Scholastic Secondary: Uniform Tips

So upon re-reading the first post I did on school uniforms, I initially discarded the idea of doing a post on secondary uniforms. Then I realised that most, if not all high schools have a winter uniform and they'll be swapping into that fairly soon. Hopefully this post might provide some advice for you as we move into winter.

NOTE: this mainly applies to public schools, but may also apply to some private schools. Take careful note as all of the points may not necessarily apply to you.

• Secondly, schools will use the terms "dress code" and "uniform" interchangably. Unless they are an alternative school that doesn't rely on a uniform (and there are a small handful of those in Australia), they pretty much refer to the same thing. 

To address this, I'll go down each item of clothing individually. 

Tops and Jumpers:

• Unless your child is still fitting into kids-size clothing, you're generally restricted to purchasing your uniform items from the school uniform shop. Some schools will use Lowes as a supplier and there are staples available, so at the very least, you're not required to give up your day to drag your kiddo to the uniform shop for a fitting.
• Try as you might, but if your child's uniform has a white shirt, that shirt will get stained by the end of the day. If your child's school demands that they wear a white shirt, please question why this is the case and/or if there is an alternative.
• For winter, most schools will allow students to wear certain long-sleeved shirts underneath or they may have a long-sleeved alternative. If your child's school allows the long-sleeved shirt underneath rule, I would suggest making sure that the shirt is in the same colour as the uniform shirt, or at the very least white. If you (or your child) do need to cover their arms for religious reasons or otherwise, white is generally a safe option. 
• For jumpers, regardless of whether they are woollen or not, please label them with a label that is ironed on or stitched-on and has their name printed on it-not handwritten. Please do not write their name on the tag-it will fade off over time (even sharpies). All it really needs to be is your child's full name, don't put their class or year level on there. 
• It may be worth learning how to darn or at the very least fix holes in clothing if your child has a woollen jumper. It is much cheaper to have those holes repaired than it is to get a replacement jumper. 
• If your child's school uniform requires them to wear a tie for any reason, check to see if a clip on or pre-tied tie is available (the latter generally will have a length of elastic or fabric that sits under the collar with a breakaway option). I say this as generally tie clips are not sold in schools (some more elite private schools will have these) and it otherwise constitutes a safety hazard for your child. If a clip-on option is not available, try and purchase a very simple tie clip that can be worn without it being obvious.

Dresses: 

• Unless your child's school says otherwise, PLEASE keep these for summer only. They're far too thin for winter, even with tights and a jumper.
• There will generally be rules around the length and whatnot, so be prepared to go up a size or two if your child has weird proportions that make a dress in their normal size fall out of the uniform rules. Also bear in mind that clothing sizes do vary between manufacturers, so if your child's school switches manufacturers at some point, that Size 12 your child wore previously may now be a size 10. Most schools WILL go up to at least a Size 24-26 so if your child is plus-size, don't panic! 
• PLEASE label your child's dress-I cannot emphasise this enough. 
• Unless the school says otherwise (generally this applies to Catholic schools and some elite schools), a good length for the dress to fall would be to knee-length or just above (no wider than a finger). If your child's skirt falls longer than that and the school does not have a rule against it, you may wish to tack the hem up. (To "tack" is to simply sew a loose running stitch around the bottom-this can then simply be cut when your child grows)
• If your child is menstruating, it may be worth teaching them how to sit so that their skirt falls out behind them and therefore the risk of staining their skirt with blood is reduced.
• Finally, please encourage them to wear simple plain sports underwear underneath their dress. As a general rule of thumb, black, dark blue or dark green underwear are fine (and would be encouraged), but I would HIGHLY recommend a white or skin-coloured bra where possible.  

Pinafores/Tunics:

• Some high schools will still insist on these for your child, especially in the younger years. As a rule, I would keep the pinafore even after they're no longer allowed to (or required) to wear it and remove the bib part. Most pinafores will come with these, especially if the pattern is the same as the winter skirt. 
• Be prepared to take the pinafore to a professional to have it altered if the bib part is NOT detachable.  

Skirts/Shorts/Pants: 

• For "summer" skirts, shorts and skorts, get your child to kneel down while wearing the aforementioned item of clothing. If you can fit an entire palm width between the bottom of the garment and the floor, then it's too short for them. If the hem of the skirt/shorts/skort/dress is being knelt on, (unless the school says otherwise), it's likely too long and may cause problems unless you tack the hem up. (Some private schools dictate the skirt length to be somewhere between knee length and mid-calf) Generally a finger-width is OK. 
• To get the most out of the skirts or dresses (or even shorts), tack up the hem with a handful of tacking stitches when you buy the item. As your child grows, the hem can be taken down. If you are going down this route, it's best to buy a size up to account for this. 
• For shorts, try and refrain from getting basketball shorts unless it's part of the PE uniform. They tend to not last as long as the shorts marketed as "school shorts" because the material is also thinner and softer. The "school shorts" are more durable and will last much longer. Boardshorts are also a no-no as they're generally too thin. 
• In schools where girls can wear pants in winter, they may wish to wear "trendier" pants. If they do wish to wear these, please refrain from purchasing them from anywhere apart from Target/Big W/Kmart/Lowes, shops designated as "schoolwear" shops (that is, they ONLY sell schoolwear/workwear) or from the school directly. The school may also set this up as a rule-not because it's distracting to the boys, but more for consistency's sake and also due to the tendency for those pants to sag or reveal butt-crack when bending over.
• For private schools and nearly all public high schools, trackpants, leggings or yoga pants are a big no-no outside of PE or Dance lessons. Even then, for PE lessons, they may ask that your child wears a set "PE Uniform" or "Sports Uniform" for obvious reasons.  
• For boys, I'll keep this simple: please make sure they wear a belt! Also, ensure that their pants or underwear are not too low/high-nobody needs to know what brand of underwear your child wears when they bend over. 
• Finally, make sure that the pants have pockets and check the pockets regularly before washing. Many a notice has gone into those pants and wound up shredded all over the washing! You may also wish to consider stitching the pockets up to minimise the risk of damage-if you do, it is recommended that you at least stitch the back pockets. 

Socks/Tights/Pantyhose:

• While most, if not all schools will have a rule on what socks are to be worn, how much they enforce this rule varies. For private schools, this may be enforced more heavily than public schools, especially if they dictate that the socks need to be a certain length (they'll then insist that they're a certain colour as well and/or dictate that they come from the uniform shop) and usually comes down to the teacher's discretion. 
• Unless the school says otherwise, I would not send a separate pair of socks to school with your child on PE days-just let them wear what they plan on wearing for socks as it's one less thing they need to change.
• For dignity's sake (and also hygiene), please do not send your child to school in socks with sandals (unless the sandal is completely enclosed).
• Take advantage of any sales throughout the year and stock up on socks regularly. I would also recommend that if you have multiple children in the house, to buy multiple sets of socks with different coloured toes/heels or even different colours entirely and allocate certain colours to each child. Using the "sew thread"/nailpolish method doesn't work if it fades or that area develops a hole. Kmart and Big W are great for these-they don't need to be pricey. 
• If your child is required to wear tights or stockings during winter, they generally need to be footed and full length (that is, you cannot wear thigh-highs, even if you have garters). They are usually also required to be black or navy by this point-this is generally one area where you can shop freely for these, as stockings fit everyone differently and what might suit one child won't necessarily suit another. (As a side note, if your child is plus-size, I would HIGHLY recommend Sonsee brand-they sell black tights in everything from 20 to 100 denier)
• At this stage, they'll also likely insist on them being a certain "denier." This just means that they're more opaque. If they don't, 70 denier is generally a good thickness (anything over around 120 stops being tights and starts being leggings and anything less than this becomes stockings). Footless tights are generally a no-no. They are also required to be plain-if you spot your daughter walking out with patterned or fishnets, please stop them. 

Shoes:

First off, before I go into my tips, take note that most, if not all private schools, dictate the wearing of black leather "school shoes", with variants on style as needed. That said, this information is still handy for sports uniforms, so don't discard this section entirely. 

• General no-nos for shoes at school are flip-flops (aka "thongs"), ugg boots, slippers, fancy shoes (i.e. the kind you might wear to a wedding) including thong-like sandals, clogs or variants of these (i.e. Crocs), ballet flats (even if they have straps), shoes with high heels/wedges/platforms or anything that could be construed as otherwise inappropriate.
• A similar variant on this (more for girls) is that if they do require black leather school shoes, anything with a "chunky" heel is generally also discouraged. (that is, the sole is not flat or the heel height is not slight) 
• For PE, if your child has stopped growing, I would definitely consider investing in a pair of sneakers from somewhere like Athlete's Foot-they will last the rest of the school term or at least until PE stops being compulsory.
• It may be tempting for your child to get the "REALLY COOL" shoes, but unless their feet have stopped growing, it'll be cheaper for you (and them) to avoid these shoes. Also, please do not send your child to school in heelies or variants of this-they are generally frowned upon for safety reasons. (Skate shoes also tend to have a short lifespan both in quality and in fashion) 
• For high school students, sneakers, lace-ups, boots or Mary Jane style shoes are an absolute MUST for OHS reasons. Even if they are not taking technology, PE, Science or Home Ec subjects, that does not mean they will be avoiding those classrooms or spaces. Even if your child's school allows or encourages sandals in summer, do NOT send them to school in these.
• "But the shoes are black" you might hear your daughter saying in regards to black ballet flats! There are a few reasons why ballet flats tend to be banned-the main ones are that they are not as supportive as regular shoes, they fall off during the day, they often tend to not cover the toes very well (basically if something drops on them, your child will know it!), there's often the question of fashionable items and cost as a result and finally, even though the outside may be flat, the inside may be slightly raised, thus essentially they become heels. 

Hair, Makeup and Accessories.

• Check with your child's school on acceptable haircuts for both genders. There will be some leeway on what is considered to be unacceptable, but the gender divide on hair is more prominent in the private system than the public (that is, girls might be OK with long hair, boys not so much). 
• For boys, shaving designs into the head, rattails, mullets and similar are generally a good way to get written off as a troublemaker or bogan by both teachers and students. For girls, any sort of "trashy" hairstyle will get the same treatment. 
• For both genders, go easy on the hair products. While you may have heard the trick about using hair products to prevent head lice from invading your child's scalp, it doesn't work. (I'll cover the dreaded head lice in another post). Also, please do not assume that high schools are headlice-free.  
• Many private high schools will encourage or insist on your child using hairties or clips that match the school colours. These are quite easy to obtain from most shops and supermarkets and may also make it easier for you when you're doing their hair. Some schools may also have these (along with ribbons) in their uniform shop. 
• Regardless of whether or not you use the "school colour" hairties, I highly highly recommend going for the snagless elastics. The ones with the metal bit on them WILL get caught in hair.
• Also, pony up a bit for these-while it may be tempting to buy the super-cheap bobbles and hair ties from the local Reject Shop, they fall apart quite quickly, aren't as secure and also may contain other bits or pieces that will catch on hair. Save them for home. 
• If you have multiple school-age children (regardless of the school they attend), it may be worth making up separate "hair bags" for them. Purchase a cheap makeup bag (they're readily available at department stores, chemists, supermarkets and such), add a hairbrush, comb, nit comb (just in case), a supply of hair ties, ribbons, clips and bobby pins and voila! It also helps reduce the spread of headlice and makes it easier to treat.
• Makeup for secondary students is generally a flat-out no-no, however some schools may allow for it provided that it's discrete and not immediately obvious (for example, if your child is wearing a light foundation and maybe a hint of lipgloss, it will be more accepted than one who is wearing a bronzer, eyeshadow, mascara and so on). 
• Please do NOT let your child get (or encourage them to get) acrylic nails, tips or anything along those lines. They will get in the way of them working, the school will likely enforce the "no makeup" rule even if there's clear nail polish on them and they present a OHS hazard. 
• Jewellery tends to be limited to watches, studs or sleepers (and even then I recommend studs as sleepers can still catch on hair or other students may pull on them) and maybe an item of religious significance (schools may vary on this). Occasionally, a necklace may also be worn if it's of a modest nature. This is almost entirely for OHS reasons over any reason to squash fashion trends. 
• By this point your child may wish to get a body piercing. For private schools, the rule will pretty much be one earring per ear and only in the lobe. Therefore, if they attend a private school, try and discourage them from getting a facial piercing-yes, even a tongue piercing does get noticed. Belly-buttons are generally OK provided your child wears a top or jumper that will cover it when they lift their arms up. For public schools, it's a case of YMMV, but both public and some private schools will allow clear retainers to be worn in the site of the piercing. 

Commemorative Tops:

These are usually doled out in Year 12, although some middle schools (that are set up as such) will dole them out in Year 9. By this point they will get expensive, so I would really only recommend 1 jumper or jacket and 1 or 2 shirts if they're an option. As an added point, if your child does want their nickname on their jumper/shirt (most schools do allow for this), please check what the nickname is before they hand in the form-most schools will refuse ones like "pig fucker" but depending on your child, the nickname given may also be a sign that they're bullied. 

Exemptions:

Most schools are not that heartless and will understand that from time to time, things happen. By law or by policy, most public schools will make exceptions in their dress code for the following reasons:

• Financial hardship (this is on a case-by-case basis and the school may be able to work with you for being able to afford the uniform.)
• Cultural or ethnic (this may be a little rarer nowadays, but may be that for example, your child might be allowed to wear certain items during certain times)
• Religious (this one is a little easier to modify and most schools are now incorporating parts of this into their standard dress code. What this may typically look like is the allowance of a student to wear religious dress provided it's in the school colours. Note that schools can and do check up on these things and will not simply take your word for it.) 
• If you are a brand new student (this ground is a little harder to prove nowadays given that most parents would have their child settled into the area well before they move schools. That said, as some schools are tightening uniform policies to include items that can't be purchased from Kmart, it's a little harder)
• If there's a genuine medical need for it (this might be that for example, the student can wear a sandal to allow for a swollen or infected foot that's being treated, or that they can wear shorts to allow for a knee brace/cast)
• Mobile or transient students (the school would be aware of this. Examples of this might be families where one or both parents are in the defence force, emergency force or where one parent is escaping an abusive relationship) 
• Any other situations (these are assessed on a case-by-case basis)

These are not automatically granted however and parents do need to take their case to the principal as soon as they are aware of the matter (for example, if it's a surgical thing, making the school aware before the surgery). Some states will require it to be done within 3 weeks of the term. These exemptions are usually temporary although in some cases, they may be ongoing. If your child is attending a K-12 school, any exemptions may not necessarily apply when your child moves over to the high school.

Schools may also insist that students with exemptions are restricted to certain areas of the school during recess and lunchtime. While this may seem like a case of putting on a "front" and that the school cares about image more,in most cases, this is to prevent students from being mistaken for non-students or for those students to take advantage of the fact that they aren't in uniform and thus leave the school grounds. 

For private schools, the same general principle applies. 

FAQS and other questions:

What about hats?

For secondary students, this tends to fall into a few categories depending on the school. Some private schools (generally all-girls ones, but sometimes co-ed do this too) and selective public schools will require your girl to wear a straw hat with a badge on the hat band (at least in summer), while other schools will allow either a bucket hat, wide-brimmed hat or cap that is designated by the school. Unless they require the latter in the uniform, please aim for the wide-brimmed or bucket hats where possible-there's a reason why we have the highest rates of skin cancer.

Your child may also be required to wear the hat out of the school grounds. If they ride a bike to school, generally the rule only extends to the child wearing it out of the school gates at least.

I don't want to go to the school uniform shop, can you suggest anywhere else?

Lowes (Australia Lowes), Best n Less, any shop that designates itself as a schoolwear shop and some workwear stores. And yes, Lowes do sell school uniform "staples" for both genders-they are not just a menswear store (they do also act as a supplier for some schools for their entire uniform). 

Why do you discourage writing their name on the tag, even if there's a space for it? 
The problem with those particular tags is threefold:

-They generally do not hold ink very well and even laundry pens can fade or smudge over time.
-If your child has a sensory issue and can't cope with the tags on the clothing, they generally need to be cut off (it's not always just that the tag is rubbing because it's moving, it may also be the composition of the tag fabric) negating the need for it.
-Finally, there's generally not enough space for a full name to be put on there so if your child has a long name, they can't really have the name on the tag and use short forms/nicknames generally doesn't work.

The added benefit of the iron/sew-on labels is that they can be put in a place that's not immediately irritating to the student (such as on the bottom) and they can also be firmly ironed/stitched into place reducing the irritability issue. Many, many places will allow you to order custom-made printed labels with your child's name on it and if you own a labelmaker, the two main varieties sold in shops (Brother and Dymo) sell label "tapes" that are of a fabric nature.

Why are ballet flats not an allowed option? They cover the toes and feet! 

They're generally forbidden for the following reasons:

-They slip off easily.
-While they do appear to encase the toes/heel, not all varieties of ballet flat do this. (most in fact, only just cover the toes)
-They provide very minimal support for the foot, especially when you're active.
-The sole is also often very thin. (and in some cases, is almost entirely non-existent)
-It also minimises that "cost" thing, as ballet flats can run the gamut from $5 at Kmart to $150 in some places.
-There are several options out there for students that tend to result in them looking anywhere from "party"-like to "pretty"
-Finally, ballet flats also tend to fall into that realm of "party shoes."

Canvas slip-on shoes and canvas flats that look like ballet flats do generally have a lot more support and coverage, but for fairness sake, the latter tend to be banned.

What about if my child has special needs?

If your child has special needs, the same rule around exemptions applies. I would suggest talking to your child's GP or therapists about modifications. Alternately the school can also assist.

What about if my child has an injury?
For temporary injuries, the rule about exemptions does apply. Generally speaking, if the area needs to be kept "exposed" or covering it causes discomfort, schools will relax a little on the coverage rules. If your child breaks their arm/wrist, it is still possible to get them into their school uniform tops/shirts-you will need to lift their arm right up and it'll take some time to slip the casted arm/hand into the sleeve. Then simply replace the sling (if they have one) and you're done! For winter, you may need to use a jacket instead of a jumper.  If your child breaks/sprains their leg/ankle/foot, the same issue applies, or you may need to buy an item of clothing the next size up to accommodate the cast. Some schools may allow for a loaner if needed, but check with them first.

You don't mention blazers...why?

These are almost entirely restricted to private schools, although some public schools will either provide or loan/hire out blazers for official functions. Some schools may also dictate that these are worn for "formal" events. In this instance, the main tips for them are pretty much the same everywhere: stick to 1 blazer (as they are PRICEY), get it dry-cleaned regularly (some schools provide this as an option) and make sure that your child is aware of the protocol with said blazer (such as when to wear it, take it off and so on). If your child is prone to losing clothing, there's enough space for it and the school has no rule about requiring blazers to be worn in or out of school grounds, it may be worth allowing them to put their blazer in their locker-make sure that they can fold it up first.

Why/when do public schools loan out blazers?
Typically this is for formal events or occasions where the standard school uniform won't cut it. Typically that same uniform will already have a white button-up shirt (or in some cases green/blue) or school dress as part of it, but the blazers tend to clarify exactly where they're from. The events include things such as inducting school captains, Open Day (worn by students acting as tour guides or similar, parents do see students in the actual uniform), representing their school at memorial events, graduation (rarely, but it does happen), photo day (SRC only usually), greeting MPs or foreign dignitaries and some competitions. Your child will usually be advised if the blazer is needed or they will be provided with one.

My child attends a private school and I can't afford the uniform, what should I do?

Both public and private schools will regularly keep a stock of pre-loved uniform pieces. There's usually nothing wrong with these, just that they've previously been worn by another child. Some schools will also hold secondhand shop days with the same idea. Check with your school's uniform shop to find out how this works for you. If you'd like to repay the favour, a lot of schools will encourage this, sometimes under consignment (meaning that you will get some money back when another parent purchases the garment) sometimes simply as a donation. Check with your school's uniform shop on how this works and what condition the garment needs to be in. For hygiene purposes, old sports uniforms (not the PE uniform, this is more sports team competition uniforms), socks, some skorts, bathing suits (some schools do demand this too) and hats are generally not allowed to be sold or donated.

My child keeps losing clothing, what do I do?
Aside from labelling the everloving crap out of everything (it is possible to get labels printed with your child's name for a fee in some places, alternately a labelmaker and fabric tape are available from Big W, Kmart, Target and Officeworks for around $50-$60 total), there are a few things you can do.

-Check the school's lost property box regularly. Once a week will usually be enough.
-Understand that the most common items to go missing are hats and jumpers. Lunchboxes may also occasionally go missing if your child's school does not get kids to eat in their classrooms first (or if your child puts other items in there) .
-If your child attends any sort of after-school care program, check the lost property box there as well!
-If your child is continually losing items despite efforts on their end (as well as yours), it may also be a sign of bullying or another psychological issue and it may be worth taking further action.