Money Moral Dilemma: Should I challenge my daughter's school over pricier uniform with logos?

Edina_Typhoon

If your daughter is starting secondary school this year, it's too late to do anything and you will have had to buy the uniform by now.  If she starts next year, you have time to make your point to the school.  I would advise approaching the chair of governors and copy in the head teacher.  I think a previous poster mentioned that their old school used to sell the school crest as a badge which could be sewn on to unbranded clothing, which would make a much cheaper option, giving the possibility of transferring the badge to new clothes as they are outgrown.  In my experience, having worked in a school and my husband having been a chair of governors, the governing body are more likely to by sympathetic as there will be some parents among their number, whereas school managers tend to be more dogmatic.

Spendless

silvercar said:

When I was at school, it was easier and cheaper to have children wear uniforms than their own choice clothes. Why doesn't the same apply today? 

Because a huge amount of schools became businesses (academies), so the business wishes to make money  and makes the Uniform expensive and only available through them.

vene2ia

I can totally understand your dilemma and I would have the same worry of not making it later more difficult for my child. However on your own may be a difficult battle. If you manage as a group of parents rather solo than it is a different matter. My child's secondary school only requires specific items of uniform from the school shop like: blazer, skirt for girls and a jumper.  I can suggest that most schools these days offer uniform swaps or ask parents to donate uniform parts no longer needed and these are later distributed for a fraction of a price. maybe this is a solution...

twopenny

I'm horrified that is happening in this day and age unless it's a distinguished private school. In which case you'd know what you were getting into.

Second hand probably isn't the answer anymore now than in my day 60yrs ago. Your friends know and it's made clear you are a lesser being. I was in that position.

But it needs addressing with the goveners for future pupils. Chat at the school gates? Facebook was prevalent in my years of teaching. Not always for the best.

I'm all for uniform but it should be general. What is it teaching the children if brand logo is the way to fit in?

Sirius_Minor

In my day, schools had 2 items that distinguished them from others.
Blazer badge & tie.
Every thing else was uniform with no logos.
The only place where badges/logos are a must is the Armed Forces, something which schools are not.
Instead of providing bovine excrement like logos etc, schools should be focusing on what they're there for - Educating kids.

Bizzywizard

I am one of those middle class parents, who does pull the school up on its policies!

When my kids were at the local primary the head bought the jumpers in at cost, but we paid cost price for those jumpers £8 at the time. Then a new head came along and wanted everyone to have new school jumpers from the local school shop for £15! So the kids that only had one year left, were expected to buy all new clothes.....until I challenged it. The big one was cost, then siblings not being able to use hand me downs, then there was recycling. How can a school talk about saving the planet but adding to the issue! It was agreed that the old uniform could be kept for siblings and no one had to buy the new uniform bar reception (as long as they did not have any older siblings). Its taken a good 6 years for the new uniform to come in full and parents now send them in in none branded jumpers too. 

My oldest just started at college and my son is in year 11, they have had aweful blazers £25 a pop (hot in summer cold in winter) and they fall apart (I had the one blazer for a week and it fell apart at the seem) the school were reluctant to take it back.....tough luck I took it in as they refused my son an exchange! I dodn't understand the blazer idea, as the kids don't bother with a coat, so end up soaked when it raining!

We had the school wanting the girls to buy awful thin to touch, pleated skirts for £18 each (I paid £12 for 2 at matalan from year 7). The school asked my daughter once where she had bought the skirt from, she said she had no idea! I had already told her, no teacher is to touch you or make you move your clothes to check. They never did check the tag as the lenght was always on the knee as per their policy, the matalan skirt was a little thicker and far better made.

Some times, you need to speak up as a parent...the schools may not like it, but tough luck!

JayD

elsien said:

Really don't see the point of a logo on skirts and trousers other than as a money making exercise. Blazer is slightly different. So I think I'd be going back to them and reiterating the government guidance and asking for them to reconsider in view of government guidance and get a proper answer in writing if they don't agree.
Second point to consider though is how your daughter would feel if she was the only one who was different? May not be an issue for her, and it may be that other parents are in the same position but for some kids being different at the start of a new school could be difficult for them. 

Totally agree. Is there a Parent/Teacher Association where you could broach the subject? You need others to back up your argument.

K_S

sunshinebubble said:

My sons high school also has branded trousers (at £25 a pair), blazers, jumpers, skirts, PE kit etc. the school reviewed the guidance from the government last year (summer term 2023) and determined that they were in line with the policy regarding prices as they were equally priced compared to other local high schools. Off the back of the policy they did, however, make a change to the PE kit and gave us a grand total of £14 reduction on a £400 complete uniform by changing this kit.
If he goes into school in the incorrect uniform, regardless of whether it’s because I can’t afford it or any other reason he gets put into isolation until the “issue is resolved”…

@sunshinebubble £400 for a growing child's school uniform set at a state school?! That is preposterous.

izawa

You can challenge the school. Just remember that when 5 of her friends has the logo on blazer/uniform but her not having means it will be socially awkward.

It is peer (society) pressure.