A smart school uniform is so nice though. I had summer and winter uniforms and even regulation socks, hat, gloves and scarf. There was also an overcoat to be worn over our blazers in winter. The uniform could only be got from one place so prices were outlandish. But it was a very cool uniform wit blazers like deckchairs!!
I never had a blazer as my parents couldn't afford it but it wasn't compulsory. It was either a gabardine mac or a duffel coat in winter. No regulations socks but I did have to wear a beret. Trousers were not allowed at all.
I'm afraid these days even smart uniforms don't look smart half the time - the shirts are worn outside the trousers, skirts are much too short, ties are worn any which way.
It may be because I'm old but I think a lot of kids these days pay lip service to smart for school.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
My daughter needs business suits x 2 but luckily she's working 4 days a week for 4 hours during the school holidays bless her at the opticians she works on a Saturday to get extra money and she's buying her own. I owe her big time when my IVA is over as she's been a star through all of this.x
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
It was awful BOL! We had to wear it as well going to and from school - woe betide you if you were seen without it!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
i find standard school uniform is reasonably priced, its the school specific items with logos that cost a fortune, we have got just shirts and trousers left to get now.
although my daughter has been doing her best to try and get me to buy her a £30 bag she saw in next, that of course is a BIG NO.
kat
IVA accepted 6th May 2011, Full and Final accepted 17th April 2012.
I wouldn't have bought that even if I wasn't in an IVA! Daughter had rucksacks when she was at school.
For me it had to be either a leather satchel or a briefcase - nothing else was allowed.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I'm so glad mine has as well. I certainly couldn't afford it now!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
My daughter starts senior school in September and the uniform can only be brought from one shop so they have the monopoly to charge what they want. Trouble is they don't even stock the right sizes - PE socks with logo on start at size 3, cost £7 a pair but she is only in a size 13!!! Has to have them as it is compulsory!! Only thing we can buy from elsewhere are the shirts. They've even decided only black hat, gloves and scarves are acceptable in the winter but at least they don't have to have a logo on - yet!! Total cost so far £200!!
To make matters even worse, my son's primary school has applied for and been approved academy status so off we go again - more expense!!!
I agree with the ethos of uniform and kids not getting bullied for not having the up-to-the minute designer gear but the schools need to take a more sensible approach with pricing and availability!! Last few bits to get for them both but that will have to wait for payday at the end of the month.
F&F approved May 13 - just awaiting Completion Certificate - moving to a new Debt Free life !!
I really don't know why they have to have logos now. My uniform consisted of a blue and white striped shirt, blue/black/white striped tie (ok, had to get them from a specific shop), gymslip for the first two years and then a pleated skirt. Gabardine mac or duffel coat for the winter, blazer for the summer (not compulsory though), a pale blue dress for summer and a beret. PE kit was a white aertex shirt and navy blue shorts and plimsolls. Didn't cost anywhere near (by comparison) what unforms cost today.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
My Mum and Dad really struggled to pay for my school uniform and I know went without a lot of things themselves to pay for it. I went to a girls' grammar school where everything had to be purchased from one of two shops in the small town where I grew up.
The school was very insistent on all pupils having the same quality of items, all logo'd and branded up to the hilt - we even had to wear boater hats in the summer which were hideous. I put a flower arrangement in mine when I left school, because that was about a much use as the loathsome thing was fit for.
That was 35 years ago, and times have changed completely. It is about time some of these schools got out of middle-class Enid Blyton land and realised that some parents can just not afford to keep up with this sort of expenditure, and others would choose not to if they had the choice. What is wrong with a school merely saying - black trousers, white shirts and a blue jumper for instance. Still as smart, but not setting one set of kids off against the others.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
It also served its purpose as a pretty good frisbee! As did the hideous bottle green beret that we had for the winter months.
Funnily enough I exchanged that green beret for another one when I joined the Army - was very proud of my WRAC one which I still have - but of course that was worn out of choice!
I was lucky in that we didn't wear the beret in the summer months but didn't wear anything else either. We had this awful pale blue short sleeved dress with a white Peter Pan collar and volumes of material in the skirt!! You could have made another dress out of it.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
