School Uniform

[MatthewL]

Just read this, about time something like this happens.

 

I've got friends who have kids who are just starting school and some of the money been spent on uniform is unreal.

 

I remember the days when I was starting school and we wore what we wanted, does a uniform make much different so how people learn, I think they should scrap it personally, focus on the education and not about what the kids look like.

 

What used to nark me off at secondary school was we would get moaned about about how we look, the lasses about make up etc and there you get the staff coming in what they want, make up plastered on, hair style how they want, why can't the kids?

[sparkeh]

Whilst I don't agree with expensive, single supplier, uniforms, I do agree with uniforms in general.

 

Research has shown that uniforms engender a team spirit with positive effects on behavior.

 

Given that schools with a uniform spend less time monitoring what kids are wearing (as they still need to have an acceptable standard of dress), actually wearing a uniform does allow schools to focus more teaching.

[twin--turbo]

we have never used a single supplier ( appart from the tie ) and neither has my sons school.

 

Plain black Jumper, White shirt, black Trousers.

 

All available in Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, etc...

 

 

Having the Uniform means students don't get segregated ( bullied ) for not having expensive cloathes.

 

 

Rob

[RabbieBurns]

I do definatlely agree with uniforms, but they should be affordable and non-exclusive. The only expensive part of my uniform when I was at school was the blazer, and that was because I was at a private school. Every other part was nondescript- black shoes, black trousers, shirt, and school tie (cheap)

 

At recent schools where Ive worked, and theres been a non-uniform day, ive found it hard to differentiate between students, student teachers, and teachers.

[MatthewL]

Ok as everyone so far seems to agree on a uniform, why does everything have to have a logo, what is wrong with black trousers, white shirt and what ever colour jumper? That way parents can so somewhere like Asda and get it for less than £20 but as soon as the logo is on it its 3 times that.

[Ephelyon]

It can also help to prevent "masquerading".

 

During my time in Holland when I was younger, I once went with some friends to their school and managed to actually sit in on lessons and just join in with everyone else. I said I was a new pupil and nobody knew any different. It was an immature 19-year-old prank, and now I work on the other side I can imagine the frantic e-mails when I didn't turn up the next day, but it's scary how that could actually happen. Consider if I'd been someone who was older but younger-looking (and of course they do exist) with, ah... irregular sexual predilections... hmmm, pervert in your classroom? Slightly worrying.

 

It also helps when pupils are in uniform on school trips; you can instantly pick out from a distance which kids are yours as the teacher. That's also why they need to be customised to the school to a certain degree, as there could be a number of school parties visiting e.g. a museum or similar.

[witch]

I have been a school governor for years and have always campaigned to have simple, affordable uniforms. I think that it should all be clothes you can buy anywhere except for one thing with a logo - sweatshirt or blazer. That way, cost is kept down but school identity is kept.

Our high school has a ridiculous brown uniform which you can only get from the preposterously expensive uniform shop, and it isn't even particularly good quality. We have fought for years to get at least the shirt changed from "camel" to white with no success. I think uniforms are a good thing as they definitely stop competition between children but they need to think about cost. Having a unisex sports kit is something we did get agreed - previously the girls and boys had different t shirts and tops which was ridiculous for people with children of both sexes.

The middle school has grey and white which is far more sensible - the parents only have to buy a logo'd jumper and a rugby shirt.

[laserblazer]

We have non uniform days and I hate them as the level of behaviour goes right down. And some of the outfits 11/12 year girls turn up in is astounding. I wouldn't have let my daughter dress like that for a disco at that age. I do agree that the cost of uniforms and kit must be hard for some parents. My daughter went to a fee-paying school and in the entrance hall there was a display of second-hand blazers, skirts etc. and the parents would think nothing to checking them out and grabbing a bargain to take back to their shiny Range Rover.

[plexer]

Our's comes from an online supplier including the PE kit, embroidered blaser etc.... this seems to be nothing but a pain in the backside for parents and sending stuff back that is the wrong size is just a pain as well.

 

Ben

[Ephelyon]

At the moment we're looking at parents ordering uniform online as we simply don't have anywhere to store uniform in school. I don't know if that means it'll be through a single supplier but it's sounding like it might be.

[Mr.Ben]

The simple way to reduce the cost of a blazer is to allow sell the school badge, to be sewn onto a standard blazer.

[mcrompton01]

Last year we started selling our own uniform (Blazer, ties, socks, PE tops) at cost to parents, all the other stuff shirts etc are standard so can be brought from any supermarket. I think we use Sportsware International as our supplier quick turn around approx. 2days.

 

We had the caretakers house converted into a shop (downstairs) with storage that is open on specific days during term time and 3 days a week in the summer holiday and parents can pop into reception whenever they like to pay/order etc.

 

From my limited viewpoint it has worked really well and the person in charge is still 'happy' and above all the cost to parents has been reduced by around £20. We did have complaints from the local uniform shops, but we stuck to our guns. The staffing cost is something the school has funded and I think it's been a good decision.

[Ephelyon]

Did the caretaker get a say in this?

[plexer]

We had the caretakers house converted into a shop (downstairs) with storage that is open on specific days during term time and 3 days a week in the summer holiday and parents can pop into reception whenever they like to pay/order etc.

 

I assume he no longer lives there?

 

Ben

[mcrompton01]

The old caretaker retired last summer and his replacement does not live on site. A lot of schools in this area are converting their caretakers houses into school building, most to house disruptive pupils, our head did not want to to this as it isolates them more from school live. So we have a nice house that has the shop, changing rooms, store downstairs and 2 meeting rooms and an IAG office upstairs.

[FishCustard]

We did have complaints from the local uniform shops, but we stuck to our guns. The staffing cost is something the school has funded and I think it's been a good decision.

 

Seriously? I think that goes to show just how much of a ridiculous racket this has become. If any other business decided to switch supplier, you wouldn't expect said supplier to write and complain, you'd expect them to find out why you switched and what they're not doing well enough.

[localzuk]

Ok as everyone so far seems to agree on a uniform, why does everything have to have a logo, what is wrong with black trousers, white shirt and what ever colour jumper? That way parents can so somewhere like Asda and get it for less than £20 but as soon as the logo is on it its 3 times that.

 

A logo is to present an identity. To help ensure a sense of community. Asking Parents to spend £15-£20 on a high quality embroidered jumper isn't outrageous.

 

There's no reason the rest can't just be standard trousers, shirts etc...

 

The only other things that are school specific are the ties - we have a different tie for each house, and the rugby shirts.

[Ephelyon]

Different ties per house here too. And now I find they've launched to the kids this idea of having different desktop backgrounds per house... without asking us if it's possible first of course... :/

[localzuk]

Different ties per house here too. And now I find they've launched to the kids this idea of having different desktop backgrounds per house... without asking us if it's possible first of course... :/

 

That sounds like fun to arrange...

[Ephelyon]

If I weren't already importing all form groups and set lists from SIMS into AD, it'd be completely impossible. As it stands, we have one form per house per year (quite standard of course), so I think I'll just have a security group for each house (e-mail enabled in Exchange for extra-crunchy value), containing all forms ending in the first letter of that house's name (scriptable during the import routine), then target desktop background GPPs at those security groups.

[elsiegee40]

Like witch, I am a governor and was asked by the HT "because you're a mum" to help vet the uniform changes needed at the school. My stipulations included washability... including tumble drying... and price.

 

I had to be able to throw it in the tumble dryer and have it ready for next day if the worst happened.. which with teenage boys it often does

 

The uniform is largely generic with a white shirt, black trousers, school tie and a logoed jumper. The school used to sell the logoed stuff in house, but space became a huge problem and the non generic stuff is now with a single supplier. Our HT is still breathing down the neck of the supplier making sure that the basics are affirdable. The supplier seems to think that they will make their money by flogging the generic black trousers, etc. In reality everyone goes to Asda, etc for those! The same supplier does quite a lot of wealthy schools and independents with horrifically expensive uniforms so they aren't in danger of going bankrupt any time soon because of us.

[Ephelyon]

Would you have any guidance on how to move to a single supplier without headaches of various natures... particularly for parents? It looks as if we may be doing that.

[elsiegee40]

We only had a choice of 2, neither of which is actually in Tonbridge. One is is in Tunbridge Wells and the other in Sevenoaks. Our parents were more likely to go to Tunbridge Wells to shop so that was a big influence. The negotiations centred on availability as well as cost. We nailed them down to holding a school shop at key events such as consultations, year 6 induction, etc which meant that parents could still come to school and buy stuff. They can also order online, or place a paper order via the finance office, for delivery to school and we have have stock sizes for trying on always in school.

[Ephelyon]

Thanks, I'll pass that on.

[plexer]

Last year we used Clothing at Tesco School Uniform Embroidery Service this year they've switched to School Uniform Suppliers - Teamwear / SWI

 

Ben