Summer Uniform, sort of am I being unreasonable ?

[MillyMollyMoo]

My girls started a mixed prep school last September and in the prospectus it stated that summer dresses were an option in the summer months, one I would have gone for as they make life easier getting dressed in the mornings.
However they've now been made compulsory despite not even being in stock at the school shop as of today.
They go back on the 12th and break up on 7th July with 10 days for half term in between, so we are looking at 11 weeks wear from them and they are £44 each, plus an optional hat
I'm sure other parents will be moaning too but it is ridiculous isn't it, worth an email to the head would you think ?

[coldtits]

Buy them very big and use a belt, then they can wear them next year.

[MadameCastafiore]

This is why my kids do not go to a private school - I wouldn't be too hassled about paying for the actual education it is the £44 a dress that would get my back up!

DDs are £12 from John Lewis and I will buy her a size bigger so they last 2 years!

[thisisyesterday]

so, you wanted them, but now you;re cross because you have to have them?

i don't get it...

£44 IS a ridiculous amount though, but then that's what you get with private schools isn't it? hmmm

how old are they? i reckopn they'll do a couple of years tbh, ds1 is 5 and still fits in his summer clothes from 2 years ago!!

[farmerjones]

yabu

[MillyMollyMoo]

I wanted them on the children when they go back but it doesn't look as if they will be in stock ready for the 11 weeks, so every week that goes by you are getting less value for money.
And I really wasn't expecting £44

[MillyMollyMoo]

I wouldn't ask for help buying it, we'll either suck it up or write an email saying come off it you said it was optional.
I was only planning to buy one dress each.
But I could do without the expense.

[muggglewump]

£44 each?

Fuck that, I bought DD two for £10 and that was including delivery from George online.
I love them too, proper girly ones with a tie at the back and a bit of a twirl in the skirt

Even if I could afford private, and wanted to send DD (nay on both counts), I'd resent that, it just seems like paying out cash for no good reason other than showing you have it.

[farmerjones]

pixie, i disagree. since sending ds to private school, i actually spend a lot less on uniform than i did when he was at the local state. the main reason, is that the uniform that i buy is of much much better quality, and therefore lasts longer. so, for example, i bought him two jumpers in september, and they both still look brand new. at his state, i bought the jumpers from high street shops, and usually had to buy four or five during the year.

i will also give the jumpers to the second hand shop, and should be able to get a few pounds for them. unlike the previous ones which were only fit for the dustbin after a years wear.

[Dumbledoresgirl]

At that cost, are you sure the school doesn't run a secondhand uniform shop which you can buy from? If they don't, they should. I buy dd's bog standard checked dresses from ebay each year as she only wears them on hot days and there are usually about 2 of those per year. I have never bought a dress from ebay that has not looked immaculate and unworn.

[FabIsGettingThere]

Summer dresses usually dry extremely quickly so you could manage with one and wash after school and dry overnight.

[MillyMollyMoo]

I think that's the other gripe farmer, the quality is significantly worse than M&S for blazers, pinafores etc, I've bought everything I could possibly get away with from M&S it's only stuff with an odd trim or pattern I've had to buy from the shop and most of it is fit for the bin after 2 terms.

I do feel a letter/email coming on.

[thisisyesterday]

i suppose part of the problem is that often they have non-standard prints/patterns, which ,means things have to be specially made for them, which then means it costs them a LOT more.

£44 is still ridiculous though, but I reckon looking on ebay or seeing if they run a second hand shop, or asking other parents of older children if they have stuff is def worth a go

[MumNWLondon]

If none are in stock nothing you can do - send a letter in on the first day back saying none in stock and you'll get one as soon as possible.

Not feeling much sympathy for the cost - private schools are expensive.

But definately buy as big as you can get away with, even if it means shortening skirts (can let them down later) will get 2 or 3 summers out of them. DD still fits last summers dresses (£10 in John Lewis).

[seeker]

Didn't you look at the uniform list before choosing the school?

[Mum72]

Use the school secondhand shop or ask parents of older girls if they want to sell their old ones onto you. Most private schools run secondhand uniform shops.

I once had to buy my DD who was then in reception a new summer dress (2nd hand shop had sold out)and that was £32. I bought it pretty damn big with a money belt to help make it fit better. Had we not moved house (and school) I am sure I would have got 3 summers out of it.

Just get your DD to try them on and buy the biggest you can. I also used to buy 2nd hand uniform the next size up well in advance - as and when it came into the 2nd hand shop as its always sods law, they dont have what you need when you want it.

[MillyMollyMoo]

Yes seeker and it was optional last summer, this year it isn't but you're hardly going to choose a school on the basis of it's price of uniform are you.

There isn't a 2nd hand school shop and I can totally understand why, I doubt much of it lasts 2 years, nevermind to two children.

I have written a nice email explaining that the suppliers haven't got the dresses in stock, the quality is appalling and as there will be only 10 weeks of term left I think short sleeved blouses and ditching the blazer would be a much better idea.

[LIZS]

Our has a second hand sale before term starts, is that a possibility or do you know others with older girls who may have outgrown last years ? Dresses are "only" £30 new here but also stocked by JL! Needless to say dd only had her first one new, the rest have been less than £10 each. You say you would have bought them anyway so why the moan now? You've had 2 terms to get prepared surely !

[zazen]

I'm sure they have some spares lying around in the office.
Give them a call and tell them that you need some help with it.

Know anyone with an older girl in the school? Give them a call.

My DD's old prep school had plenty of old uniforms lying around, and they sold them half price if asked. OK some of them were pretty raggy, but then the older girls were wearing tiny raggy dresses their parents previously bought years before! There is a cachet to looking 'old as the hills'

Alternatively get a new dress but two sizes too big, and sew some elastic into the waist / seam.

The hat is expensive - boater I suppose? Any way of buying one online and sticking the school crest and ribbon onto it afterwards. Or rehabilitating an old one from the lost property? I did this - stuck new grosgrain ribbon round the fraying inside - saved ourselves 40 quid!

[lucykate]

i am bemused by why you are making such an issue about this. you were ok about buying the dresses when they were optional, yet now they are compulsory, you're making a complaint.

[ConstantlyCooking]

As the school shop has sold out - it would be quite reasonable to ask if they could just wear spring uniform/if there were any second-hand dresses available. TBH at my DCs' school there is a thriving market for second-hand dresses, which are usually in good condition because only worn for about 11 weeks a year and often not for all that time because cold Aprils usually mean a letter comes back saying they can wear winter/spring uniform until it warms up.

[MillyMollyMoo]

No LucyKate I am annoyed they a) don't have them in stock anyway and yet are saying they are compulsary so every week that goes by they are more and more a waste of money.
And no we haven't had 2 terms to get used to it, they were optional, I found out the price less than 2 weeks ago, they've billed for them but we can't have them.
Not a happy bunny.