Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
As parents and carers at Tyndale Community School we are proud to be part of an amazing and evolving school that provides a great education and nurturing environment for our children. The ethos of the school and its values are based on helping to make our little people the best they can be for the good of society. It’s also a school that we’re proud to say that until very recently was evolving, taking feedback and working with parents and carers to do the right thing for the school community. This has helped to nurture a positive relationship between the school and parents which is usually maintained through collaboration and empathy.
On 14th February an email about uniform was sent out to parents telling us that the principle had visited classes telling the children what uniform was expected of them. Some parents see this as a ‘shaming’ exercise that has put fear into their children whilst others have been bolstered and found this a positive intervention which has helped them encourage their children into the right PE kit. The communication also noted that the revised policy would be ‘strictly enforced’ from 24th February onwards, giving parents just 10 days to comply. On 2nd March, based on feedback, the school sent another email with compromise instructions for PE trainers and white sports socks. There was also a plea for parents to work with the school to ensure all children have school shoes that comply with the policy as soon as possible. There has been little communication in recent years on the subject and the policy has understandably evolved over time.
Since 14th February, many parents have been forced to purchase new items for their children including shoes, PE trainers and socks and many children have been reminded in school on a regular basis and are now worried about getting into trouble for wearing the wrong things. The children with the wrong colour PE trainers or a little colour in their otherwise compliant trainers have been forced to wear their school shoes with their PE kit and change into their trainers for PE. This has resulted in children feeling punished and looking silly in front of their friends. Other parents who have recently bought new school shoes in dark but non-compliant colours have children who are forcing their feet into old but ill-fitting shoes so that they don’t get into trouble at school. Other parents have refused to buy new shoes so their children are being reminded regularly to get new ones.
This is putting pressure on these small minds and the children are now anxious and worried about doing the wrong thing when they have no control over this - other than to make their parents feel incredibly guilty.
Without any prior warning of a clamp-down and with new additions to the policy mid-year, many parents are feeling bullied into either purchasing new items or making their children feel ostracised and naughty in front of their classmates. No amount of explanation or rationale can change the bruised feelings of these targeted children. Some parents were also told at the beginning of the year (when clarity was requested on the policy) that certain items were permitted, which now aren’t.
The school has many great initiatives which many of us are proud of such as a food bank, a mental health initiative for children and a climate change initiative which all align to the beautiful values of the school. However on the uniform issues, teachers in conversation with parents on this policy fail to understand the financial, emotional and environmental impacts of this behaviour. It has been highlighted in the news this month that schools should be doing more to limit the impact of the spiralling costs of uniform. Lots of parents also feel strongly that replacing adequate items of uniform is irresponsible given the current environmental pressures. Many parents feel that the school is detracting from the strong values to which most of us align.
We are proud to be part of a kind, generous, eclectic community of brilliant families and hardworking teaching and school staff. The majority of parents and carers are fully on board with the new, clearer policies and are happy to comply but with this petition we request a reprieve until September giving parents ample time to plan without unnecessary worry or negative impact on our little people and their parents and carers.
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12 Comments
I have always been impressed with the Tyndale leadership and how they are not afraid to try new things and change/ adapt when things don’t work out. The uniform policy is fine but enacted without thought for the kids feelings and with very poor timing. Come on Tyndale time to step up and put the kids first. We know what to expect for September now but please relax things for now and when you do clamp down don’t communicate through the children.
I fink we ned tim for this cheyndzes.and klear vizion.
As other parents have said, changes are fine and I appreciate that the school tries different things. But the key problems (and learning opportunities) here were 1) timing and 2) changes were communicated to the children, not the parents. First, while communication from the school said this was an "enforcement of existing uniform policy" and that changes were minor, that is not accurate. There were significant changes made in February to every category of the uniform policy and those of us who had made PE kit, shoe, and boot purchases based on policies last summer found we were now expected to replace perfectly fine uniform mid-year before our children outgrew it. This is a financial and environmental burden for what seems to be very little benefit to anyone. Please make changes between academic years when we're purchasing new kit already. Second, our children are not responsible for uniform purchases. Please communicate any changes (and new enforcement strategies) directly and clearly to parents first. Many of our children already struggle with anxiety. Being shamed for wearing what they (and their parents) believed to be compliant uniform is probably counterproductive, particularly when the parents do not have any context or details to help them process what happened. We love Tyndale and the leadership and see this as an valuable learning opportunity for a young school.
I think some people misunderstood the intention of the petition. It's really important to read it to the end. It isn't against new policy or following the rules. It's simply to be fair and give parents enough time to buy new pieces and let them carry on using the trainers that almost comply with requirements. I personally don't know if petition is really needed I would like to believe that chat to Mr Watt would be enough. But I think some of us tried it and failed. Let's hope that school will be reasonable and will revise the uniform requirements taking into consideration all aspects. And my last wish would be that in cases like this we are spoken to instead of our children. It's us receiving the emails/ newsletters not them...
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in a long time. Uniform at Tyndale has been THE SAME since it opened. That means if you had read the uniform list and complied with it from the moment your child joined you wouldn’t need to be replacing anything. I’m a single parent. I followed what was laid out, never had issues affording it and she’s always had the right kit. If you CHOSE to IGNORE the uniform list when your child started then you’ve put yourself in that position and suggesting parents are being “bullied” is ridiculous. You shouldn’t be bandy-inf around terms like that either. Perhaps instead of starting a petition your time would have been better spent helping those who genuinely need it - and in future buying the appropriate attire in the first place. You are setting your children up for the rest of their lives - teaching them they are above the rules isn’t good practice.
Let's do it!
I agree with other parents too.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
As parents and carers at Tyndale Community School we are proud to be part of an amazing and evolving school that provides a great education and nurturing environment for our children. The ethos of the school and its values are based on helping to make our little people the best they can be for the good of society. It’s also a school that we’re proud to say that until very recently was evolving, taking feedback and working with parents and carers to do the right thing for the school community. This has helped to nurture a positive relationship between the school and parents which is usually maintained through collaboration and empathy.
On 14th February an email about uniform was sent out to parents telling us that the principle had visited classes telling the children what uniform was expected of them. Some parents see this as a ‘shaming’ exercise that has put fear into their children whilst others have been bolstered and found this a positive intervention which has helped them encourage their children into the right PE kit. The communication also noted that the revised policy would be ‘strictly enforced’ from 24th February onwards, giving parents just 10 days to comply. On 2nd March, based on feedback, the school sent another email with compromise instructions for PE trainers and white sports socks. There was also a plea for parents to work with the school to ensure all children have school shoes that comply with the policy as soon as possible. There has been little communication in recent years on the subject and the policy has understandably evolved over time.
Since 14th February, many parents have been forced to purchase new items for their children including shoes, PE trainers and socks and many children have been reminded in school on a regular basis and are now worried about getting into trouble for wearing the wrong things. The children with the wrong colour PE trainers or a little colour in their otherwise compliant trainers have been forced to wear their school shoes with their PE kit and change into their trainers for PE. This has resulted in children feeling punished and looking silly in front of their friends. Other parents who have recently bought new school shoes in dark but non-compliant colours have children who are forcing their feet into old but ill-fitting shoes so that they don’t get into trouble at school. Other parents have refused to buy new shoes so their children are being reminded regularly to get new ones.
This is putting pressure on these small minds and the children are now anxious and worried about doing the wrong thing when they have no control over this - other than to make their parents feel incredibly guilty.
Without any prior warning of a clamp-down and with new additions to the policy mid-year, many parents are feeling bullied into either purchasing new items or making their children feel ostracised and naughty in front of their classmates. No amount of explanation or rationale can change the bruised feelings of these targeted children. Some parents were also told at the beginning of the year (when clarity was requested on the policy) that certain items were permitted, which now aren’t.
The school has many great initiatives which many of us are proud of such as a food bank, a mental health initiative for children and a climate change initiative which all align to the beautiful values of the school. However on the uniform issues, teachers in conversation with parents on this policy fail to understand the financial, emotional and environmental impacts of this behaviour. It has been highlighted in the news this month that schools should be doing more to limit the impact of the spiralling costs of uniform. Lots of parents also feel strongly that replacing adequate items of uniform is irresponsible given the current environmental pressures. Many parents feel that the school is detracting from the strong values to which most of us align.
We are proud to be part of a kind, generous, eclectic community of brilliant families and hardworking teaching and school staff. The majority of parents and carers are fully on board with the new, clearer policies and are happy to comply but with this petition we request a reprieve until September giving parents ample time to plan without unnecessary worry or negative impact on our little people and their parents and carers.
12 Comments
I have seen my own children, and those in other families, recently become very anxious about getting into trouble over their uniform. My husband and I recently felt pressure to replace my son's PE shoes (well before they needed replacement) because our son was anxious that tiny flecks of white made them appear grey rather than black, which he thought would get him into trouble as non-compliance. Whichever way the school handled the recent uniform crackdown, they seem to have inspired fear and anxiety in a number of children, which is not good for their mental health or their learning journey. The need to replace items on the basis is aesthetics is also wasteful for the environment and difficult for families facing financial difficulties.
I have always been impressed with the Tyndale leadership and how they are not afraid to try new things and change/ adapt when things don’t work out. The uniform policy is fine but enacted without thought for the kids feelings and with very poor timing. Come on Tyndale time to step up and put the kids first. We know what to expect for September now but please relax things for now and when you do clamp down don’t communicate through the children.
I fink we ned tim for this cheyndzes.and klear vizion.
As other parents have said, changes are fine and I appreciate that the school tries different things. But the key problems (and learning opportunities) here were 1) timing and 2) changes were communicated to the children, not the parents. First, while communication from the school said this was an "enforcement of existing uniform policy" and that changes were minor, that is not accurate. There were significant changes made in February to every category of the uniform policy and those of us who had made PE kit, shoe, and boot purchases based on policies last summer found we were now expected to replace perfectly fine uniform mid-year before our children outgrew it. This is a financial and environmental burden for what seems to be very little benefit to anyone. Please make changes between academic years when we're purchasing new kit already. Second, our children are not responsible for uniform purchases. Please communicate any changes (and new enforcement strategies) directly and clearly to parents first. Many of our children already struggle with anxiety. Being shamed for wearing what they (and their parents) believed to be compliant uniform is probably counterproductive, particularly when the parents do not have any context or details to help them process what happened. We love Tyndale and the leadership and see this as an valuable learning opportunity for a young school.
I think some people misunderstood the intention of the petition. It's really important to read it to the end. It isn't against new policy or following the rules. It's simply to be fair and give parents enough time to buy new pieces and let them carry on using the trainers that almost comply with requirements. I personally don't know if petition is really needed I would like to believe that chat to Mr Watt would be enough. But I think some of us tried it and failed. Let's hope that school will be reasonable and will revise the uniform requirements taking into consideration all aspects. And my last wish would be that in cases like this we are spoken to instead of our children. It's us receiving the emails/ newsletters not them...
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in a long time. Uniform at Tyndale has been THE SAME since it opened. That means if you had read the uniform list and complied with it from the moment your child joined you wouldn’t need to be replacing anything. I’m a single parent. I followed what was laid out, never had issues affording it and she’s always had the right kit. If you CHOSE to IGNORE the uniform list when your child started then you’ve put yourself in that position and suggesting parents are being “bullied” is ridiculous. You shouldn’t be bandy-inf around terms like that either. Perhaps instead of starting a petition your time would have been better spent helping those who genuinely need it - and in future buying the appropriate attire in the first place. You are setting your children up for the rest of their lives - teaching them they are above the rules isn’t good practice.
Let's do it!
I agree with other parents too.
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I have seen my own children, and those in other families, recently become very anxious about getting into trouble over their uniform. My husband and I recently felt pressure to replace my son's PE shoes (well before they needed replacement) because our son was anxious that tiny flecks of white made them appear grey rather than black, which he thought would get him into trouble as non-compliance. Whichever way the school handled the recent uniform crackdown, they seem to have inspired fear and anxiety in a number of children, which is not good for their mental health or their learning journey. The need to replace items on the basis is aesthetics is also wasteful for the environment and difficult for families facing financial difficulties.