PARENTS and pupils at a top Warrington school are threatening to boycott proposed new school uniforms.
Pupils at Lymm High School have already staged several sit down protests against the proposals which have been drawn up by the school’s new head teacher Angela Walsh, who joined the school last September.
Several hundred pupils have signed a protest petition while parents have been writing letters of objection to the Head Teacher and school governors.
Parents claim they were not properly consulted, with a meeting to discuss the proposals taking place during the working day. Others are complaining that the school is creating a “monoply” by only having the school shop as an exclusive point of sale.
In a letter to parents Miss Walsh says the current uniform is of poor quality and not worn properly with too many different variations. She also says any family facing financial difficulties will be “fully supported.”
But 14-year-old pupil Rachel Frith, who has collected a petition signed by nearly 300 other youngsters, claims pupils were not properly consulted and should have been given the option to vote for retaining the existing uniform.
“The school has failed to taken into consideration the views of pupils and parents and this has created a lot of strong feelings,” she said.
In a letter to the Head teacher Mother of three and former Lymm Grammar School pupil Laurie Harter said:”I hope you are now aware that, together with the Board of Governors, you have sparked off far more aggression and disagreements than I have known in the school’s history!
“I was a pupil at the school in the late sixties and I believe that the teachers in those days encountered the same problems with uniform as you do today; teachers and Heads had to keep reminding girls why their skirts should remain at a “decent” level, (just above the knee), they had to insist on a practical style for school shoes and check that the boys maintained a neat appearance, even after playing sports. 
“We behaved in a similar way to pupils of today, which resulted in regular policing of our general appearance and we frequently faced detention if we were found wearing excessive jewellery or nail varnish.
Another parent Geoff Bate said: “The new uniform will only be available from the school shop which is a monopoly position.
“The school already has a uniform policy, that now permits the purchase of blazers etc from other outlets often at much better quality and price !!
“The current uniform is not strictly enforced by the school, you only need to stand outside the school to view the state of dress of some of the pupils
.
If they can not enforce the policy now, what change will a new uniform make ?
If we take the basics, skirt/trousers, shirt and tie that will amount to perhaps around £50~£60 per pupil, with 2,000 pupils this is over £100,000 of money local people have to find to replace the current uniform. In the present economic climate and credit crunch how can this be justified ?
“My child already has a well turned out uniform that complies with current policy but I will be expected to fork out for new – this can not be allowed to happen!
Despite several phone calls to the school requesting a comment from the Head Teacher none was forthcoming.
Pictures show 14-year-old Rachel Frith with some pupils and parents opposing the new uniforms, the proposed new uniforms pupils have been given a choice of and a sit down protest at the school.
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21 Comments
From what I have heard the new head teacher seems intent on destroying the great reputation of one of the areas top schools.
In fact it is already a sad reflection that we can no longer say the areas Top School as it has been over taken by nearby Bridgewater now on results.
The school has created a blog
http://lymmhigh.blogspot.com/2009/06/consultation-on-school-uniform.html#comment-form
unfortunately this is being edited as not all comments are printed. Yest another example of the bias and one sided “communication” by the school
This uniform is absolutely awful, think if we are forced to have it, then Miss Walsh should also have to do the same !!
Miss Walsh’s letter dates 3rd June states “Over the next two weeks the pupils will be choosing their favourite of the three uniforms and we shall choose the most popular”
Lets examine the true case. Pupils have been down to the school shop to view the uniforms. One uniform that is from a school down the road, so can be dismissed, one that is absolutely horrible that not even a blind pupil
would pick in error and the remaining “red” uniform , the only one surprisingly that has the school badge on it. So the pupils “vote” they have been told that they will get detention if they spoil their ballot papers or refuse to vote and have no 4th option
to keep the existing uniform – not really a fair and unbiased vote. !!
Wouldn’t it be sensible to introduce the new uniform for the new entry each year, these kids are going to buy a uniform anyway, then eventually gradually everyone will have the new one. Replacements for older pupils upsizing could be the new one.
Yes but look at the picture of it. Pupils should be proud to wear the uniform, this is horrible !!
As a parent, I went to see the uniforms in the school shop, I was horrified just how bad the taste was. The ladies in the school shop informed me the reason why the head wants to change is mainly the girls ” the y look like they are going to a night club when coming to school”
Does the head not think that the girls will not custom the new uniform, if they have kilts we will have 1000 britney spears going to lymm school.
As a busy parent I was not aware of the steps that had already been taken and the apparent ruckus in the school. Having now seen the ‘favourite’ uniform, I must say that I do like it. But this is besides the point. Miss Walsh is in danger of destabilizing a very successful school for a merely peripheral issue, by not fully consulting with parents and pupils. Is she short of available improvement areas at LHS to add to her CV? Why rebrand a well known, successful brand? I must say that our local primary seems to give more empowerment to pupils through the school council. Why are LHS not using their school council on this issue to enforce JUMP ? I am most concerned that Miss Walsh has now lost the respect of many parents and pupils, that she seems to have forgotten is essential to her delivering this role. I will personally not be investing in new uniform for my two children currently at LHS and will be campaigning for focus to return to the important matters of lesson content, teaching quality, extra curricular opportunities, behaviour and results.
Although my son has just left the school, I feel very strongly about the impact that this uniform proposal is having on the school. There are issues with the current uniform, but these do not necessarily require a complete uniform change. Surely, for example, it would be much easier, and save more of parents’ money, to introduce a new skirt into the current uniform, and say wear a tartan skirt with the current blazer, since skirt length seems to be the main concern. I see no problem with the current blazers, so why do they need to be changed. The whole proposal has in my eyes been one very big mistake, as it has provoked too much lack of respect for the headteacher, as too much has been done without proper consultation with students, staff, and parents. Obviously by now, the uniform for September has all been chosen and ordered, so I do also disagree with the protests, as they will clearly have no effect, but just give the school a reputation that it certainly doesn’t want to have!! I think it’s time that everyone put their feelings on uniform aside, and started focusing on being consulted about the other proposed changes that there is still time to act upon. It’s time everyone dropped this and gave Miss Walsh a chance to make a mense, and not drive her into an even deeper hole, where she has no option. If parents, students and staff wish to be consulted in future, maybe a few encouraging comments, and less negativity are more likely to promote this, and make Miss Walsh feel as if she has support with any more plans, allowing her to dicuss the ideas and any other problems that people think may be caused through such changes. No headteacher would ever want to consult with parents or students with such an attitude as has been displayed over the uniform proposal. Quite frankly, the protesting was a waste of time, and everyone knew this beforehand. What are the students doing for the school by portraying such a bad reputation in Warrington Guardian and Lymm Life. This will just cause more widespread anger over the proposals and get other people from the area involved. Students, be proud of your school!! It’s so much better than most others, just think of all the positive things, the opportunities you are given through the school, and focus on the bigger picture, not just one feature, the uniform. The blame for needing a new uniform lies with those students who wear unacceptable items, so it’s them who have let the rest of you down. Also, if staff were more consistent about enforcing the uniform policies, then problems would soon be solved. Throughout my son’s time at the school, there have always been some staff who enforce the uniform properly, making sure everyone is wearing it appropriately at the beginning and end of lessons, whereas others just don’t mention anything, allowing students to get away with wearing it however they like. This has also been the case during JUMP campaign weeks!! As a result of this, Miss Walsh is now receiving all the blame, when she is not solely reponsible for the change. Is this really fair? She may be new to the school, but given respect and time, she may have her opportunity to shine through positive changes at the school. She only needs more support from the school, respect, and students to maintain the pride they have previously had in their school. This no longer has any impact on me or my family, but I am however still concerned for the reputation of the school, which has always been, and should remain, so high.
Perhaps if the Head Teacher had the decency to respond to calls from the local media on this issue she may gain a little more respect!
In my book, you have to EARN respect, and by her antics and forcing the uniform change through with NO consultation she has no respect now and for whatever she attempts to do in the future. I simply have no trust in her.
In Miss Walshs letter dated 3rd June it states “WE have made significant progress in reviewing our present school uniform”
who is WE ?? I sit on the school council and not once has she raised this issue with us. So much for consultation !!
I like our current uniform, it just needs enforcing. The way forward is not to FORCE a new uniform on us – Respect that is
what we are taught. I have copied this to another web site, so it better had not be deleted !
I think parents and pupils have a right to be consulted on changes as significant as a new uniform and it was the lack of adequate consultation on this issue which has lead to the protests. Responsibility for this rests with the Headteacher.
Since the head teacher has so very obviously exceeded her authority in this matter, with her blythe disregard for both DSCF guidance on school uniform policy and the statutory requirements of the Schools Admissions Code, then any boycott by parents and pupils of this new uniform come September would be wholely justified.
What would she do. I wonder, if parents wrote in and stated that their children will not be wearing the new uniform, and that in view of the fact that the change has been handled contrary to the provisions laid down by the DCSF they are forbidding the school from taking any punishment action on the child for non-compliance with the new uniform policy.
If indeed the new uniform has already been ordered, and the required process of consultation and ensuring low cost availability at multiple high street suppliers has not been followed, then this is very much the head teachers problem. If it is found that she has squandered school funds through neglect of her duties then action to recover this money must be taken against her personally.
I find it hard to believe that a decision has not yet been made (quote from Miss Walsh’s letter of 10th June) if the new uniform is to be imposed in September. surely any manufacturer would need more notice than this
If a decision has not been made, what was the point of forcing the kids to vote? Or was that just sham democracy?
I am a concerned parent, I know think that the Head Miss Walsh has lost all respect from parents, publics and now staff.
Trying to enforce a uniform chance to the school is something that should have been discussed, ideas and thoughts. Not here are three uniforms, choose because its going to happen in september, and by the way uniform number 2 you cannot have anyway because it is another schools down the road, so you only have 2. I have order number 3, I love it -so we will have it.
The head Miss Walsh wants to take aways halls, change the schools name, change dinner times and now the school uniform.
It really makes me think what did she like about the school in the first place.
The children cannot be changed into Stepford wifes……every child needs to be creative and express, I do not think short skirts but clones is something that I do not want my child to be part of.
I WILL NOT BE BUYING THE UNIFORM IN SEPTEMBER AS I ALREADY HAVE PURCHASED MY CHILDREN’S UNIIFORM.
Speaking to other parents at the Lymm May Queen over the weekend the view seems to be the same, if we all stick to together on this one.
She said that her problem with the uniform was the girl’s skirts. Why not just get a set skirt instead of a whole new uniform? I’m sure the girls would prefer that to be honest.
i think the protests were a great idea to get the attention of mrs. walsh,
however no matter how hard we(pupils) tried she doesnt listen!
as a pupil myself, i can understand that at times the uniform can have low standards but at times it is very good.
i think by bringing in this new uniform students will try harder to customise the new uniform just to annoy the head.
In one assembly she said that she has alot of applications from students that want to join lymm high and will wear the uniform properly, she continued to say that we(students) can easily be replaced, so she is going to ‘expel’ 2000 pupils?
thats a load of rubbish.
she says the main problem with the uniform is the school skirts that girls wear them to short – but not to be rude or disrespectful, but hers isnt exactly ‘knee length’
there are also ‘too many shades of grey’ – in school journals under the uniform section it says quite clearly plain GREY skirt, it doesnt say what shade?
another problem is the price: with around £100 per uniform X 2000 = 200,000 whats that money going to be used for? oh hang on, i guess its going to be spent on something we dont need!
alot of people are saying we should ‘get her out’ – well the way she is going im not suprised!
My parents will NOT be buying the new uniform in september!!!
amoungst many other parents!
Wow G S HAS thrown his rattle out of the pram!
I notice NON of the children campaigning to keep the current uniform managed to wear it properly for their Lymm Life photo!
I was in that “protest” ,The thing is that Mrs Walsh is the headteacher , so of course she can change her schools uniform. realy i dont care at all and most of the people in the protest were just following the crowd and couldnt give a dam about the uniform.