the government's privatisation policy which encourages academies and free schools. Private/public schools are the model. They wear a strict uniform. So the corollary of that is that if you make children wear a strict uniform then they will have results as good as the private schools. If you can also enforce strict rules and exclude pupils that don't conform then so much the better.

Spendless

The reason why uniform isn't a leveller? Adolescents/Teenagers seek to both rebel and conform and are at an age where they seek their 'own' identity.

They 'rebel' against the adults (parents/teachers) and 'conform' by all wanting to do the same thing as their mates.

When my DD's school changed their uniform in September to a sole supplier one style of clothing and only allowed a 'muted colour' bag, my DD set about having a brand name pencil case (spending holiday money on this at the airport!) and then sought to spend her pocket money on as many branded/colourful items in her schoolbag as she could find, so she has pink pens and 'branded' pencils and an EOS lipbalm (£7 in shops, though hers was bought in the states for half that) and then 'that' becomes the in-thing.

OP- I've just realised who you are. Best wishes to your Mum, miss her on here.

Spendless

maman wrote: »

I agree.




I don't think it's subtle at all. It seems obvious to me. It's all part of the government's privatisation policy which encourages academies and free schools. Private/public schools are the model. They wear a strict uniform. So the corollary of that is that if you make children wear a strict uniform then they will have results as good as the private schools. If you can also enforce strict rules and exclude pupils that don't conform then so much the better.

If they're like the private schools local to me and the outstanding state school I sent mine to in the belief the results were due to 'better' teaching, then I hope they dig a bit deeper.

The results at my kids schools are due to getting rid of the 'low achievers' and blaming poor behaviour (because you can't get rid of a child due to poor grades) or not letting kids sit a certain exam, my son was dropped from 1 subject due to being predicted a D/E grade. I've heard the same about private schools (local ones anyway) not allowing kids to take certain exams and in one case not allowing him a place in yr7, even though he'd been there since Reception.

The free (state)school in my town is doing the best and is the most sought after and doesn't even have a uniform. Many (most?) countries don't and plenty have better education systems than we do here.

Arewethereyet

Probably not much use to you as it is about the texture, but Marks and Spencer now do an autism range of clothing. My son can't bear doing up buttons and he would never have coped at secondary school without the M&S school shirts that are done up with velcro (but have buttons on the outside so look perfectly normal). The trousers also look 'normal' but do not have a zip fly, buttons or labels (label is hidden in the pocket). Might be worth a look. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that they were the same price as their normal range.

Arewethereyet

Also, I fully understand the problem of the texture (there are some textures my son can't bear to touch) but is it worth trying something like leggings under her trousers so once she has the the trousers on she can't feel them on her skin? "Jettproof calming sensory leggings" are good. I think these are for sensory compression though, but I'm sure there are some out there that are just soft/seamless/label free. Good luck!

batg

OP
what things did you buy with the £800 you said you have spent on uniforms?
That's an awful lot when you say in post #40 that you can't afford to buy a pair of trousers that cost £18

these ones in asda are £6 https://direct.asda.com/george/women/trousers/bootcut-trousers/GEM317381,default,pd.html

Ames

batg wrote: »

OP
what things did you buy with the £800 you said you have spent on uniforms?
That's an awful lot when you say in post #40 that you can't afford to buy a pair of trousers that cost £18

these ones in asda are £6 https://direct.asda.com/george/women/trousers/bootcut-trousers/GEM317381,default,pd.html

They're not available in a size six, and Asda use vanity sizing so I doubt there's any hope they'll fit the OPs daughter.

OP - I echo an above post about your mum, she's sadly missed on these boards.

fred246

I live in quite an affluent area. You used to be able to tell who the kids that went to private school were because they wore posh uniforms. Then a few years ago the best state school introduced a posh one too. Really over the top with straw boaters etc. I thought it was quite a good idea poking fun at the private school. "We can be silly too" sort of a statement. However it's persisted for many years now. Whenever I see it I think 'private school' and then I remember it's not. It's a good reminder to everyone that paying yourself for a service doesn't automatically make it different or better than state funded.

Anoneemoose

OP still hasn’t answered the question (as far as I can see) about what the school have said about the fact the school are discriminating against his/her daughter.

Surely that’s the route they need to be going with this?

I think some schools go too far these days with uniforms only being available through one (usually expensive) supplier.

We are lucky in that we have to have school blazer and pe kit but trousers, shirts/blouses and shoes (as long as black and not leggings style for trousers) can come from anywhere.

happyandcontented

I think her wearing a skirt and soft tights is the best solution. Op hasn't said why this is not an option.