My daughter's school recently decided on stricter uniform rules.
They state that the uniform MUST be purchased from the highstreet store they have made an agreement with. (On a side note, does this not restrict competition between retailers which would be in breach of the Competition Act 1998...??)
My daughter has been sent home as have other girls for not wearing the correct skirt. The reason my child was sent home was because her skirt had 10 pleats and the skirt the school opted for has only 8.
Can such a strict rule be enforced??
I bought the skirt from the same shop as the other one and it's very similar in style and it's the same colour and length but as it was £5 cheaper I went for that one!
Update:Korky - Yes I read the rules before sending my child to the school. The rules were a grey skirt and a white shirt. They've since changed this rule.
Yes I did "scrimp" for a £5 discount. When you're buying at least 2 sets of a whole uniform, perhaps more than once in the year I will definately scrimp where I can.
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I'm assuming your daughter goes to a state school in the UK? The only point you can raise, which is very valid, is the fact that the school IS in breach of the Competition Act.
My children also go to a school where there uniform is strictly enforced. However, they have a new headmaster who is currently trying to alter the fact that the uniform can only be purchased from one supplier. Yes, it is in breach of the Competition Act and you should definitely raise this issue.
As for the skirt - grief! That's just ridiculous. Get a petition and get other parents on board. Surely there are more important things for the school to be concerned about than the number of pleats in a skirt!
The school can enforce it I'm afraid. The rules were the same where I went to school - uniform HAD to be bought from a certain shop. I think it's to make sure everyone is wearing the exact same style/colour etc. The school don't want mis-matched uniforms looking like they've come from an array of different suppliers.
Seems so petty though doesn't it, all over a couple of pleats! I'm sure like many other parents, you aren't made of money.
(Edit: I once got a detention for daring to wear a hair band that was not one of the school colours - how petty can you get!)
Re-read the 1st Amendment again. It says that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech ..." Notice that first word, "CONGRESS"? It doesn't say "Schools". School is about education, not a fashion show. Many clothes that kids wear can be a big distraction, especially with the raging hormones teens have. If there gets to be a problem, then yes, school uniforms is a good idea. Iis no different than your parents telling you that you can't go out dressed a particular way. Check out the policy of "in loco parentis". This is a Latin phrase that means "in place of the parents". It's is a legal basis upheld by the Supreme Court for allowing schools to make policies such as this.
The school can't dictate where the uniforms are bought from, that is illegal. As long as the uniform meets the minimum requirements then theres nothing they can do. Unless of course they want to refuse your child into the school because of the uniform not being exactly what they want. They need a damn good reason for exclusion. Its ok fot the teachers, they're on 40-70k a year and can afford to buy thier kids the full kit. Many others can't.
Write to your local MP get a petition going with other parents the school is way out of line and are probably creaming off profits from the deal they made with the supplier.
Yes, my old school did it. In a way it's good, but as you found out it's not also best.
I suggest you either move your child to another school if you dislike it so much, or just buy the correct skirt.
Why can you not just accept that the school has rules and standards they want applied to ALL pupils?
Take your child out of that school if you feel so aggrieved, mind you that will mean you actually doing something? I mean do you really care one jot about the Competitions Act? No but you are willing to whine about it.
I think that counting the pleats is stupidly petty, get together with other parents and complain, schools are services like any other and if you aren't happy with it you have the right to take up the issue
Unfortunately, they can. Why, just the other day, I got a detention for not wearing a blazer. It just seems so stupid to me, that I should deserve a mark on my permanent record for something so small, like forgetting a piece of clothing.
you surly read the rules before you sent you daughter to this school
you get what you pay for, you scrimped for a £5 discount now your blaming the school, sorry lady your mistake, grin and bare it