“I Am Disgusted With The School’s Expectations”

[fiction-factory]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boy-sent-home-after-15-22632851

“I am disgusted with the school’s expectations,” said the mum-of-five.

“My son has not got off to a good start at all, and it’s all down to being picked on about uniform,"

“It is a real struggle for parents on a budget to be able to afford this expensive school uniform and shoes, and I’ve been saving up as much as I could all summer."

Would you send you child to a new school in white trainers and logo sweatshirt on the first day? He actually looked quite smart but that to me isn't the point. Is she doing him any favours by going to the press about this and criticising the school he should be going to for the next 5 years? Maybe she chose the wrong school for him if she doesn't liek the uniform policy.

In my experience, if you have difficulty on the first day the school will be understanding as long as you make a reasonable effort (eg some plain black trainers or some old hand me down black shoes and no sweatshirt) and bring a note saying "sorry, will have full uniform in a day or two"

[dannyk13]

FF, surely the problem could have been solved a bit more tactfully.A note to the mum would have been sufficient.

[jno]

Maybe she chose the wrong school for him if she doesn't liek the uniform policy

that's a silly thing to say. She ordered the uniform and it wasn't delivered. She's caught between a shop that isn't fulfilling orders on time and a school that demands everything be on time.

[fiction-factory]

That's silly thing to say, jno. Why white trainers? Black shoes have been available for months. And I bet the cost a lot less than white trainers

[Bobbisox1]

No she is not doing him any favours, kids can be cruel and being 11 yrs old must mean it's his first year at senior school, she should have contacted the school to explain her situation and see if there was anything at all that could be done, the school would have been open last week as many were to bring in students gradually

[fiction-factory]

danny- I agree that the school should have rung mum and discussed the options- bring some shoes in by lunchtime or tell him to wear the ones they offered and tell him to take his sweatshirt off.

[bednobs]

usually I am with you FF, in the fact that part of the "contract " between school and parents is that you will send them to school in the correct uniform. However, from personal experience this time, a lot of growing has happened, the second hand uniform "shop" has not been running (Covid) and there has been enormous pressure on the new school uniform provider here in as much as I ordered in the first week of the summer holidays and it STILL hasn't arrived. Queues outside school shoe shops are absolutely enormous, and if you have been waiting because you are saving up you've got no chance!
I do however wonder if the boy/parents failed the attitude test?

[fiction-factory]

Yes, a note usually resolves this, although there is no excuse for white trainers in my view

[Old_Geezer]

He doesn't seem that badly dressed to me. The school could've been more tolerant and informed him what would be acceptable (while waiting for the official uniform to arrive) during the interim. I'm not a fan of uniforms anyway, but I am a fan of reasonable understanding and tolerance. Bit of a job'sworth situation IMO.

[bednobs]

also, my daughter went back in June after half term and I didn't really think she would have grown much since April, and expected her shoes and uniform to fit. However, 2 days before she went back I discovered they didn't! there was a mad scramble on Next and amazon, (2 shops that could deliver the next day) and we were ok in the end, but I am not stupid, and could see how it could easily happen

[dannyk13]

FF //no excuse for white trainers in my view//
Has it not crossed your mind that white trainers might be the only type of footwear that he has?

[fiction-factory]

A school spokesperson said "“Where families ask us for support with uniform, we do of course ensure that we offer support, including providing uniform for those most who need it."

I think both sides should at least have had a conversation over the phone. Maybe they did- we don't know if mum's story is the full story

[bednobs]

also, some schools are more pragmatic that others I guess. My daughter's school does not want children changing shoes, (Covid) so because they do the daily mile they will accept trainers of any colour

[fiction-factory]

>Has it not crossed your mind that white trainers might be the only type of footwear that he has?
That's nonsense danny. Black shoes are widely available for much less than what looks like a brand new pair of trainers

[bednobs]

black plimsolls are £2.50 :)

[fiction-factory]

Anyway, before going to the press and putting her son and family in a
conflict situation with the school, she should have had a conversation with the school and asked what help they could give or what would be acceptable. By the same token the school should have discussed options with her.

[jackthehat]

I must admit, based on what I have read in the link, that my sympathies lie with the Mum.
These are strange times we are presently in and the school could have given a couple of weeks grace for all of their expectations to be fulfilled. Had the boy still been wearing the same clothes in a fortnight or so, I would have changed my view.

[bednobs]

"Where families ask us for support with uniform, we do of course ensure that we offer support, including providing uniform for those most who need it."
except of course, it's a brand new school to them and they've been shut for the holidays!

[fiction-factory]

It wasn't shut when they rang her though. Surely both sides should have discussed the options and support available. And she could have asked for a meeting before going to the press

[dannyk13]

FF, black shoes may be available, but I bet that there are many households where the only children' s footwear is trainers.It's nonsense on your part that you are out of touch with what happens in the real world away from academia.

[fiction-factory]

It sounds to me from one of the reports I read that the school offered to provide clothes (shoes and sweatshirt) on the day but she declined, she said because of Covid worries. The school should have assured her that the clothes hadn't been touched or given her the chance to take them home and wash them.