'My son keeps getting detention for uniform violations - I can't afford to buy it'

A mum has admitted to sending her son to school in the incorrect uniform on purpose as she is unable to justify the cost of buying him new jumpers, shirts and a PE kit for just one year

A mum has vented her outrage after her son was sent to detention because he showed up to school in the old uniform.

She explained how her son's school introduced a new school uniform complete with a new jumper, shirts, and PE kit with "a few months' notice".

Previous to this, the children were allowed to wear their own clothing as long as it fit in with the school's colour theme. However, the mum has continued sending her 16-year-old son to school in the old uniform as she is unable to afford a new one on her wage.

The mum said: "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.

"Circumstances have changed drastically and being out of work for months with bills and other expenses." But in response, the school has been placing her son in detention and says they will continue to do so until he follows the uniform rules. She added on Reddit: "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.

"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.

AITA for telling my son he won't get punished by me if he skips detention?
byu/64ZoooLane inAmItheAsshole

"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."

Reassuring her son, she said she would not punish him for skipping the detentions because it's not his fault she cannot afford to buy him the correct uniform. Seeking advice, she has taken to Reddit to ask users what she should do in this situation.

In response, one user said: "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 user added: " 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 third user also commented: "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."