School uniform policy. is it going too far?

[Deleted User]

I am sorry, I haven't read the rest of the thread but I have a slim son. I put elastic in his trousers to make them fit, even just at the back.

Yes I definitely agree Secondary School uniform policy is too restrictive. I can't imagine what difference it makes if a young person wears trousers with or without pockets etc.

My son is autistic and has problems dressing. He's half way through the school year and I have had to replace his uniform twice, even his shoes cause he loses them in the rush to get dressed /undressed. If its a uniform item that can only be ordered from the school supplier (PE mostly, of course) he gets a detention for not having the correct items, even when I have written and explained that its ordered but there's a week delay for delivery.

I finally let rip last week and told the Head, SENCO and PE dept that they were being discriminatory and I could not afford to keep replacing uniform items because they weren't giving my son time to get dressed. It seems the unreasoning attitude of PE departments hasn't changed since I was at school. This was after a previous complaint when he got a detention in spite of explaining he'd lost socks (again) and I'd ordered replacements but they wouldn't arrive in time. Yes I ordered two pairs this time. I have explained his problems getting dressed/undressed.

Comms69

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.

The fact that it is in the news should suggest to you that it is rare!


Otherwise it's not news worthy....

[Deleted User]

I've just been emailed and told my son has been lent a school tie (the latest item he's lost) but I need to take £7.20 in tomorrow to pay for it. Apparently after the break the school won't lend uniform, the kids will just go into isolation. My son spent two hours in isolation last term (I didn't realise, it was a minor infraction and I assumed he would get a half hour detention) and it took me a week to get him back into school.

I've written to them and told them although he's been happier at this school than he's ever been, I can't take the stress of worrying every time he loses yet another piece of uniform. I have two of everything but its major if he loses something and I don't always have money readily available to replace things. He loses something every week.

So yes, I now feel even more that a too rigid policy is actually detrimental, not only to the young person but to their family. I have had to replace some items three times already.

maman

maman wrote: »

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.

I think the issues that many parents are posting about shows a lack of understanding of how schools have to operate. While an individual parent (quite understandably) sees things from their child's point of view, the school has to consider the wider school community.


Most schools will try to make adjustments where possible for individuals but generally speaking policies have to be school wide. Imagine a scenario where OP's DD was allowed to wear trousers with zips. There'd be outcry from other parents who weren't allowed them. If the school changed its policy then you can bet that someone would turn up like this:

pearl123

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

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.

Strict uniform is a good thing as whilst they are at school they represent the school. It's also good that they are more relaxed about uniforms in their last year in school.
My mother 37 years ago had to pay £45.00 for a shirt, because my school specified it had to be a particular one.

If you are finding it too expensive or if the cloth is unpleasant for your child speak to the school.

Fireflyaway

My child's school uniform comes from a website. There is no choice at all, it can't be bought anywhere else. Personally that's a good thing. I don't have to worry if its correct or not and everyone looks the same. Some 'uniforms' are anything but uniform. Long skirts, mini skirts, tight trousers, cut off ties, trainers, heels, all sorts of wild hair do and make up!
I think its important to have rules and in the grown up world this happens. Imagine a nurse in a dirty old tracksuit or a policeman in a onesie?! Some things are a bit annoying but that's life.

Spendless

maman wrote: »

I think the issues that many parents are posting about shows a lack of understanding of how schools have to operate. While an individual parent (quite understandably) sees things from their child's point of view, the school has to consider the wider school community.


Most schools will try to make adjustments where possible for individuals but generally speaking policies have to be school wide. Imagine a scenario where OP's DD was allowed to wear trousers with zips. There'd be outcry from other parents who weren't allowed them. If the school changed its policy then you can bet that someone would turn up like this:

Because it would be too difficult to say something like 'no more than 2 pocket zips located at top of trousers only'

Making so many restrictions parents struggle to find the actual clothing isn't working.

Mela322

Katgrit wrote: »

It'll teach them that sometimes they have to do as they're told, that sometimes there are rules to follow, and sometimes they might not get to do what they want. Like if they're working on a building site they HAVE to wear a hard hat and reflective waistcoat thing. Or if they're working in a factory making lemon curd they'll need to wear a protect apron and breathing mask when pouring out the citric acid (yup, I've done that job!) and if they want to be a surgeon they'll have to wear short sleeved shirts, no wedding ring and no watch. It just teaches them that tough !!!!!! sometimes you have to do stuff you don't like.

Probably about 90% of American schools do not have a uniform, they work all sorts of jobs. When you choose a career, you have looked into and done loads of research and will know what is expected.

So how does your theory stack up against that? What does an extreme uniform policy teach them exactly?

Comms69

Mela322 wrote: »

Probably about 90% of American schools do not have a uniform, they work all sorts of jobs. When you choose a career, you have looked into and done loads of research and will know what is expected.

So how does your theory stack up against that? What does an extreme uniform policy teach them exactly?

Here's a simpler explanation - wear the uniform or don't attend school.


'Ours is not to question why....)

Tabbytabitha

Mela322 wrote: »

Probably about 90% of American schools do not have a uniform, they work all sorts of jobs. When you choose a career, you have looked into and done loads of research and will know what is expected.

So how does your theory stack up against that? What does an extreme uniform policy teach them exactly?

Most of this doesn't sound like "extreme" uniform policy to me, but then at my school we all wore exactly (and I do mean exactly) the same thing.