A name sewn on the outside
Source A: Make a lost jumper easy to return — an original school-office proposal
Every term, our lost-property shelves fill with almost identical jumpers. Labels inside them fade, disappear or carry a surname shared by several pupils. We propose offering an embroidered first name on the outside of each new school jumper, just below the badge. The lettering would be small and follow one agreed design. Staff and pupils could identify an owner without searching through pockets or unfolding a whole pile.
The proposal would also help people address one another. At the beginning of a year, a new teacher or pupil may struggle to remember many names. Seeing a first name could make the next conversation easier and reduce repeated questions. We would not claim that lettering creates friendship. It would simply provide a useful piece of information at the moment somebody needs it.
Families would arrange embroidery through the existing uniform supplier. We have asked for a price but do not yet have a final figure. Before proceeding, the school would need to explain the charge and consider how it affects families ordering several items. Embroidery should not become an unexpected addition discovered only after a jumper has been purchased. Existing plain jumpers would remain acceptable during a transition period.
There are limitations. First names are not always unique, and an owner may still need to be confirmed. The outside lettering would supplement a full internal label rather than replace it. However, the present system depends on turning garments inside out and reading information which is often missing. A visible name could make ordinary returns quicker. We invite pupils to discuss whether the convenience would justify making this the normal design for future orders, and what arrangements would be needed before a decision is made.
Source B: My jumper changes owners — an original pupil response
The jumper I wear belonged to my older cousin. Next year, it may belong to my brother. The school badge survives those changes without difficulty. A first name sewn across the front would turn a useful shared garment into something which must be altered before its next owner can wear it comfortably. Removing embroidery is not the same as peeling off a label.
I want lost clothes returned too. A name inside the neck can be renewed, and pupils could be reminded to check it before each term. The proposal treats a missing label as a reason to place the information permanently outside. We should first ask whether a more reliable labelling routine would solve enough of the difficulty without changing every new jumper.
A visible name also travels beyond the school gate. I may want a teacher to know my name without inviting every stranger on a bus to use it. Some pupils will not mind; others may find it uncomfortable. A first name is not a secret, but people can still prefer to choose the situations in which they display it. Those preferences should not require an embarrassing public explanation.
There is another problem with making it normal. A plain jumper might suggest that a family has not paid for the addition or has bought second-hand clothing. Keeping older garments acceptable helps, but pupils notice differences long after a transition period ends. I would support clearer internal labels and a better return routine. If outside embroidery remains an option, it should be genuinely optional, with no implication that a pupil wearing a plain jumper has failed to follow the proper design.
The school council is discussing embroidered first names on the outside of school jumpers. Write a speech giving your views on the proposal.
Use your own words and base your response on both sources. In your response:
Write about 250 to 350 words. Up to 10 marks are available for reading and up to 25 marks for writing.
60 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE English Language 5.2.3 Question 1(b) directed writing task. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.