[JoanneG]

Trying to sort out our stuff for shipping.

Should we take the basic school uniform such as grey trousers/shorts/skirts/pinafores/white polo tops or are the uniforms completely different?

[snailandthewhale]

our school doesn't have uniform, just the school sun hat, which they have to wear all of term 4 and 1. I think some schools have UK style uniforms though, and it would be awful if you didn't bring it and then have to buy it all again. do you know which school(s) your children will be attending?

[veronica]

it seems to me that in Chch most schools both junior and high wear uniform, theres the odd one that doesn't. The junior school uniform seems to consist for the most part of track pants and sweatshirt with a polo shirt underneath. The secondary uniform might come as shock as a lot of the boys wear shorts year round, by choice, and the girls have full length kilts in winter and a bit of a home and away type summer uniform. check out some schools websites to get an idea.

[willowshouse]

If you don't know which schools your kids will go to and you already have this stuff (ie. you're not going out to buy it) then bring it all.

At my daughter's school the boys wear grey shorts and the girls wear white shirts both of which are standard issue .. but if you buy them here they are almost 4 times as expensive as in the UK.

There are a lot of schools where the uniform is completely individual .. but you might be lucky!

Whilst we're on the subject .. for anyone who does know what their uniform is going to be - buy your socks before you come. One pair of grey school socks here is $12 at the uniform shop (best part of a fiver!!). I went all over the place looking for an alternative thinking that I'm bound to find them in a shop like Kmart but no .. unlike in the UK where you can buy uniform items in many shops .. BHS, M&S and even Tescos, here they were no-where to be found when I was looking for them. I ended up getting some posted from home.

Dawn

[mgbridges]

At my son's school (Catholic Primary, North Shore, Auckland) for the boys its grey shorts all year round then the following;

WINTER - long sleeve pale blue polo shirt, darker blue wool jumper, kneelength black socks, black leather shoes.
SUMMER - short sleeve grey polo shirt with school crest, blue hat/cap (compulsory), black leather roman style sandels without socks, pale plue sweatshirt top with school crest if its cool (this also doubles up for sport).
PE KIT- pale blue short sleeve polo shirt with school crest, dark blue cotton shorts.

All of it has to be purchased from the school to get the 'correct' colours, equally there simply aren't the variety of shops to buy uniform from as there are in the UK. So far his uniform has cost me a grand sum of $319.00 !!!! and I haven't purchased nearly as many spares as I used to in the UK so I would suggest you bring everything you can just in case you can use it!

Agree about purchasing socks in the UK if you can find out what they will need AND you might want to purchase new shoes/sandals if they will be starting school soon after you arrive.

[Sam B]

No uniforms here in Cambridge until middle school.

[JoanneG]

Hmmm! Quite a mixed result. I think I will keep the standard grey stuff and any white polo shirts in good condition.

If I don't end up using them for school they'll do for messing around in general.

Thanks for all your replies - gotta go - late for school pick up - again!

[gil]

Joanne, have a look at schools' websites in the area you are hoping to settle in. Our kids wear TOTALLY different things here. Polo shirts are mainly for PE and you have to have the right colours. Our kids wear royal blue and yellow respectively,with the primary wearing a silky feel V-neck top in navy and turquoise (not a polo shirt). Not seen any plain whites in this area. Boys wear shorts here all year round and they are navy for the local primary and Intermediate schools, with a pale grey for college (high school). None of our UK uniform was usable here.

Gil