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School uniforms, are they really needed?

TheCatWoman

Just watching the news and there was a piece about the cost of new school uniforms about £350 or primary and £450 for secondary schools. The government intend to limit the amount of branded items a uniform must contain, this will decrease the cost by about £50. 

How can people afford it?

Should schools be able to insist on uniforms, often from a selected supplier? Why not just say A knee length, green/grey, navy skirt or trousers a white shirt and a jumper/sweatshirt to match the skirt or trousers? 

I know many of us had horrible experiences of school, but many of us are also parents having to bear the burden of these costs. It can't be right that children can be descriminated against because their parents can't pay extortionate amounts for uniforms.

Schools often say in their prospectus's that they aim to encourage individuality, but the first thing they do is try and make everyone look the same?

Many also try and use uniform as a way of enforcing behaviour codes outside of school, like on a bus or something?

Parents

  • 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?

  • in reply to Lotus

    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?

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  • in reply to Lotus

    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?

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    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.