To think that having a poncy school uniform does not raise standards

[ReallyTired]

Dd's school is offically inadequate. Rather than doing something about the appauling way that reading is being taught the new head is obcessed about black shoes and logoed sweatshirts. Provided children are comfortable and clean it really should not matter what they wear provided its practical.

I feel that focussing on uniform when the school has had an OFSTED that is only marginally better than the muslim school up north is missing the point. OFSTED made no criticism of what the children were wearing. OFSTED was critical about lack of ambtion in teaching targets and poor quality marking.

In finland children don't wear uniform and I am sure that that head teachers don't get their knickers in a twist about a four year old wearing a TESCOs cardigan.

[NynaevesSister]

I think the school uniform can make a difference as part of the overall package. But not on its own!

The head seems to have lost the

[GrendelsMum]

There is some specific research - it may just have been published - which does show that having a school uniform does not improve achievement in pupils with lower academic abiliity. So you could hunt it down and demonstrate that the uniform isn't relevant. On the other hand, it doesn't sound like your head is in the mood to listen.

[NynaevesSister]

plot. I'd see it as a sign that they're about to get the boot.

[SaucyJack]

I was gonna agree with you until I read your OP.

Black shoes and logo'd sweatshirts really is bare minimum stuff for UK schools, and I don't have a problem with a bog-standard (mainly Asda in our case) uniform at all.

Can't stand all this tweed calf-length skirts/blazers in summer type shite tho.

[Forester]

I'd be concerned if this is the only thing they are doing to try and improve but if it's just one aspect I think it's a good thing. Most actions won't be very visible but making people comply with the uniform policy can be a way to demonstrate that they are acknowledging there are faults and actions are being taken to raise standards.

[ReallyTired]

Given that the school is likely to be forced to become an academy, it seems a waste of money to buy logoed sweatshirts that might have to be replaced after Christmas.

My daughter has proper sweatshirts and black shoes, but plenty of the children don't. I feel that senior management should be focussing on the more drastic issues.

[Waggamamma]

What's 'the muslim school up north' got to do with it?

Unifrom shouldn't be expensive but i should be smart and comfortable. there have been studies done that it does have an impact on performance. Logo sweatshirst and baclk shoes are hardly 'poncy.' They're not asking for kilts, blazers and caps are they?

[Sirzy]

I think encouraging school uniform to be uniform is a good thing and although it won't achieve much on its own it does help with a sense of belonging and everyone being the same.

What you are describing isn't really a poncy uniform at all, its just a very basic standard of uniform.

[FadBook]

There is research to suggest school uniform has less bearing on the performance of the school as birth weight as a baby. DP is a teacher and told me this some time ago. So apparently, birth weight is more of an indicator of academic achievement than wearing a uniform.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

agree waggamamma.

I agree with uniform, love the fact that it is simple so that children are not distracted by little Tiffany sparkly pony top or teens are not going in looking like they are off to a party.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

there is a thread on here ( i hope the OP don't mind me mentioning it) where her son was poked fun at for wearing a hello kitty onesie. with uniform this doesn't happen.

[jonicomelately]

Don't you realise they'll be doing a lot more than changing the uniform?
The uniform you've described doesn't sound 'poncy' at all. It actually sounds a bit basic. I am a huge fan of uniforms btw. They set the tone of a school. If you are in any way ambitious for your children at all you'll appreciate the school instilling in them a decent dress code.

[Quangle]

I'm guessing OP means that Muslim school that was shut down recently for putting girls in the back row and that sort of thing - not any random Muslim school up north. Otherwise I think it might be a bit of a dodgy comment but I guess that's what she's referring to - ie, a spectacularly failing school that we are all aware of.

And in your shoes OP I'd be glad about the uniform - not because it in itself makes a difference but it might show that leadership has ideas, are putting in place some standards and some structure, the uniform being an expression, but hopefully not the only one, of that.

[Golferman]

The clue is in the word 'uniform'

[tweetytwat]

Our school has a very minimal uniform compared to many - just specific colour for trousers/dresses/skirts, logo sweatshirt (but plain supermarket ones in the same colour are fine) white polos or shirts or blouses, and black shoes. Optional school bookbag. Very deprived intake.

I wish they did enforce it a little bit - I don't think expecting children to wear school shoes at school is asking too much

[TheRobberBride]

I don't think you're right about this OP.

There was a school near where I used to live that was notoriously bad. In and out of special measures for years.

Then a new super head took over. One of the first things she did was replace the existing uniform with something smarter. Standards are rising there now. Not only as a result of the uniform change of course, but uniform is an outward sign of internal changes IYSWIM?

[ErrolTheDragon]

A basic uniform may be a good idea - ensures that kids are all appropriately dressed and reduces petty bullying and peer pressure. But - esp for primarys - that can be simply supermarket/M&S generic uniforms.

A logo'd sweatshirt is ok, I don't see why changing to academy would mean they had to replaced (my DDs school became an academy with absolutely no alteration to logo or uniform or name).

(OT but the school alluded to was in the Midlands not 'up north')

Hopefully your perception is wrong and the HT is interested in more fundamental matters - they may just not be so obvious to parents. If s/he really is only interested in tweaking the uniform that would rather be rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic ... but TBH seems a bit unlikely.

[ReallyTired]

"
A logo'd sweatshirt is ok, I don't see why changing to academy would mean they had to replaced (my DDs school became an academy with absolutely no alteration to logo or uniform or name).
"

The difference is that our school is facing forced academism. In this situation the school is taken over by an academy chain and the school's name would be changed to match the academy chain. (Rather like the Harris primaries www.demotix.com/news/1409893/downhills-primary-school-renamed-harris-primary-academy)

[WorraLiberty]

Rather than doing something about the appauling way that reading is being taught the new head is obcessed about black shoes and logoed sweatshirts.

I'm quite sure the uniform won't be the only focus.

[ErrolTheDragon]

RT - in that case, it would be sensible to ask the HT if the sweatshirts would still be ok to use if there was a name-change. Most schools if there's a change in uniform allow a reasonable transition period.

[StayAwayFromDeliriumDive]

Black shoes and a sweatshirt with a logo are hardly poncy. They seem to be fairly standard where we are in the North.

What else is being done to address poor performance?

[farmerswifey]

Golly, black shoes and a sweatshirt can hardly be described as 'poncy'. We had blazers and straw boaters for primary education - now they were poncy.

[pointyfangs]

I think the problem with forced academisation is that chains like Harris do introduce uniforms which are considerably more expensive than what they are replacing, and that is unacceptable. Sweatshirt and school shoes isn't poncy, no, but if you've just bought a new set of logo'd sweatshirts which fit and are fine, you'd be blooddy annoyed to have to buy another, probably pricier, set.

DD2's school went academy voluntarily 3 years ago and didn't change the uniform at all.

Personally, if my DDs' schools went into special measures I would want to see uniform changes come last on the list of proposed plans - I'd be wanting to hear about plans to improve teaching and achievement. I think the OP is worried that the changes to the school are going to be cosmetic first and substantial second, and that is a valid concern.

[diagnosticnomansland]

If that were the only measure being introduced to raise standards than I'd say YANBU - but I can't imagine it's the only thing being done...