School bans pupils from wearing shirts and ties... because they look too SCRUFFY

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 11:37 AM on 16th September 2009

 

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An independent school has banned pupils from wearing its traditional shirts and ties because teachers thought they looked too scruffy.

 

Boys and girls at St Peters Church of England Aided School in Exeter, Devon, have been told that their normal uniform will be replaced with branded polo shirts.

But bemused parents say the children have been banned from looking too smart.

 

Headteacher of St Peter's School Mark Perry with schoolchildren wearing the new branded polo shirt

 

Some pupils at the independent secondary school, which has over 1,200 pupils, and even the headteacher said they would prefer a shirt and tie uniform.

But other staff pushed for the move because they were constantly asking pupils to readjust their old uniforms.

Some parents have criticised the move, which has been imposed despite a last-gasp effort by pupils for a reprieve.

 

 

 

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One parent, who has a son attending the school and wishes to remain anonymous, said: 'It almost seems they are being banned from being too smart.

'I think it is absolutely bizarre and my son is absolutely livid about it.

'Other schools in Exeter seem to have improved their uniforms and now St Peter's have taken this decision.'

 

St Peter's School in Exeter where pupils have been banned from wearing traditional shirts and ties

 

Mark Perry, headteacher of St Peter's admitted he was sorry to see the shirts and ties go.

He said: 'I have to say I am a shirt and tie man myself, but it is the case that those who were wearing them were wearing them so badly that teachers were continually having to ask pupils to do up their ties properly or tuck their shirts in.

'The move to ban shirts and ties came from the staff and it was discussed at the student council who were against the idea.

 

'They said "we love it" and tried to get the message across about how they should be worn

 

'But it was no good and senior staff saw it as being a real waste of management time.'

 

'I am sorry that they have gone but the situation was creating an atmosphere we did not want, of people being continually asked to tuck shirts in and do ties up.'

 

He added: 'I have to say that our blue polo shirts with the school badge on the breast are very smart and our pupils look very good in them.'

 

Pupil Lauren Penney, 12, said: 'I think its a really good idea - the new uniform looks smart and is easy to wear.

 

'Pupils at other schools, which do have ties, can wear them in lots of different ways that can look really scruffy.'

 

Helen Barker, said her daughter, who attends St Peter's, prefers the polo shirts.

'They're comfortable for the children to wear. You can't really go wrong with a polo shirt.'

Councillor Paul Smith, a governor at West Exe, said: 'I would say that, knowing St Peter's, they have got very sound reasons for doing so. They don't take things lightly there. They don't do anything on a whim; it is fully considered.'

He added: 'There are ways with shirts and ties that people can make them look a bit strange.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1213840/School-bans-pupils-wearing-shirts-ties--look-SCRUFFY.html#ixzz0RHtPuFIY

The bemused parents are morons.

 

We did the whole Sweatshirt + Polo Shirt combo at our school and it looked much smarter than kids wearing loose ties.

Wish my school would do this

My highschool had the choice between a polo shirt or a button up shirt. The polo shirt was a million times more comfortable and much easier to care for.