School

The senior school my two attended has had three changes of uniform since they started there (long since left) the last being when it became an academy.
A local primary school in a notoriously poor area last year changed from uniform you could buy cheaply in the local supermarkets to blazers, shirts and ties and tartan skirts for girls. OTT for primary age I think.

The primary school my DGC attend is to introduce tartan trousers for boys. My DD can't wait! I don't think the grandsons are too impressed.

Very ott for primary glad my grandsons secondary school didn't go ahead with new uniform

I think blazers are over the top i think it should be just jumper and polo shirt in my opinion am I wrong ?

It is a pity that the school governors do not think about parents' budgets when they make these decisions.

One of my nephews, who had so many problems (ADHD, on the autistic spectrum) was at a secondary school, where things were already not going very well, and then the school became an academy and introduced a new uniform. Everything went down hill after that - he would not wear it and was in constant trouble.

Now, clearly he was in the wrong for not wearing it, but it just became a focus for all his frustrations with a system that had failed him. And this is the problem with a strict uniform policy - it is a good way for troublesome children to express their dissatisfaction and becomes a big bone of contention when their educational progress and happiness are so much more important.

And I hate to see teenage girls dressed like "little men" - black trousers, shirt, tie, blazer - it's a bit weird. And the big-busted girls look dreadful. There is something slightly kinky about it - and it is unlikely to make them feel comfortable with themselves, which is so important at that difficult stage in their lives.

Mishap I do agree with you about the teenage girls dressing like little men. Our local secondary school is just along the road from us and at one time the girls were not allowed to wear trousers. They changed the uniform policy because so many of the girls were wearing their skirts obscenely short - not the parents' fault, as I know girls will roll their skirts over at the waist (I did it myself ).
It is difficult, I imagine, to know what to do for the best. Girls dressed in trousers are probably deemed 'safer', but if they're going to wear black trousers, then the schools really should keep away from white shirts and ties which, let's face it, are really quite archaic now. Far better, in my opinion, would be a more feminine looking, open-necked shirt teamed with a coloured cardigan rather than a blazer.

Also why do schools insist on blazers there a suit not a school uniform in my opinion get all schools back to basics like my grandsons

I sometimes think a more formal school uniform looks scruffier than an informal version. Local school children with the shirt/tie/blazer inevitably wear the ties half undone, shirts hanging out, blazers being trailed along the ground as soon as the children are off the school premises.
I think it's a lot of money for parents to fork out which means that the clothes are bought 'with room to grow' (which I used to do) which increases the dishevelled appearance.

School polo shirt/sweatshirt and trousers would be easier to wash and look tidier....or perhaps I'm old fashioned!

Nothing wrong with girls wanting to wear trousers to school. I'm wear jeans most days. Why on earth should a girl have to look 'feminine'?

No Loopy, if you were old-fashioned you'd be yearning for the old-style school uniform, blazers and all!

I meant from the perspective of tidiness.
My school uniform was awful -maroon blazer, yellow dress, straw boater and white gloves in summer, maroon skirt, jumper, white shirt, tie, velour hat and hideous maroon Mac, maroon gloves in winter. Trench coat macs weren't fashionable then.
All of course 'bought with room to grow' and at enormous expense from the school outfitter. My mac lasted me from first to fifth year, nearly ankle length at the beginning

My velour hat and blazer were purple! And a purple and black striped tie...

And maroon knickers, itchy divided skirts and white aertex shirts with your name embroidered on the front (shudder), that did nothing for us bustier girls

I've never worn maroon or any shade of dark red since!

I am not suggesting that girls should be required to look feminine or that they should not wear trousers (I've forgotten when I last wore a skirt), but that they should not be forced into what is normally seen as a male civil servant's uniform - I have not seen any teenage girls wearing a collar and tie by choice!

Well, perhaps that should go for boys as well then? Polo shirts for all...
(as in my GDS' primary school)

I wore a shirt and tie to school (the collar came with the shirt!) and my DD wore a shirt and tie for school, albeit we both wore skirts. So long as children have the choice of wearing a skirt or trousers (whatever their sex) I don't see an issue with ties, though IMO a polo shirt can be both smart and practical.

Oddly enough GS1's school (primary) is changing from polo shirts to shirts and ties, which to me seems a retrograde step, but I'm sure we'll all learn to live with it

(That should have been DGDs' - I haven't got any grandsons!)

Does everyone agree that blazers should not be school uniform and schools like my grandsons should stick or change to jumper and polo shirt

Or are blazers the way foward I hope not

I loved my school uniform it was grey, pale blue and navy. The blazer was lovely, just like a smart jacket. I wish I was that slim again size 10/12 quite a lot larger now!!

Lots of teenagers go past my widow and they all look very smart in their uniforms and look proud.

Proud of wearing a tie and blazer ? My grandson would hate wearing that jumper polo shirt school trousers and black lace up plimsolls is smart for him

DGS's pre-prep changed from jumpers to blazers as a result of parent pressure: proud mums didn't want their offspring to look like state school children. DD was unimpressed.

Is that private school ? Agree they should have tie and blazer but not community school they should just be basic

Jumper polo shirt school trousers and black plain footwear is formal enough