Tracksuits To Become Standard School Uniform?

M0nica

Allira T shirts, plain, not necessarily white insted of the track suit top. When i was at aschool we wore sweaters over school shirts. If the weather was hot we took the sweaters off.

Blazers were also left off in really hot summer weather.

M0nica. We did that too, except that in lower school in the summer, we had to wear skirts gathered onto a bodice -a nightmare to get in and out of and decidedly unflattering for most!

Allira T shirts, plain, not necessarily white insted of the track suit top. When i was at aschool we wore sweaters over school shirts. If the weather was hot we took the sweaters off.

Blazers were also left off in really hot summer weather.

My children went to a state secondary school where the only dress code was "no football colours". They had an excellent education despite wearing whatever they wanted. I cannot think of any benefit they would have gained from wearing uniform.

One reason, reported in the links given on this thread, for introducing track suits as uniform is to encourage a more active lifestyle, which is commendable.

A high percentage of society looks sloppy and scruffy enough without whole schools full of children dressed in tracksuits five days a week, ok for PE day, but let's dress with a bit more decorum in skirts/tailored trousers, polo shirts/shirts and sweatshirts with school logo, with sensible black shoes. Too many people look like they've gone out in what they've slept in, straggly hair, dirty trainers. Eating out is no longer an event to get dressed up for, you feel overdressed if you've made an effort. There doesn't seem to be any pride in dressing these days, and as for boasting that you never iron (which I've often heard), that's just pure laziness. Let school children see how important it is to present yourself well, if they're allowed to let standards slip at a young age, there's no hope 🤷.

Allira
Imagine a classroom fully of teenage boys wearing tracksuits on a hot summer's day.

Thanks, I’d rather not!

Mollygo

I’m in favour of tracksuits. We first tried it by saying the children could come in tracksuits (PE kit) on PE days.
I’m interested to know, in the colder weather what do you expect the children will be asked to wear underneath?
Then again, in the summer? What will the uniform be?
Would you personally have worn a track on really hot summer days?

Imagine a classroom fully of teenage boys wearing tracksuits on a hot summer's day

🤔

M0nica

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

And gillets are a great piece of kit

M0nica

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

Sounds fine, until the fashionistas step in.

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

I’m in favour of tracksuits. We first tried it by saying the children could come in tracksuits (PE kit) on PE days.
I’m interested to know, in the colder weather what do you expect the children will be asked to wear underneath?
Then again, in the summer? What will the uniform be?
Would you personally have worn a track on really hot summer days?

Maremia

It won't be forever. Nothing ever is. The tracksuit versions will be tried out. If they work, it will continue and evolve, until the next 'good plan'.
If it fails, then back to the drawing board.

Precisely. I’m a track suit fan, so far.

It won't be forever. Nothing ever is. The tracksuit versions will be tried out. If they work, it will continue and evolve, until the next 'good plan'.
If it fails, then back to the drawing board.

Schools can stipulate the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

And that is the sensible answer. Otherwise you get so many different interpretations and variations, it looks a right mess.

It's not easy being the dictator Head who decides what a school's uniform should be, (believe me!), because the vocal parents all have their own ideas, and the children are expert rule benders. You have to consider smartness, practicality, costs, and the longevity of the image because you can't go re-designing every few years. You can have a battle on your hands, but generally speaking, back in the day, if the school was highly respected for its education and pastoral care, then parents towed the line with the uniform and didn't grumble. Phew! Win, win!

That's why sometines the traditional uniform was easier

M0nica

I reaally cannot understand all these people getting hysterical of the past, presne tand future of track suits and what they are made of.

It is a sensible practical garment for children of all ages and all shapes and sizes to wear to school. I wish they had been the uniform in my day.

Schools can stipulated the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

Discard all the cultural connotations. Tracksuits are practical and sensible garments that can be worn by all children.

Hear hear.

But parents will always want them to be cheap, and cheap tracksuit trousers will get shapeless and baggy very quickly. If a hole appears then the whole tracksuit will need replacing because no-one knows how to mend anything now.

What is wrong with black trousers with airtex polo shirt and sweatshirt in school colour with school badge. Smart and simple, boys and girls both in trousers.

I think tracksuits are a great idea, far fewer items to be ‘lost’, my two were always leaving coats/jumpers and other items, I also think a blazer is the most useless item of clothing ever.

I reaally cannot understand all these people getting hysterical of the past, presne tand future of track suits and what they are made of.

It is a sensible practical garment for children of all ages and all shapes and sizes to wear to school. I wish they had been the uniform in my day.

Schools can stipulated the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

Discard all the cultural connotations. Tracksuits are practical and sensible garments that can be worn by all children.

Tracksuits are leisure wear and cheaper, shiny ones look vile. I think the best compromise is one a school uses near me where pupils have a jumper with the school badge, a polo shirt, black trousers and black shoes. I can understand independent and the few remaining grammar schools wanting the traditional full uniform, but other state schools should have a simple, but smart uniform.
As a fashion, tracksuits seem to come and go. They became really popular in the late nineties, then developed a negative image in the noughties as they were seen as part of the so called chav culture, and fluctuated in popularity since then. It's likely the current trend, which only a minority wear anyway, could die off again.

PaperMonster2

School uniforms need to be more practical in secondary and more inclusive to ensure those with sensory issues are allowed to learn without being in huge amounts of discomfort. School uniform in this country needs a massive overhaul.

What would you do?

Sensory issues - will occur whatever the uniform policy is, including adequate clothing for PE.

I’ve met
“ can’t wear polo shirts because of the ridge at the collar”

“Can’t wear fabrics e.g. cotton/wool/polyester because he’s allergic”

My DGS had to have all labels removed and touching corduroy /velvet could bring on a meltdown when he was younger.

“Has to have bare feet because he can’t bear foot coverings.”

The child was carried into school to support this claim. Gradually the desire for play/learning in the outdoor classroom meant he would wear pumps, but any suggestion that he might come to school in pumps was met with opposition from the parents.
By year 1 he realised that no shoes hampered what he could enjoy, but he still wore no socks.

School uniforms need to be more practical in secondary and more inclusive to ensure those with sensory issues are allowed to learn without being in huge amounts of discomfort. School uniform in this country needs a massive overhaul.

theworriedwell, Most schools have rules for uniform and rules for how it is worn. But, of course they only have sactionable power on school premises and in school hours.

Once school is out, the children can do what they like with it - and usually do!

Thongs hadn’t become fashionable in my youth, theworriedwell.
Though I do remember my mum telling me off for the shortness of my skirt, and saying “Rolling it over like that will spoil the pleats!”
My grandmother said we’d have two more cheeks to powder if we rolled them over much more!
Of course back then it was old ladies complaining over the wall or on a doorstep chat, whatever the weather.
No luxury of twining from the warmth and comfort of home like we have today.

62Granny

For younger children they have been for a long time and yes they are definitely easier, no ironing required 😂 I haven't noticed them on secondary school children in this area, definitely a more going back to Blazers , ties in school colours. The thing I will say I sometimes think everyone should wear trousers as some of the skirt lengths are bordering on indecent. I seen a girl yesterday wearing lycra type shorts her sweater was nearly as long as they were short. ( top of thighs) it's February and wet and windy, as our mother's would say " she'll be sorry when she gets older.
I do know some schools now let the children wear "gym" kit on the days they have sport since Covid.

I was walking behind a girl from a local school her knickers were on full view below her blazer. I thought she's forgotten her skirt but no she turned round and she was wearing a skirt that was like a wide belt. I assume her skirt could be pulled down a bit but I didn't want to see her knickers although another one looked like she didn't have knickers, she was wearing a thong and half her buttocks were visible beneath her blazer.

I wondered if they were just doing it for a laugh to see people's reactions as they did make a bit of a thing about turning round and standing there calling to other girls.

It's the only time I've seen skirts quite that short. Maybe a dare?

For younger children they have been for a long time and yes they are definitely easier, no ironing required 😂 I haven't noticed them on secondary school children in this area, definitely a more going back to Blazers , ties in school colours. The thing I will say I sometimes think everyone should wear trousers as some of the skirt lengths are bordering on indecent. I seen a girl yesterday wearing lycra type shorts her sweater was nearly as long as they were short. ( top of thighs) it's February and wet and windy, as our mother's would say " she'll be sorry when she gets older.
I do know some schools now let the children wear "gym" kit on the days they have sport since Covid.