What parents are saying about school blazer ban and pressures to scrap branded uniform

Parents in Manchester have been sharing their views on proposed changes to school uniform.

We reported yesterday how some schools are planning to scrap blazers and ties to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in classrooms.

With studies finding the virus can live on surfaces like clothing or towels for up to 72 hours, schools want pupils wearing fresh clothes each day, but say it's unrealistic for parents to wash items such as blazers so frequently.

Added to this is the pressure to keep costs down for families and a bill is currently passing through Parliament calling for further guidance for schools on enforcing branded items, which parents often struggle to afford.

But while some mums and dads have welcomed the move - and criticised the 'scandalous' prices of some branded products - others say it will make no difference to the potential coronavirus risk, as not all children would wear freshly washed clothes each day anyway.

Commenting on the M.E.N's Facebook page, mums Tara Reyner and Nicola Kwekha agree it would unrealistic to wash blazers each day.

"Good idea not to wear the blazer as it can't be washed everyday as the fabric is rubbish and would ruin too quick," said Tara. "My boys will be in Year 10 in September and £50 a pop for a blazer, I ain't buying new ones."

And Nicola said: "I think it's a good idea if they ban the blazer and ties, especially for secondary schools as no-one has the money to buy five blazers at £40 a pop. Washing them daily isn't practical, the other parts of the uniform are fine and you can get pants and shirts cheaply from supermarkets, rather than the specific embroidery shops selling uniform with the logos."

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Others welcomed the idea to scrap logos to keep costs down.

Elizabeth Barton said: "This could be great news for many, including families from our local school.

"We live on a large housing estate where the school is changing their uniform from red to burgundy and all items are now to be branded with the school logo, which has also changed.

"This uniform is only available from one supplier and quite expensive compared to non branded clothing that maybe available from multiple shops/supermarkets making prices more affordable for families in a deprived area."

Melissa Izzo said: "As much as a blazer and tie looks really smart, the cost of these uniforms is scandalous. Parents should be able to buy non branded uniform for children in high school."

And on the M.E.N's Manchester Family Facebook page, mum Kelly Ellis said: "Plain uniform can be purchased and look just as smart. The blazers and logo uniforms are completely not essential.

"Some families struggle to afford to buy them so only get one blazer or one skirt, which is bad hygiene, especially for teens that are at that time in life where they start to smell."

She added: "I fully agree that uniform cost should be kept as low as possible for everyone. I can buy a uniform for my daughter in primary school for £50, but my daughter in first year high school is £200 plus."

It's Beckfoot Oakbank School in Keighley, West Yorkshire, where blazers have already been banned.

The headteacher has written to parents stating coronavirus and the cost as reasons for banning them, along with shirts and ties from September.

In a letter to parents, she wrote: "DfE guidance (which we have followed throughout) states that blazers and ties are not encouraged as it is recommended that students and staff come to school each day in full clean clothes in the interest of safety for all.

"Washing a blazer or a tie, or even washing and ironing a clean shirt daily is not realistic."

Wellacre Academy boys school in Flixton is currently letting vulnerable and key worker children, as well as its Year 10 cohort, wear non-uniform.

And while Year 6 children received a letter earlier this month, telling them that blazers and ties would not be required in September, principal Melanie Wicks says that following the Prime Minister's confirmation that schools will be open to all children in September, that's no longer the case.

She said: "Obviously with Boris Johnson announcing today that schools will be back to normal in September, all students will be expected to wear their full school uniform and staff will be dressed in their best too.

"An updated letter will go out to all Year 6 parents next week, advising them of this. Our students attending currently do not have to wear their school uniform and this is in place until the end of the school year."

Meanwhile some people feel that the only impact of ditching branded uniforms, would be on the behaviour of pupils.

Margaret Schofield said: "This would be a dreadful mistake. Whatever clothes the children wear some parents will wash them and others won't. Children's behaviour becomes 'sloppy' when their clothing is sloppy."

And Vikki Newton said: "The whole point in uniform is so that a child can be identified should they be off school grounds during school time, uniform is to teach them to abide to rules set by the school.

"I fully understand that a blazer is an expensive item to have multiple of, should people struggle to dry them overnight. However, regardless of what top or bottoms they have to wear, if a parent isn't going to send the children in fresh clean clothes every day changing the uniform isn't going change this."

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Many feel having a branded uniform instills a sense of pride and belonging in pupils.

Sally Percival said: "It would be sad, in my opinion, to remove school brand as it gives children pride, a sense of identity and belonging, though costs of branded uniform have got out of control. For example my children's school uniform supplier supply a cardigan at a cost of £22, which has no logo at all."

Lorraine Burns added: "Uniform gives children a sense of belonging. Tidy on the outside and tidy on the inside. I know children feel proud in their uniforms. You can purchase most products from your supermarkets."

Despite the different views on whether items should include logos or not, most parents agree they would rather have a uniform than have children wearing their own clothes, particularly when it comes to teenage fashions.

Michelle Craig said: "A basic school uniform should be kept in place. If children were to go in wearing their own clothes you then have the children who can't afford branded stuff and it opens a another can of worms."

And Margery Clapham added: "Uniform is the best for kids. Otherwise you will have big problems with kids turning up in top gear stuff and some who cannot afford those things. That's why it's more sensible to keep kids the same. Less problems with the pupils."

Kate Clayton agreed saying: "I don't want to rush out and buy new uniform yet, given that we don't yet know if school will be full time in September, however I want my kids in uniform.

"Uniform puts kids in the mindset to learn, it's easier to get ready in the morning if kids know exactly what to dress themselves in and to ditch uniform would put more financial pressure on parents to buy fashionable clothes so their kids aren't singled out.

"I would hope schools would just be flexible for the time being when it comes to parents replacing uniform."

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Sharing guidance on laundry during the pandemic, the NHS website states: "All underwear, towels and household linen should be washed at 60C (140F) or at 40C (104F) with a bleach-based laundry product to prevent germs from spreading."

It also urges people not to leave laundry in the washing machine, saying that 'any remaining germs can multiply rapidly' and advises people to wash their hands thoroughly after handling dirty laundry.

Has your school changed its uniform policy for September? What do you think about schools ditching blazers and ties to help prevent the spread of coronavirus? Do you have an opinion on branded uniform?

Let us know in the comments or share your views on our Manchester Family Facebook page.

Parents divided over school blazer ban and pressures to scrap branded uniform