School uniforms, are they really needed?

Fortunately the school my son went to allowed us to buy uniform from anywhere, except the blazer. However one school nearby insists everything is branded even the school bag and this is not an affluent area. 

The issue we had with uniform was sensory. He found the blazer uncomfortable and would often wear a jumper instead and try to keep his coat on to cover this up.

The one item my mum would not buy me were school knickers, I was bought everything else, but when I actually got to school everybody else wore hand-me-downs from older siblings or cheaper stuff from ordinary shops. I was teased for being one of the few who had a proper school uniform.

There were rules about hair and jewelery too, we'd get sent to the science labs for acetone if we wore nail varnish, get told to wah that much off our faces if we wore make-up, sleeper earings were allowed as was a small cross. It was also very inconsistant and arbitrary, basically if a teacher didn't like what you were wearing you'd get told off, detention or have letters sent home, others ignored the same things.

I agree that plimpsoles where horrible things that did little to protect your feet from anything. Being girls, we only played hockey and netball in winter and tennis and atheltics in summer, and of course the ever horrible gym.

I hated wearing a uniform, I felt and looked like an overcoat on a wheelbarrow, I felt constricted and weighed down by it, I hated school and didn't want to be associated with it.

TheCatWoman said:

when I was at school it was just a pair of plimpsoles for all sports

Probably the health and safety bunch wanted to avoid the risk of being sued for damages from lack of protective enough footwear.

I recall at school the richer kids had proper studded boots for football and would often take great delight in stomping on your feet when the opportunity presented itself. Those plimsoles offered no protection.

The level of poverty back in the 70/80s was quite different to recent times though. At the moment we are going through a pinch point with everything being so expensive in the UK but hopefully this will pass.

I don’t believe in school uniforms I think they’re outdated. In America kids don’t wear them unless it’s a private school. I feel everyone should have the right to express themselves. 

Once upon a time the blazer badge was a separate item that was sewn onto the breast pocket. Now it seems that they are mostly embroidered directly into the pocket fabric, meaning that a particular blazer in its entirety needs to be bought. Going back to the separate badge that can be added to any generic blazer of the right colour would surely reduce costs.

I believe schools in my day used to get a kick back from the preferred outfitter. So many wemt the other way.

Schools should without a doubt pay for these uniforms or at the very least contribute to their cost and or allow more non school uniform days through out the week on a regular basis.  

There are valid arguments for and against uniforms, but if increasing numbers of families cannot afford to buy them, the rules need to be reviewed, or other solutions proposed. 

When I was at school, most uniform items were made from materials that lasted well. Some families availed of used items that were available at the start of the term. 

Personally, I liked my school uniform as I didn’t feel my clothes were fashionable enough for me to mix unobtrusively with other girls. 

Maybe because I'm autistic I liked it.

I didn't have to think about what to wear, I was always smart. Whereas other people played with the ties, short, long, fat and thin and awful knots,  always had it done properly. My shoes were shiny. I had rules to follow and I knew what was expected.

I did the same at work till 2016, tailored suits, etc. it was a uniform.

I must admit the school uniform materials, and labels, and the jumper, were not the most comfortable.

Everyone knows who comes from money and who dosen't, kids aren't stupid, they know where you live, what your parents do for a living, what you wear outside of school, its like people who decide theese things think you live in a vacumn away from other kids.

I think this idea of belonging and unity is overstated, to be honest.

Whats wrong with the things Lotus and I suggested?

You only belong to something if you're accepted, many of us never were accepted either by the other pupils or the teachers, so wearing a uniform dosen't change anything.

If you know your want to work in a trade or factory, then what do you need to wear a shirt and tie for? Whats the equivalent for girls?

I thought the main reason was to prevent bullying and shame over clothes. If you let people wear what they like it becomes obvious who has money and dress sense. 

I think it also creates a sense of belonging and unity.

The blazers and tie used to be to prepare people for work, but it seems a bit out of place these days.

Pricing is a bit higher than it used to be, even allowing for inflation but I am not sure what they are including in the cost.

We only had house teams on school sports day, most of us didn't care or even know what it was really about.

I was shocked at the amount of PE kit they have to have, rugby boots, football boots, gym shoes and all the other paraphenalia, when I was at school it was just a pair of plimpsoles for all sports. I can see the point of having gthe right kit if you're playing inter-school or country level sports, but surely not for everyone?

I agree that it is ridiculous. I also agree that the school should just pick a colour for the jumper and skirt or trousers to be worn by the pupils with a plain white shirt. Then they only have to buy a school tie with specific school colours/design on, which should be available to buy in the school and shouldn't be expensive. What's the problem with that? 

Also I don't see the need for blazers with a school crest, or having to buy P.E. Kit in house colours - why not all wear white P.E. Kit and put a coloured band on if they play inter-house team sports?