School uniforms - for or against?

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"

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

All the girls in my granddaughters school wear trousers.

MerylStreep

All the girls in my granddaughters school wear trousers.

Very practical in these days of upskirting etc. Noticeable that no choice school uniform for girls is always what’s suitable for boys. Doesn’t happen the other way round.

One winter, about 20 years ago my 7 year old daughter, who hated tights, was coming home with blue legs.

I'd seen school trousers for girls in M&S so got her a couple of pairs.

She was the first to have them and by the end of the week all the girls were wearing trousers.

As for blazers in summer my son went through that in secondary school. The headmaster was adamant they keep them on. Why? No idea whatsoever

When I was at school and DC the uniforms were shirt/blouse, tie, jumper/cardigan, grey skirt/trousers/pinafore and blazer in respective school colours. DGC have polo shirt/sweatshirt/skirt/trousers/pinafore/dress in school colours. Can be bought from any of main supermarkets, M&S and with logo from Borders Embroideries but a bit more expensive. Most primaries have secondhand uniforms to hand on free of charge. I think it's easier with uniforms - saves the battle and you can tell where the children are if on outings. From DD1 - no white polos and no white socks - DGD had these in P1 and comes home filthy every day!!! They play in the mud making potions! Her brother didn't!

This debate has gone on for generations, yet almost all schools have a uniform of some kind, items like a blazer are expensive but schools have S/H uniform available. I bought some new some used uniform and handed down to younger children if in good condition.
I would much rather children look as if they belong, rather than anonymous mufti.

I am strongly in favour of school uniforms, but the need to purchase from a particular supplier, at great cost, is unfair.

If our now adult daughter hadn’t had to wear a school uniform my life would have been hell!

As a retired teacher - against. I'm all for progress, not hanging on to an old fashioned, outdated idea of what children should wear to school. Children should be allowed to wear what they want - within reason.