School uniforms - for or against?

We don't have uniforms here, except for private schools. I have heard that is a status leveller, but in reality, the wealthier kids will stand out with their shoes, winter coats and backpacks.

I just think it would make things easier and tidier to have kids all dressed the same, and take some stress off the teachers or principal to monitor inappropriate clothing.

And the uniforms don't need to be expensive or fancy. No blazers or ties, just school polos or white shirts, trouser or skirt, and perhaps cardigan with logo.

Uniforms are much improved, especially in primary. Polo shirts, skirts, trousers, shorts or summer dresses. T-shirts and shorts for PE and track suits. All items can be generic but many parents choose to buy the sweatshirt/cardigan with a logo and a PE T-shirt with a printed logo.
Even in this financially difficult time, many parents don’t bother to name items that will be removed for PE or hot weather. The ‘lost property trolley’ is usually stocked with unnamed clothing, the odd single shoes, or pairs of trainers, expensive coats unclaimed by parents or children.

In our primary school, complaints from parents about uniform are few, unlike the complaints about rules for non-uniform days, which are really just common sense, e.g. no strappy tops, no bare midriffs, no inappropriate logos, no high heels and all shoes must have adequate fastenings for going up and downstairs and taking part in the daily run.
On the other hand, at high school, a new head often means a desire to change the uniform, add a blazer and tie, demand Mir items with logo. It’s a financial nightmare.

I like to see kids in school uniform. I saw a group of girls in black tights, blazers and the tiniest mini skirts the other day. You could see that every one of them had rolled them over and over to make them shorter just like we used to. Nothing changes really.

And the expense is ridiculous. Those Y7 kids in too large blazers cos their parents know they’ll struggle to get another one so it needs to last - no level playing field there. And girls whose skirts are either way too long or too short cos they can only have the school one and it doesn’t take into account different body shapes, meanwhile the boys only have to buy black trousers which they can get from anywhere. I really loathe and detest uniform.

Wish mine could be in something more comfortable. It’s heartbreaking seeing her in so much discomfort.

I'm all for uniforms I think it puts everyone on the same levelplatform. My DDs say it stops the fuss in the morning,no someones got better than me. None of my GC is trussed up in shirt, tie and blazers. They have comfortable Sweatshirts with the school logo and polo shirts. Skirts or trousers for the girls.
All their schools have swap shops where second-hand uniforms can be bought with a donation not a set amount.
I know what it is like to be laughed at because my uniform was from the Co op, not the school uniform shop. Blazer badges were not quite the same. Yet I still think it makes everyone the same and no fuss.

Just seen that I commented on this last year before my child started secondary. It’s been absolute hell with regards to the uniform, she’s in extreme discomfort with it. I’ve spent much of today trying to find some support for her. I bumped into a neighbour who recently returned from overseas and she was saying how odd it is seeing children all trussed up in uniforms over here. Her daughter never experienced problems with her uniform over here, but much preferred the freedom of the very relaxed approach to uniform when they moved overseas. A polo shirt with the school logo on and whatever bottoms the child feels comfortable in. How I wish that were the approach over here.

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I hope they'll revise that rule, with the kind of heat we've had for the last few summers.
My boy has always been a sweaty sort, since he was a chubby little toddler.
He has no heating in his room, and sleeps on top of the bed.

exactly. last summer, very hot day, i observed children walking up steep hill to school, ties done up, bazers buttoned. and it occurred to me that they are not even allowed to travel/arrive at/near school without all these stupid rules being strictly followed. they looked totally worn down, bowed; not surprising many suffer from stress and anxiety.

I hate and loathe the idea of not being allowed to remove blazers in the kind of heat we have in summer.
I totally fail to see what purpose it serves, other than to dehumanise pupils.

I'm very much 'pro' uniform. Always have been.

Finland usually does best re literacy etc, school results.
they don't bother with uniform.
i think perhaps a basic optional school style of dress would be best.
that's how it was when i was young.
non of this fetish about irrelvant details of clothes/ appearance.
as for forbidding removal of blazer in hot weather, it sounds like some kind of extreme contol-freakery. not nice. not healthy. nothing to do with education. fascist attitude. mutual respect is key.

I think it’s the style of the uniform that needs to change. Get rid of starchy shirts and ties, blazers, pinafore and grey trousers. I prefer to see a comfortable and easy to care for style of uniform - polo shirts, sweatshirts or varsity style zip up jacket/hoodies, sports style tracksuit trousers or leggings.

The basic idea of a school uniform is fine. However, it falls down with the named suppliers. This pushes prices far too high.

A simple uniform, of trousers or skirt, colours laid down. White shirt or blouse, (all can be purchased from any shop or store. Basic blazer navy or black. Then a school badge that can purchased at the school and can be sew on to that blazer. Same for PE kit, just basic items that can be sourced anywhere
I totally disapprove of ties (cannot understand why, on earth, we would encourage the use of a length of material tied around necks). Open necked shirts and blouses are fine.

I’m not in favour of school uniforms. I don’t think it makes everyone equal and I’ve yet to see it instil pride. I have seen parents worry about the extortionate cost of secondary uniform and children being distracted from learning thanks to petty rules such as being unable to remove blazers when it’s hot or unable to bring a coat into school so in bad weather they end up being wet. I have a child with sensory issues and I really am dreading having to buy the uniform and for her to spend five years being uncomfortable.

chardy Agree totally re unnecessary detailed uniform rules.

My elder DGD, 16, really is rebelling against the petty uniform rules. Her skirt is rolled over at the waistband & I have already taken it up! She has more than the permitted piercings / jewels and her tie & blazer are a mess! She is a reasonably academically able young woman, articulate and bright. She has said that when she goes to 6th form college in September she "will need 5 different outfits for the first week. After that nobody will notice clothes"

Very few schools have ties now. One reason is because of the rise in use of ties as weapons. Being unable to tie a tie was given as a sign of dyslexia -even after ties were not in use.

I didn't mind my tie- my boyfriend showed me a good knot and it came in pretty useful when I was teaching my grandson how to tie a tie. We used to 'adjust' our uniforms, that was part of the fun. I don't think they do that now, at least not round here, they all look the same.

One of my pupils many years ago came from a school with no uniform to our school (basic blue sweat shirt, white polo shirt, blue trousers/skirt but nearly all the girls preferred trousers). Quiet girl, first time she spoke out in tutor time was when a couple of kids were moaning about uniform. She said she now got an extra 15 minutes in bed because she didn't have to work out what to wear to school, and when she went out socially, none of her mates had seen her best top or her new trousers.

However
Girls in ties is silly
Manmade washable blazers are ugly
Now we have 'academy uniforms', all the girls seem to wear impractical skirts

i can only once in my education remember being aware that a girl in my class came from a family that needed help, I suppose other#s were aware as well but nobody did or said anything about it or treated her differently.

But do you know how she felt!! No.

M0nica

I get irritated by sweeping generalisations that do not stand up to scrutiny.

* Me too M0nica.*
Ones like
Many of those with expensive goods are the children of parents who find it easier to spend money on their children rather than give them time and attention. This is especially so when parents are separated or divorced. A poor child from a loving home is far better off than one caught in a game of pingpong between separated parents who have no time for their child so just shop for them.
Or It is this parcelling into children into huge groups
Who has used that phrase apart from you? Certainly not me.
Or even. “Any big school will have children in all sorts of groups affinity, activity, sporting, hobby, and every child will belong to several.”
No they won’t necessarily even belong to one activity, sporting or hobby.
These sweeping generalisations!

So why shouldn't a poor child from a loving family feel at ease, wearing what others are?
Having ankle swingers for trousers, jumpers with bobbles on, and fraying collars isn't a sign of inner strength.

I get irritated by sweeping generalisations that do not stand up to scrutiny and amount, sometimes. to socially approved cliches. rather than careful study.

I doubt anyone rich or poor goes through life without for, sometime longish periods, feeling isolated lonely, different or out on a limb, especially when they are children. It is a normal part of life.

Many of those with expensive goods are the children of parents who find it easier to spend money on their children rather than give them time and attention. This is especially so when parents are separated or divorced. A poor child from a loving home is far better off than one caught in a game of pingpong between separated parents who have no time for their child so just shop for them.

In any class there will be as many children from poor homes as rich, Vintage may be a fad, but it is a cheap fad, especially if you can sew and turn old clothes into new.

It is this parcelling into children into huge groups rich and with designer goods, poor and coming barefoot to school (yes I know that is an exageration), but no more than defined before.came before. Any big school will have children in all sorts of groups affinity, activity, sporting, hobby, and every child will belong to several. these simplistic cliched groups deny every child the right to not be in those groups.

I think it's more and more important for children (teens) to feel that they fit in, these days.
Consumerism is encouraged, and people are only too quick to take it on board and defend it.

It's trendy (for now) to buy secondhand and waste less, but that is just a fad, I think.

You have only to read threads on here to hear of named brand, high end purchases