General Chat

I wonder if the head realises the stress he/she is putting your daughter through.

Dawnie, ask at your local Citizens Advice Bureau if they know of any charities that help out school age children. I found out about one when my son was 5 and wanted to join a gym club. I was able to get help for him for uniform, private music lessons, school trips and anything else to do with his education and welfare. (I was a single parent). They used to help anyone on a low income altho obviously everything was means tested. The money came from someone years ago leaving a trust fund for poorer children to have the same advantages as others, and the interest on the investments made in property etc etc keeps helping the young people even now. Your local area might have something similar. Good luck - I think that head teacher is an idiot. There definitely should be more than one outlet with reasonable prices and stock available all year round.

I thought the Government said a while ago that state schools should ensure that uniform items were readily available in competitive outlets - ie that schools should make sure that parents could clothe their child in the required uniform from non specialist uniform shops if they preferred. I would suggest contacting the local education authority to check its position on uniforms, explain the difficulty you are having, and get their view on what you should do to resolve this. You will then be better placed to take it up with the head and governors as a general school issue. My local school just sets what colours you have to wear for each item (ie grey trousers/skirt, bottle green sweatshirt/jumper/cardigan, white shirt/blouse/polo shirt). It , sells items with school badges on available through its office but doesn't insist on badges. I find I can get most of the stuff my kids need at my local Asda or Addams though I do buy one school sweatshirt/cardy each a year for 'best'. Angela

It's not necessarily a case of not having enough stock in to cover demand. With the best will in the world, if you place an order well before you run low and the supplier lets you down by several weeks, you can't help but run out of stock. I don't order when we're down to the bare bones and I base orders on stock sold during the year and previous years and based on previous delivery times for particular items. Next year, blazers and kilts will be ordered even earlier!!! However, I do feel that your Head should make allowances and he's being very inflexible and unhelpful. Many schools do sell second hand uniform (ours does) so perhaps you could ask him (or someone more approachable) about this. Alternatively, can you put out a request for a sweatshirt on the off-chance that someone's child has grown out of, or no longer needs one? Hope you get it sorted to your satisfaction Dawn. Daisy

It's only recently that schools seem to have hit on the idea of weatshirts with badges. As you say, you can't send your child in a plain sweatshirt because, like most children, she wouldn't want to be different. The school certainly has a duty to ensure they use a reputable supplier. It is sheer bad management for the shop not to keep an adequate supply of essential uniform. It's not as though they're going to be left with surplas stock. Try the school governors first and then your local education office. Never mind school funds. Better still, letter to local newspaper will works wonders

Gwynne only know 1 other parent and her daughter doesn't wear a sweatshirt anyway as she doesn't feel the cold.

Hi Dawnie, Try sounding out other parents to see how they feel about it. The head is likely to take more notice if there are a few of you who are not happy. Gwynne

Teresa, Haven't heard of a secondhand shop or anything about lost property but can find out.

Dawn, does the school run a second hand uniform shop?or you could askif they have any spare inlost property.

Gwynne Wouldn't of been so bad if wasn't so expensive could of had two sets. Just looked on Warwickshire website to see about uniform grants and they don't do them anymore so she will have to still have one set.

Annie I know someone whos daughter starts in Sept, she wont go to the schoolwear shop and when they have the meeting at school she is gonna create about it. Shes tougher than me so would like to see the response. Haven't even heard about a PTA at the school so I doubt if he would be up for a uniform shop.

Hi Dawnie, You can't be the only parent in this position, it seems very unfair to have only one supplier. I think it is something the governors should address. But I don't agree with school uniform anyway. Gwynne

Jess will probably resort to a top under her polo shirt. Daisy His answer to me was I'm sure they will have some in soon!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would complain to a parent governor. If any other parents are in the same position I would ask them to complain as well. Is it possible for one of the parents to run a second hand uniform exchange. You could give the proffits to school funds if head objects.

Dawn I run our school uniform shop and we are the only outlet now for our school's uniform. If our suppliers let us down the children without the necessary item are allowed to wear an alternative, preferably in school colours until the order arrives. It doesn't happen often although I had a letter today to say the kilts would be delayed a month which will make kitting out September's new intake in June an interesting experience! No way would our Headmaster expect a child to be cold because our suppliers couldn't supply the goods! I feel he's being totally unreasonable and you are quite justified in complaining. Good luck. Daisy

IOthink you are fighting a losing battle if she'll just remove whatever substiute you provide when she is round the corner. Does school have a trackie top they wear for game? could she /would she wear that? otherwise just stick a T shirt on under her polo top to keep her warm jess

Kim No we haven't and all her uniform has to be embroidered with school name and shield

Dawnie Have you got a Sports World near you? Umbro stuff is going so cheap at present, got son trackies £2.99, but they also had lots of sweatshirts in our store (but he won't wear them now). Kim x

Gwynne Have to ask him about something else as well so will drop that in letter as well. See what he says then go to ed department and govenors. Getting on my high horse I think its disgusting that we don't have a choice of where to buy uniform.

Elaine we are talking a 13 year old who would take it off as soon as she was round the corner