Strange uniform move

[scotchbroth1]

I found the other week the secondary DD is likely to go to in a few years has radically changed their uniform plans. Firstly they are insisting on M&S items, which seems counter to requirements against single suppliers. They are also insisting on 'loose fitting' clothes including one style of skirt only www.marksandspencer.com/Traditional-Pleated-Adjustable-Permanent-Pleats/dp/B0012QHOMI?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_2&nodeId=57312031&sr=1-2&qid=1309260815&pf_rd_r=1SZ4J7X33VTGCZ33927X&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=57312031&pf_rd_p=215570647&pf_rd_s=related-items-3

and if the girls don't want that skirt they have to wear trousers. Now, I've no quarrel with insisting skirts are a decent length, but this seems a very childish style for a secondary school to be imposing.

Am I worrying unnecessarily.

[CMOTdibbler]

I think you are being unecessarily critical - M&S is not like requiring everything from an independant, expensive shop, and I can quite see why they are requiring loose fitting clothes

[nickschick]

I wish the school ds attended only had M&S uniform requirements.
I think its a great idea and grandparents can (if they want) help out with gift vouchers towards the uniform.

TBF I dont think we will ever have a happy conclusion to the school uniform debate.

[generalhaig]

er yes ...

especially if it's the school your dd is likely to go to 'in a few years' as the uniform requirements could have changed half a dozen times before/if she gets there

[chopchopbusybusy]

The thing about girls at secondary school is that they will wear what they think they can get away with and getting them to wear a sensible skirt is very hard. DD2 is reasonably compliant about most things but we did have some cross words last summer when buying her school skirt. I would have welcomed a "well that's the one" get out clause.
Some things, like the blazer and shirts, in the case of DDs school are only available from one supplier anyway. I think you are unnecessarily worrying.

[scotchbroth1]

I take the point about M&S. Just that I've always associated that skirt with quite young girls (DD has worn it since p1 and nearly 9 wants something more 'grown up'), and the rest is quite specific up to type of jacket. The whole thing seems very prescriptive for a run of the mill comprehensive (not even a posh area).

[circular]

Maybe they are insisting on the pleated skirt as they are more difficult to 'roll up' ?

[titchy]

Seriously - your objection is that she'll be wearing a skirt you think she's too old for? You'd rather she wear something more grown-up?

This perfectly sensible for a secondary school to insist on - not childish at all.

Don't worry though I'm sure your dd will find a way to hoik it up and make herself look older. With your blessing presumably.

Or shoudl sensible school uniforms be restricted to posh areas?

[klm4765]

My DD has to wear a specifc style of (pleated) skirt from a specialist clothes shop - cost about £15 each - at her comprehensive school. So, reasonable or not, it is not unusual. I should just be grateful you won't have to argue about what type of skirt to buy!

[scotchbroth1]

Oh dear I'm not making much sense. I just feel it is possible to be 'sensible' without resorting to such restrictive choices. Kids that age need to express themselves within reason, but when that 'within reason' is abused it leads to over prescriptive rules when there are so many clothes that are not indecent or leave them vulnerable to dodgy adults (one argument for it).

[cubscout]

Maybe the school have had problems. I could weep when I see some of the secondary school girls at a particular school in our town - they look like they should be clubbing, skirts barely 'belt size'. FWIW a friends dd and all her friends are wearing primary school age pleated skirts that barely cover thier bums once they've hoiked them up at the bus stop. It's the current craze here....

Seems quite a sensible plan!

[chopchopbusybusy]

As I said in my previous post it can be very difficult to get teenage girls to wear appropriate school skirts and so the easy option for schools (and parents) is to give them just one option. No choice, no arguments. I think you should revisit this thread in a few years time when your DD is demanding a Lycra skirt two sizes too small and thinks it's just so unfair that she can't have one as all her friends do

[titchy]

Kids AT SCHOOL have no need to 'express themsleves' at school. Wearing your skirt so short you cna see your arse, your shirt untucked, make up etc etc etc becuase everyone else is is not 'expressing' yourself. It's taking the piss and showing no respect of authority. Expressing themselves my arse (and I say that as a parent of a 12 yo who wears their skirt as short as short can be!).

If your child really has no other way of 'expressing herself' than through the clothes she wears at school you have much bigger problems!

[superjobeespecs]

wish they'd bring this in at my local high school we walk thru it every morning to get to DDs primary and all the girls are in leggings and wee shirts that dont cover their arses or tiny wee skirts that ride up you know the ones those lycra things with see thru black tights if we're lucky or the girls with the short shorts whose excuses are usually ''yeah but you cant see my pants''!! yuk. there is one seriously overweight chubby girl who insists on 'keeping up with the fashion' and wearing the lycra skirt type thing with her rolls of fat and cellulite out which shows off more than it covers.

[scotchbroth1]

There's no need for sarcasm titchy. DD has many ways of expressing herself and your comment shows a lack of understanding.

[GypsyMoth]

mixed on this

towards end of terms,if we need anything,i tend to buy cheap. supermarket etc. so would be annoyed about the m and s only angle

but i also hate the shopping around we have to do now for the correct fit of school trousers,and they NEED to be designer etc etc....

so not sure!!

[crazymum53]

My dds new secondary school is insisting on skirts from their uniform supplier only but there are 3 different styles available. Lowest price is £14. I would like an M&S (or other) alternative. Was a bit unsure about the reason for this - but many teenage girls do take "free expression" to its limits and get the impression that this is the only way many schools can deal with this.

[Kiggy]

A local state girls school to us has recently changed their uniform to a checked kilt (1 supplier) because the skirts being worn were so unsuitable and my old school has banned skirts altogether and make all the girls wear trousers, so yours seems fairly lenient in comparison.

[nickschick]

superjobeespecs I dont think your comments aimed at teenage girls are v pleasant.

Were you always a beautiful person?

I know several girls who wear less than flattering clothes but I wouldnt describe them as graphically as you- you never know maybe one day it will be your dc being judged.

[nickschick]

The girls at ds secondary school who come in a variety of shapes and sizes seem to be adopting the 'playboy bunny' look ......bleached hair,orange skin,very short skirts with brilliant white shirts and knee socks pulled over the knee...........

[bossboggle]

Just to throw a spanner in the works....school uniform is not law in this country but a policy from each school.... if the parent actually went to court over this then the chances are they would win. My ds's former head teacher quoted this too....

[Hulababy]

bossbooggle - I thought it was only primary schools that couldn't insist on uniform, but secondaries could.

[scotchbroth1]

Re being enforceable, the school state pupils won't be 'denied any educational benefit or entry to exams' for not complying. They would lose other priveleges. I don't know what would happen if pupils went in reasonably modest (and cheaper) clothes that were not the ones stipulated.

Some state schools around here have very private school type uniforms like Jordanhill, St Ninians, but they get away with it as they are such amazing schools. This one is a bog standard comp and very average (ie seen much worse) in results and discipline.

In saying that most girls wear trousers anyway and DD will probably end up doing the same.

[mummytime]

My daughter school gives an option of two specific manufacturers and styles of skirt, and one (horrible) type of trousers. Others have one style of skirt, designed no to be rolled up.
Insisting on M and S seems quite reasonable to me, our skirts cost £15-£20 a piece.

[bubblecoral]

I think it's a good idea to have one skirt that all the girls have to wear. And schools are there to teach, not to police uniform. You may be able to persuade your dd to wear something reasonable, but there will be parents that don't/can't, and then you will have an even bigger problem on your hands.

Round here, the girls wear tiny, tight, jersy type skirts. And they are very short. It does not look good. And at the risk of being flamed for saying it, it honestly makes me think they look like some paedo's ideal wet dream.

They will find their own ways to 'express themselves', even when they all have to wear the same thing. They are teenagers, of course they will. I know we managed it at school and our uniform was very strict. Think of it as encouraging her to be more creative in the ways that she expresses herself.

[celticlassie]

I think specifying a particular skirt is a great idea - in our school the girls are also fans of the 'strip of lycra' tube - type skirt. They are so short that I have seen girls' GUSSETS as they are walking down the corridor. As a not so young any more female teacher I can at least call them on it, but it must be really awkward for male teachers.