School uniforms, are they really needed?

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
  • 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.

Reply
  • 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.

Children
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