Parents are still forced to spend hundreds of pounds on school uniforms despite rules aimed at cutting costs.
The Children’s Society found that parents spent an average of £422 a year on secondary school uniforms and £287 on primary school.
Some school rules that required parents to buy more expensive name-brand items were partly to blame, he said. One mother told the BBC that constantly replacing damaged clothing made it even more expensive.
The government says it is working to ensure that “uniform costs are reasonable.”
“I find it difficult,” mother-of-one Kirsty told the BBC. “You have to buy it repeatedly when they come home with a pen on their clothes.”
The Children’s Society surveyed 2,000 parents across the UK in May about the annual costs of their uniforms.
It found that parents of high school children faced the highest expenses for various items of clothing, including:
- Coats and bags averaging £77 per child per year
- Sports shoes and boots for physical education worth £66 per child per year
- School Shoes at £63
- Blazers that cost £57
- Skirts and dresses costing £46
- Sweaters and ties worth €42.
Under changes to the Education Act last year, schools in England are intended to help reduce costs for parents. That could be by promoting cheaper second-hand uniform options or removing unnecessary name-brand items from their uniform lists.
However, the Children’s Society found that students are still expected to have an average of three branded items in their uniform, while almost a third of secondary school students are required to have four to five branded items.
Additionally, 45% of parents reported that their school uniform policies had not yet been updated.
Natalie runs the Reloved Clothing bank in Hartlepool, which provides used uniforms free of charge to people struggling with costs.
Since its launch 11 months ago, it has supported more than 3,000 families and demand “only grows” as the cost of living soars.
“Many people see the cost of uniforms as a barrier to education,” he told the BBC.
“If a kid walks in and doesn’t have that uniform, it creates a stigma. So for me as a parent, alleviating that stigma is a big thing.”
Kirsty, 38, who used the uniform bank for her eight-year-old son, says it has been a great help.
“A lot of things are going up, and the price of kits is definitely adding up,” he told the BBC.
“People who have more than one child, their costs are going to be even higher.”
Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said it was “alarming” that parents still had to spend “exorbitant” amounts on school uniforms.
“With inflation and the cost of living affecting family budgets, we are disappointed that the affordability of school uniforms continues to be a significant financial burden for many families.
“While some schools have made commendable changes to reduce costs, this positive trend is not yet widespread enough. We urge parents struggling with the affordability of school uniforms to contact school and school principals,” said Mr. Russell.
In 2020, the charity found that parents of secondary school pupils spent significantly less on uniforms, averaging £337 a year. Parents of primary school children spent slightly more, £315.
Not being able to afford the right school uniform could affect children’s well-being, the charity has warned.
In their latest survey, 22% of parents reported that their children had been detained for breaking uniform rules because they couldn’t afford proper clothing.
One in eight had been placed in isolation, while some had even been excluded.
Mike Amesbury, the Labor MP who introduced the private members’ bill on school uniform costs that became law, said: “It seems the rules on branded items are not clear enough so the Schools may interpret them differently, or the message isn’t getting across, so I would urge the Department of Education to do more to get schools to make these important changes.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said it strongly encourages schools to have a uniform as it can contribute to the ethos of a school.
They added that the legal guidance went into effect this academic year “and we expect all schools to comply by September 2023.”
“We will continue to work with responsible agencies and schools to ensure guidance is followed and uniform policies are reasonable,” the spokesperson said.
How can I save money on the school uniform?
1. Buy second hand
Check to see if your school or PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) has a thrift sales group, where you can pick up some second-hand items.
2. Don’t be fooled by multipacks
Many school uniform products are sold in multi-packs. This might be a good value for basic white polo shirts that kids can wear fresh every day, but you may not need as many pants or skirt sets for school. Always calculate the price per item to see if you will save by buying more.
3. Increase your size
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to buy a uniform the next size up, especially if it’s an expensive item like a blazer.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and cannot see the form, you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at [email protected]. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.