'I can't afford son's new school uniform – so they keep giving him detention'
A mum has expressed her indignation after her son was placed in detention for attending school in the former uniform.
She detailed how her son's school had rolled out a revamped school uniform, presenting a new jumper, shirts, and PE kit with only "a few months' notice".
Formerly, pupils could sport their own attire as long as it aligned with the school's color scheme. Nonetheless, the frustrated mother continues to send her 16 year old boy to classes in the old uniform because she cannot manage the cost of the new attire on her current salary.
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The mum shared: "I'm on half my normal wage with still bills to pay, children to feed, and normal monthly expenses. I cannot drop £400 on a new uniform that will only be used for a year. I can't afford or justify not eating to be able to afford it."
She also highlighted the impact of recent hardships, saying: "Circumstances have changed drastically and being out of work for months with bills and other expenses."
Despite this, the school has been sanctioning her son with detentions and intends to persist until he complies with the uniform policy. Elaborating on Reddit, she said: "The new uniform is extremely expensive and I cannot afford to get it. They only informed us about this in July and other parents are in the same boat."
She recounted her conversation with the school, saying: "I told the school this, and I can't even give my daughter the uniform as she is in an all-girls school. The school said I needed to get the new uniform by September and all this year's add-ons. I said again, that I couldn't afford it and that last year one would just have to do. It's his final year of secondary on top of all of that."
She continued: "I said either they can provide the uniform or they can be quiet about him wearing the old one. The principal told me that if he doesn't have the new uniform, there'll be letters sent home constantly, my son will be given detention and if he doesn't attend his detentions he'll be suspended."
In a show of support for her son, she assured him that he wouldn't be punished at home for any detentions resulting from the uniform issue, as it wasn't his fault she couldn't afford the new attire.
Seeking guidance, she turned to Reddit, where one user advised: "I would complain about the uniform issue to the governors, PTA, council, etc. I don't think it's fair to make you have to buy a whole new uniform set for one year. When the school I taught at changed uniform we allowed year 10 and 11 to keep using the old style unless they chose to buy new/needed new ones anyway."
Another chimed in with words of encouragement: "Your son has done nothing wrong so he deserves no punishment. You've done nothing wrong either mum. This was appropriate in both situations."
A further commenter shared a similar experience, saying: "This all reminds me of the new principal at my son's elementary school. She was convinced that uniforms were the answer to the kids problems (No parents at home, no regular meals, homelessness, etc.). It took the PTA two years to get rid of her and she went on to be a bus driver."