School uniforms

It's completely ridiculous the price of school uniforms. Why can"t schools allow their logos to be bought individually and sewn on, so that they can be reused when an item of clothing needs replacing. Not all parents can afford duplicate items and some will struggle to get them washed again quickly for the next time it's needed, In one town in the north west, two of the local primary schools actually have washing machines installed for families who are really struggling ( run out of electricity and money )to enable their children's uniforms to be washed. What a sorry state of events for this to be in this day and age.

I was shocked to see one poster mentioning paying for stationery; this should be provided by the school.
I don't approve of the academy ethos; once business people get involved they attempt to make a profit, naturally, but this should be used for the benefit of the school, not ending up in 'expenses.' In previous years Governors gave their time and expertise for free, and for many years.
Academies: one of the worst educational decisions ever, Blair and Gove.

Two of my C went to private school, their suits and blazers had to be dry cleaned. Every Friday evening it was a dash to the dry cleaners, and I couldn't relax on Saturday till uniform was collected.

My GS has to have a logo'd t-shirt and fleece for nursery which can be worn with joggers/jeans or shorts in summer. They are the same colour as the primary school it is attached to.

I also went to an inner London Grammar (Clapton) and remember the awful brown uniform knickers and green gym leotard ugh!!!

With uniforms there is no argument every morning on what to wear and no competition on who has the most expensive/fashionable gear. My mother was a widow who had to dress four of us and loved us having to have fixed uniforms. She only needed to buy us a couple of outfits each for the weekend. Our coats were our gaberdine Macs or blazers and we only had our school shoes. We survived!! This was in the 60s.

My church-and others locally-have had uniform days when all sorts of items of uniforms are available free of charge. Absolutely wonderful!
The primary two of our GC attend recently had a new head who promptly changed the uniform to an expensive plaid outfit. It should all be generic items available at supermarkets IMHO esp sports gear.
And don't get me started on why girls wear ties!

The part I find saddest is the move from 1990s, early 2000s girl pupils in trousers - much more sensible - to academies pushing skirts, which eventually end up very short.

My granddaughter's primary school has a second hand uniform shop. Basically you contact the school secretary if you need anything and she will look for the item. My daughter bought some spare sweaters as her five year old was spilling dinner down them every day. The school is very middle class and there is no stigma to using this service.

My daughter in law is a primary school teacher and she mentioned the huge amount of uniforms that end up in lost property. They send them to a school in Africa. I think they'd be better giving them to their own pupils. The school is in a poor area.

Parents like their child's school to have a uniform, and look down on schools with the sweatshirts of the 90s. OFSTED judges everything, and asks parents their perceptions of the school.
One pupil of mine years ago said she was pleased to have moved to a school with uniform, it meant she didn't have to think about what she wore to school (extra 20 minutes in bed she said), and when she went out with mates, they hadn't seen all her clothes before.
Academies are all about branding (and making money? it's a business), but if anyone rings the school and asks a deputy head to think about a 2nd hand shop (use the word 'recycled'), and says they will ring again next May when Y11s throw out their uniforms, then hooefully something might change.

Craftycat you and me both! If I had failed my 11+ (and in the following years both my brothers did likewise - we all fluked it and went to grammar schools!) our family would have been better off definitely!

Gabriella I'm perfectly sure that parents (and often GPs) don't bat an eyelid at shelling out double or triple that price for the latest trainers and iphone plans. You may be correct and this happens in some areas but parents and grandparents in our area bat more than an eyelid I assure you!
I agree with you about the backchat though! I was horrified when I read that post and sincerely hope that child changes her attitude to authority PDQ!

Although school uniform was always expensive , It didn't extend to younger children who could wear just the school colours , or to smaller items . A school badge could be purchased to sew on , and they didn't change them all the time . One school changed the shade of the embroidery on the shirts . When I was at school some parents would pay money weekly to the school uniform shop to purchase the uniform .

I think schools insisting that every item must have the school badge is quite disgraceful. Blazer and tie (if worn) is all that's required, surely. Other items should be affordable and able to be purchased from a supermarket. They do seem to do school clothing in a range of colours.

Socks with the school emblem? Barmy!

I think uniform is a good thing, but not when it becomes ridiculously expensive. One of my grandaughter’s schools had a uniform that was really well priced. Only the blazer and tie had to be “the school one”, and we were surprised how cheap they were. There were requirements for white shirts and pe kit, but they could be from anywhere, which made it easier to get something that fitted, and much cheaper.

The older girl’s school uniform was ridiculous- emblems on everything, only available from one shop etc. It just isn’t necessary to be so prescriptive. As for shoes, I think the army is less fussy....

Like Beau I went to a London grammar school and how my parents manged to buy the uniform I cannot imagnie. The only supplier was Gamages of Holborn, and the uniform from year 3 was different again - a gym slip, summer panama and winter velour hat with an eye wateringly expensive blazer and raincoat changed to a gored skirt , different blouses and a red beret. My friend, whose mother had five children, two at the school, found a raincoat under half the price but identical to the Gamages product, but with a dark red silk lining instead of blue. This was spotted in the cloakroom and mum had to find the money for the 'correct' coat. It's depressing to read that nothing has changed much. My GD started junior school yesterday and needed, among many other things, a £50 track suit. I do wonder why.

Just to say it’s worth looking in charity shops we sell all school uniform at 50p but blazers with logos £2.50

Mono I don’t see the point in buying a uniform to only wear when they go on soracial trips That’s sounds nonsense
I agree with uniform I think it is a leveller and also a preserver of the incredibly expensive clothes that kids wear now (which would get lost or stolen if worn at school ) however it should be basic uniform ie colour or style difference only and none of the ridiculous logo on every item We had strict uniform policy at my school but you could buy the logo as a cloth badge to sew on, the price now is blooming ridiculous and then if the academy changes hands as they do the uniform can’t even be passed down
Education has become a big business opportunity
My grandchild pe kit has their printed name on the back so you can t even pass to next child
Parents should get together and cause a stink it’s criminal

I can't imagine any child of 3.5 saying, 'Precisely, I don't want to look like everybody else.'
I think it's out of order for a child to back-chat.

When I started at the local New technical school in 1955 my whole uniform had to be from Harrods, we all had to attend a fitting session at the school prior to starting, where a formidable lady took all our measurements and in due course a box with the famous Harrods colours and logo arrived with the uniform inside. My mother just could not afford the winter Macintosh, so bought that item from the local school shop. It was the wrong colour grey and my frightening headmistress never let me forget it, to the point where Iwould rather freeze than wear it. Those were the days!

I doubt that children's shoes are more expensive than those for adults, and yes I know that they have to be a suitable style.
Male adult sizes in the UK start at size 6 or, more ususally, size 7.
You can get reasonably priced school shoes for £25.
I'm perfectly sure that parents (and often GPs) don't bat an eyelid at shelling out double or triple that price for the latest trainers and iphone plans.
Most supermarkets and indeed, many other stores such as M&S, offer primary school uniforms at very reasonable prices but naturally, prices rise for logo'd uniforms.
Some schools have funds to help those parents in straitened cirumstances. It may be worth asking.
I just think that if parents buy Jack Wills or Superdry duds for their children, then they shouldn't moan about the cost of uniforms which they must have been aware of before having children.

I don’t really understand why all schools can’t use Tesco or similar where the school uniforms are affordable. However, this is not a new problem, as has already been stated. When I started grammar school 60 years ago (heavens) my mother spent £100 in the uniform shop on gabersine raincoat, gym slip, leotard, science overall, brown knickers, games skirt etc. We made our cookery aprons in needlework. I have no idea how they managed to find that amount of money.

At the primary school where I teach we have uniform with an embroidered badge which many parents buy but we are just as happy with parents buying from any other shop, in fact our embroidered stuff also comes from Tesco. All the children look great. I think lots of academies want to appear to be more high end. I have colleagues who have worked for academies before and profit seems to be a big priority for them. I also believe that Ofsted go into Free Schools and academies with a political bias. I wouldn’t work for an academy. The education of children should be provided by the state.

Nothing new though. When I went to Secondary school in 60s it was same situation. It cost a fortune to kit me out. Only Clarks shoes allowed & everything had to be bought from one very expensive shop. If I'd failed 11plus I could have gone to local school with all my friends & worn uniform from BHS. I would have been a lot happier if I had too!

I think this idea that if children are free to choose, life will be a constant competition.

This so true in France, clothes and shoes/trainers. Boys in their favourite football kit and girls trying to outdo each other. Both sets in unsuitable clothing for school more like ready for the beach.

I do think the uniform process of buying from the school is more expensive due to many of them becoming an academy they run it like a business therefore want to make a profit .It reminds me of my mother telling me one of her brothers was not able to attend the grammar school he was apparently clever but her parents were not able to afford the uniform so he didn't go glad times have changed

When I was a child I didn't have school uniform at primary school but did when I went to Grammar School.
Velour hats cost 34/- or felt ones were 17/- for example .
I never questioned how my parents were able to pay for it but I was glad we had a uniform because I did not have enough ordinary clothes to ring any changes .
Of course in those days there was no peer pressure but nowadays I can imagine girls in particular getting bullied if they always wear the same item or it is not deemed to be fashionable.
To me the sad thing is that often the school pullovers are made of acrylic and should be cheaper than wool but often are not and are nowhere near as warm.

Our local schools have a uniform but it is just a black pullover or sweatshirt with badge and black trousers or skirts and white shirts. The 6th form and prefects wear a blazer and tie. I noticed on an online forum parents discussing which supermarkets had the right and cheapest (or 2nd hand) clothes. Asda came out top!

This is a former mining town so has never been well off.

Schools like to be able to identify their pupils while out and about or competing against or mingling with other schools.
I'm thinking of debating societies and so on.
I don't think uniform is important but clothes are expensive anyway especially shoes.
Our own DGS primary school has no uniform so we will know if he's disadvantaged in any way.