Children s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Uniform
Discussion
My daughter's learned a useful lesson in government f
king you over any excuse they get.
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill says every school has to have only three specific/branded items of uniform, so the school have had to come up with new uniform policy.
So the girls at my daughters school can opt for a coloured school blouse instead of a shirt an tie. She strongly favors that, about half the girls do. That's going to go and she's going have to wear shirt and tie now which she finds uncomfortable and a faff. (You could argue that's good - equality - I'd rather have a happy daughter.)
Uiform PE kit is obviously impossible now so they're going to say 'black tracksuit bottoms' and a top and she thinks all the others are going to turn up in White Fox while she arrives in Tescos joggers. (TBH we'll probably try to stretch to something that she doens't feel to awkward in but having just had my pension raided I feel a bit pissed off that I now have to fork out for bloody designer PE kit.)
Plus since Covid they could wear PE kit all day on PE days and that's going to go because PE kit is no longer going to be 'uniform'.
Our house was pretty gloomy yesterday.
king you over any excuse they get.Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill says every school has to have only three specific/branded items of uniform, so the school have had to come up with new uniform policy.
So the girls at my daughters school can opt for a coloured school blouse instead of a shirt an tie. She strongly favors that, about half the girls do. That's going to go and she's going have to wear shirt and tie now which she finds uncomfortable and a faff. (You could argue that's good - equality - I'd rather have a happy daughter.)
Uiform PE kit is obviously impossible now so they're going to say 'black tracksuit bottoms' and a top and she thinks all the others are going to turn up in White Fox while she arrives in Tescos joggers. (TBH we'll probably try to stretch to something that she doens't feel to awkward in but having just had my pension raided I feel a bit pissed off that I now have to fork out for bloody designer PE kit.)
Plus since Covid they could wear PE kit all day on PE days and that's going to go because PE kit is no longer going to be 'uniform'.
Our house was pretty gloomy yesterday.
ChocolateFrog said:
You don't have to fork out for designer PE kit.
HTH.
I didn't say I did. I was very specific that I could send my daughter to school feeling like a charlie instead. Indeed that's what she thinks is going to happen and it still might.HTH.
Again, as I said.
EDIT: No, you were right first time. SWMBO will be choosing, I won't be consulted. I am f**ked. They've just told a thousand women they can go shopping for a few completely outfits + PE kit and only three items are legally allowed to be limited in price, everything else the sky is the limit.
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 27th November 08:28
Walk me through the three branded/specific items element.
Blazer?
Tie?
Do they account for two thirds of the allocation?
Our primary has a branded jumper and tie and summer polo shirt. Everything else is mandated but readily available at all retailers (cotton shirts, shorts, trousers, skirts, socks, per shirt/shorts/socks).
The senior school has branded tie and blazer, the remainder being prescriptive but readily available but the PE kit is branded. On its own that s polo, shorts, socks, tracksuit top and bottoms. I can t see how that high school is following the rules if yours can t match.
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Seems odd, and counter to the spirit of things, for your school to ultimately promote the BS of kids out-branding each other.
What about branded school bags?
Blazer?
Tie?
Do they account for two thirds of the allocation?
Our primary has a branded jumper and tie and summer polo shirt. Everything else is mandated but readily available at all retailers (cotton shirts, shorts, trousers, skirts, socks, per shirt/shorts/socks).
The senior school has branded tie and blazer, the remainder being prescriptive but readily available but the PE kit is branded. On its own that s polo, shorts, socks, tracksuit top and bottoms. I can t see how that high school is following the rules if yours can t match.
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Seems odd, and counter to the spirit of things, for your school to ultimately promote the BS of kids out-branding each other.
What about branded school bags?
ChocolateFrog said:
You don't have to fork out for designer PE kit.
HTH.
He doesn't, no. But do you have any idea what kids are like in school? Of course as an adult Male, we can all agree that giving a damn what we or anyone else is wearing is beyond pathetic. Wear what we damn well like etc. But kids are brutal to each other and can make each other's lives hell. One of the little darlings will see a George label and that'll be it!HTH.
The low income benefits household kids will be fine in their branded designer gear. But it's an unnecessary extra burden for everyone else.
BikeBikeBIke said:
My daughter's learned a useful lesson in government fking you over any excuse they get.
Children s Wellbeing and Schools Bill says every school has to have only three specific/branded items of uniform, so the school have had to come up with new uniform policy.
What was old policy on uniform - as they would have and original policy. king you over any excuse they get.Children s Wellbeing and Schools Bill says every school has to have only three specific/branded items of uniform, so the school have had to come up with new uniform policy.
If they didn't already demand more than 3 school branded items, why have they had to change? Or have they read it as the MUST have 3 branded items?
Or has the uniform policy changed for other reasons.
Are you concerned that as school branded items reduced means a free for all makes of blouses, trousers and PE kit and some will have ASDA brands and other Gucci and hence potential playground issues, like bullying etc?
If so, then I agree the new government policy will have unintended consequences.
Edited by FunkyGibbon on Thursday 27th November 08:40
scenario8 said:
Walk me through the three branded/specific items element.
Blazer?
Tie?
Do they account for two thirds of the allocation?
Our primary has a branded jumper and tie and summer polo shirt. Everything else is mandated but readily available at all retailers (cotton shirts, shorts, trousers, skirts, socks, per shirt/shorts/socks).
The senior school has branded tie and blazer, the remainder being prescriptive but readily available but the PE kit is branded. On its own that s polo, shorts, socks, tracksuit top and bottoms. I can t see how that high school is following the rules if yours can t match.
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Seems odd, and counter to the spirit of things, for your school to ultimately promote the BS of kids out-branding each other.
What about branded school bags?
The good news is ties don't count. So they are allowed three matching items plus the tie. Essentially 4.Blazer?
Tie?
Do they account for two thirds of the allocation?
Our primary has a branded jumper and tie and summer polo shirt. Everything else is mandated but readily available at all retailers (cotton shirts, shorts, trousers, skirts, socks, per shirt/shorts/socks).
The senior school has branded tie and blazer, the remainder being prescriptive but readily available but the PE kit is branded. On its own that s polo, shorts, socks, tracksuit top and bottoms. I can t see how that high school is following the rules if yours can t match.
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Seems odd, and counter to the spirit of things, for your school to ultimately promote the BS of kids out-branding each other.
What about branded school bags?
...and yeah, our schools are exactly the same as yours - primary and secondary *except* the girls can wear a coloured school blouse. Like me you'll also lose the cheap sports kits, but you'll be able to keep the existing uniform.
Primary school is no issue for me. PE kit is already just white top and red short and my lad is completely unaware of brands or labels.
scenario8 said:
Seems odd, and counter to the spirit of things, for your school to ultimately promote the BS of kids out-branding each other.
Are your school keeping branded PE kit? If PE kit doesn't count as uniform then the effect on me will be near nill. The only change will be the need to buy a tie and loss of the girls blouses which sucks for them but that's equality.Timothy Bucktu said:
The low income benefits household kids will be fine in their branded designer gear.
And of course, school branded items get handed straight back to the school to be given free to less well of people. There is no way people will be giving White Fox Joggers away. So free hand-me-downs will end completely.We’ve had no news at all.
What has changed is that the PE kit has gone from five items per house down to each house wearing the same kit.
Obviously this has led to many parents replacing kit unnecessarily as the old kits are still allowed.
Perhaps your news explains that move. But the kit is still five items.
Just checking, since I’ve not heard of this, this is a national thing? It’s in effect? England (not a devolved thing I wouldn’t have heard of anyway). I’m trying to make sense of it.
To be clear, your coloured blouses are branded? If they’re simply coloured how are they not generic?
What has changed is that the PE kit has gone from five items per house down to each house wearing the same kit.
Obviously this has led to many parents replacing kit unnecessarily as the old kits are still allowed.
Perhaps your news explains that move. But the kit is still five items.
Just checking, since I’ve not heard of this, this is a national thing? It’s in effect? England (not a devolved thing I wouldn’t have heard of anyway). I’m trying to make sense of it.
To be clear, your coloured blouses are branded? If they’re simply coloured how are they not generic?
scenario8 said:
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Sounds like your school have concluded PE kit doesn't count, and my school thinks it does. I have no idea who's right. If yours is right, I'm laughing.Mind you, if PE kit is exempt then there's no real change, very few state schools have more than 3 items of branded gear, surely?
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 27th November 08:49
BikeBikeBIke said:
ChocolateFrog said:
You don't have to fork out for designer PE kit.
HTH.
I didn't say I did. I was very specific that I could send my daughter to school feeling like a charlie instead. Indeed that's what she thinks is going to happen and it still might.HTH.
Again, as I said.
EDIT: No, you were right first time. SWMBO will be choosing, I won't be consulted. I am f**ked. They've just told a thousand women they can go shopping for a few completely outfits + PE kit and only three items are legally allowed to be limited in price, everything else the sky is the limit.
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 27th November 08:28
They can wear their none logo'd PE kit all day too. Why is this such an issue at your school? Why is it essential that they walk around advertising the school they go to.
Maybe if the school was a little more pragmatic it wouldn't be such a deal that you'd have to start a thread on the internet about it.
Thinking about it, the PE kit doesn’t have unique branding like it did in yesteryear. It is now a prescribed kit, but generic. By which I mean it is a specific kit, sourced from a unique provider, but one that I could well imagine hundreds of other schools across the land use (in various mandated colour schemes).
No, makes no sense to me. Pretty much every school we meet at school events have their school branded across PE kits and even coats and hats etc. State schools, I mean.
If this rule is now in place it seems odd these schools are compliant in everyday wear AND PE kits but your school can’t find a reasonable workaround on everyday wear. Our school, like all of them I would imagine, are aware of issues around affordability and peer pressure. I’d be amazed if they weren’t compliant.
I’m regularly amazed.
If this rule is now in place it seems odd these schools are compliant in everyday wear AND PE kits but your school can’t find a reasonable workaround on everyday wear. Our school, like all of them I would imagine, are aware of issues around affordability and peer pressure. I’d be amazed if they weren’t compliant.
I’m regularly amazed.
I think the 2 schools my daughters go to have approached this in the correct way:
Primary school has always had branded uniform available to purchase but never insisted on it. Uniform is a blue cardigan, white shirt or polo and grey skirt/trousers. PE kit is (house coloured) polo and blue/black joggers, shorts or skort.
All available at the local supermarket so no expensive. Most parents buy a branded cardigan for school photos, trips etc. but that is out of choice.
Secondary school (specialist but still a state school) has always had branded cardigans, polos and PE kits. Since this rule change that have simply mandated branded PE kit as that is what is worn on school trips.
On the whole I am all for school uniform to prevent kids being bullied for not having the latest stuff (a feeling I still remember 40 years later), but it should be available on the high street and not just from specialist shops with a monopoly and the ability to charge what they want.
Primary school has always had branded uniform available to purchase but never insisted on it. Uniform is a blue cardigan, white shirt or polo and grey skirt/trousers. PE kit is (house coloured) polo and blue/black joggers, shorts or skort.
All available at the local supermarket so no expensive. Most parents buy a branded cardigan for school photos, trips etc. but that is out of choice.
Secondary school (specialist but still a state school) has always had branded cardigans, polos and PE kits. Since this rule change that have simply mandated branded PE kit as that is what is worn on school trips.
On the whole I am all for school uniform to prevent kids being bullied for not having the latest stuff (a feeling I still remember 40 years later), but it should be available on the high street and not just from specialist shops with a monopoly and the ability to charge what they want.
scenario8 said:
If this rule is now in place
It's not in place yet. I assume September but I don't know.scenario8 said:
To be clear, your coloured blouses are branded? If they re simply coloured how are they not generic?
The blouses are exactly what you describe above. 'Specific', but not actually "branded". I have a nasty feeling you'll be shelling out for a third set of PE kit in 2 years, only this time the sky is the limit on cost.
Traditionally, the problem parents have is schools insiat on branded items from that one particular shop that seems to sell stuff at a ridiculous markup.
So freeing up the majority of clothing choice opens up clothing to a far wider and cheaper range of alternatives - ie supermarket trousers, jumpers, polo's etc. But leaving schools some scope to get uniformity.
The fact the op's daughter's classmates choose to indulge in a clothes arms race is their problem frankly, and "not letting what idiots do bother you" is a lesson definately best learned young.
Gloomy in the short term? Probably, but better than a life of always trying to keep up with the jones' imo.
My kid's distinctly average state comp do however forbid branded clothes (be that normal uniform or pe) though parents are persistent in letting their little angel do what they like. This would be a more effective way to try and control chavvy parents - the act on the whole issue a good thing imo.
Incidentally I've never heard of white fox, but I see they have a 30% sale on with up to 70% off.
(I chose not to follow them on insta!)
So freeing up the majority of clothing choice opens up clothing to a far wider and cheaper range of alternatives - ie supermarket trousers, jumpers, polo's etc. But leaving schools some scope to get uniformity.
The fact the op's daughter's classmates choose to indulge in a clothes arms race is their problem frankly, and "not letting what idiots do bother you" is a lesson definately best learned young.
Gloomy in the short term? Probably, but better than a life of always trying to keep up with the jones' imo.
My kid's distinctly average state comp do however forbid branded clothes (be that normal uniform or pe) though parents are persistent in letting their little angel do what they like. This would be a more effective way to try and control chavvy parents - the act on the whole issue a good thing imo.
Incidentally I've never heard of white fox, but I see they have a 30% sale on with up to 70% off.
(I chose not to follow them on insta!)
BikeBikeBIke said:
scenario8 said:
So who s not following the rules or interpreting them correctly?
Sounds like your school have concluded PE kit doesn't count, and my school thinks it does. I have no idea who's right. If yours is right, I'm laughing.Mind you, if PE kit is exempt then there's no real change, very few state schools have more than 3 items of branded gear, surely?
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 27th November 08:49
https://wslaw.co.uk/specialisms/education/children...
"The limit covers the total uniform that pupils are required to have over the school year and includes any items that may only be worn for part of the year (for example, summer dresses). This means that a secondary school pupil could not be required to have, for example, a branded skirt for the winter and a branded dress for the summer where they are also required to buy a branded blazer, tie and PE top because the total number of branded items required for the school year would be five."
wiggy001 said:
I think the 2 schools my daughters go to have approached this in the correct way:
Ours are also brilliant. The disadvantaged kids don't stand out. Everything is cheap, the kids look smart, (the girls, at least) are comfortable. A hall full of free Uniform/PE stuff offered every term.Schools have been optimizing their uniform for cheap uniformity for decades.
That's about to change.
Edited by BikeBikeBIke on Thursday 27th November 09:41
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