Tracksuits To Become Standard School Uniform?

Tracksuits are leisure wear and cheaper, shiny ones look vile. I think the best compromise is one a school uses near me where pupils have a jumper with the school badge, a polo shirt, black trousers and black shoes. I can understand independent and the few remaining grammar schools wanting the traditional full uniform, but other state schools should have a simple, but smart uniform.
As a fashion, tracksuits seem to come and go. They became really popular in the late nineties, then developed a negative image in the noughties as they were seen as part of the so called chav culture, and fluctuated in popularity since then. It's likely the current trend, which only a minority wear anyway, could die off again.

I reaally cannot understand all these people getting hysterical of the past, presne tand future of track suits and what they are made of.

It is a sensible practical garment for children of all ages and all shapes and sizes to wear to school. I wish they had been the uniform in my day.

Schools can stipulated the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

Discard all the cultural connotations. Tracksuits are practical and sensible garments that can be worn by all children.

I think tracksuits are a great idea, far fewer items to be ‘lost’, my two were always leaving coats/jumpers and other items, I also think a blazer is the most useless item of clothing ever.

But parents will always want them to be cheap, and cheap tracksuit trousers will get shapeless and baggy very quickly. If a hole appears then the whole tracksuit will need replacing because no-one knows how to mend anything now.

What is wrong with black trousers with airtex polo shirt and sweatshirt in school colour with school badge. Smart and simple, boys and girls both in trousers.

M0nica

I reaally cannot understand all these people getting hysterical of the past, presne tand future of track suits and what they are made of.

It is a sensible practical garment for children of all ages and all shapes and sizes to wear to school. I wish they had been the uniform in my day.

Schools can stipulated the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

Discard all the cultural connotations. Tracksuits are practical and sensible garments that can be worn by all children.

Hear hear.

Schools can stipulate the type of tracksuit to be worn or specify one from one particular shop.

And that is the sensible answer. Otherwise you get so many different interpretations and variations, it looks a right mess.

It's not easy being the dictator Head who decides what a school's uniform should be, (believe me!), because the vocal parents all have their own ideas, and the children are expert rule benders. You have to consider smartness, practicality, costs, and the longevity of the image because you can't go re-designing every few years. You can have a battle on your hands, but generally speaking, back in the day, if the school was highly respected for its education and pastoral care, then parents towed the line with the uniform and didn't grumble. Phew! Win, win!

That's why sometines the traditional uniform was easier

It won't be forever. Nothing ever is. The tracksuit versions will be tried out. If they work, it will continue and evolve, until the next 'good plan'.
If it fails, then back to the drawing board.

Maremia

It won't be forever. Nothing ever is. The tracksuit versions will be tried out. If they work, it will continue and evolve, until the next 'good plan'.
If it fails, then back to the drawing board.

Precisely. I’m a track suit fan, so far.

I’m in favour of tracksuits. We first tried it by saying the children could come in tracksuits (PE kit) on PE days.
I’m interested to know, in the colder weather what do you expect the children will be asked to wear underneath?
Then again, in the summer? What will the uniform be?
Would you personally have worn a track on really hot summer days?

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

M0nica

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

Sounds fine, until the fashionistas step in.

M0nica

Wear a plain T shirt.under the track suit or a plain sweater in winter.

And gillets are a great piece of kit

Mollygo

I’m in favour of tracksuits. We first tried it by saying the children could come in tracksuits (PE kit) on PE days.
I’m interested to know, in the colder weather what do you expect the children will be asked to wear underneath?
Then again, in the summer? What will the uniform be?
Would you personally have worn a track on really hot summer days?

Imagine a classroom fully of teenage boys wearing tracksuits on a hot summer's day

🤔

Allira
Imagine a classroom fully of teenage boys wearing tracksuits on a hot summer's day.

Thanks, I’d rather not!

A high percentage of society looks sloppy and scruffy enough without whole schools full of children dressed in tracksuits five days a week, ok for PE day, but let's dress with a bit more decorum in skirts/tailored trousers, polo shirts/shirts and sweatshirts with school logo, with sensible black shoes. Too many people look like they've gone out in what they've slept in, straggly hair, dirty trainers. Eating out is no longer an event to get dressed up for, you feel overdressed if you've made an effort. There doesn't seem to be any pride in dressing these days, and as for boasting that you never iron (which I've often heard), that's just pure laziness. Let school children see how important it is to present yourself well, if they're allowed to let standards slip at a young age, there's no hope 🤷.

My children went to a state secondary school where the only dress code was "no football colours". They had an excellent education despite wearing whatever they wanted. I cannot think of any benefit they would have gained from wearing uniform.

One reason, reported in the links given on this thread, for introducing track suits as uniform is to encourage a more active lifestyle, which is commendable.

Allira T shirts, plain, not necessarily white insted of the track suit top. When i was at aschool we wore sweaters over school shirts. If the weather was hot we took the sweaters off.

Blazers were also left off in really hot summer weather.

M0nica

Allira T shirts, plain, not necessarily white insted of the track suit top. When i was at aschool we wore sweaters over school shirts. If the weather was hot we took the sweaters off.

Blazers were also left off in really hot summer weather.

M0nica. We did that too, except that in lower school in the summer, we had to wear skirts gathered onto a bodice -a nightmare to get in and out of and decidedly unflattering for most!

TheSunRisesInTheEast

A high percentage of society looks sloppy and scruffy enough without whole schools full of children dressed in tracksuits five days a week, ok for PE day, but let's dress with a bit more decorum in skirts/tailored trousers, polo shirts/shirts and sweatshirts with school logo, with sensible black shoes. Too many people look like they've gone out in what they've slept in, straggly hair, dirty trainers. Eating out is no longer an event to get dressed up for, you feel overdressed if you've made an effort. There doesn't seem to be any pride in dressing these days, and as for boasting that you never iron (which I've often heard), that's just pure laziness. Let school children see how important it is to present yourself well, if they're allowed to let standards slip at a young age, there's no hope 🤷.

I am on the same page. Let's try and make some attempt at looking smart. Tracksuits are sloppy creations, only one step up from pyjamas (or maybe they should wear them?).

You also have the question of whether they should have hoodies which would be absolutely awful but I bet the kids would demand them.

During hot weather they would have to remove the sweatshirt and wear short sleeves but what about their legs? Short sleeves will look even more tacky with tracksuit bottoms and their legs will be hot.

What is wrong with black/grey/navy trousers with airtex polo shirt and sweatshirt in school colour with school badge. Just as comfortable but much smarter.

Not every family will have a tumble dryer to dry the tracksuits. They will bag at the knees and no doubt fade. I have no grandchildren so no direct experience of what they like wearing. But I agree with PPs who say black trousers, polo shirts, sweater with a badge and black trainer type shoes would look good and possibly wear better than a tracksuit.

Keep tracksuits for home wear.

Anyway wait and see how it turns out in a couple of years.

Mollygo

M0nica

Allira T shirts, plain, not necessarily white insted of the track suit top. When i was at aschool we wore sweaters over school shirts. If the weather was hot we took the sweaters off.

Blazers were also left off in really hot summer weather.

M0nica. We did that too, except that in lower school in the summer, we had to wear skirts gathered onto a bodice -a nightmare to get in and out of and decidedly unflattering for most!

We had cotton gingham dresses.
Never seen these days except in some hot countries.

What is wrong with black/grey/navy trousers with airtex polo shirt and sweatshirt in school colour with school badge. Just as comfortable but much smarter.

Yes, I agree.

There's an article on BBC News website at the moment of a Alvaston Moor Academy in Derby who had a "Big Student Ask" consultation with students, parents and the community about possible changes that would improve the Academy and school uniform came up as an improvement that they wanted to make.

After consultation, in respect of school uniform issue, results in were favour of a black all weather jacket and black polo shirt (could have long/shirt sleeves I guess if wanted for different seasons) each containing the school crest, i.e. just 2 simple items. Skirts/trousers/track suits bottoms of choice, presumably in black- photo on BBC website. The new uniform will come into force from September for year new 7 pupils. Other existing pupils can adopt it if they wish.

The consultation found the new uniform better suited to children with sensory needs, was more practical, better for physical movement in break times and going to and rom school on bikes etc, more affordable, teachers not wasting time enforcing uniform rules, students wearing something comfortable they like etc. It looks nice, does the job, is cheaper, easy to wear and the students were involved in the decision too. All seems sensible to me.

Yes, LemonJam, not bad that school!
Seems like black is the colour the youngsters all like.

Except the pupils could have cleaned their shoes better for the photo!

That's a good way to do it.