AIBU in thinking that this should come into force now?

[Morgause]

"Schools in England will be told to take action to cut the cost of school uniforms to help hard-pressed parents.

Education minister David Laws is to issue new guidance to end the practice of using a single uniform supplier, enabling parents to shop around."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24095539

Guidelines only - should it be legally enforceable?

NAS/UWT says -
"Parents are now paying the price of the excessive freedoms this coalition has given to schools. This announcement largely repeats the guidance the Office of Fair Trading gave in a letter it sent to all schools last year, which many of them ignored. If the Liberal Democrats are serious about this issue they need to commit to issuing statutory guidance rather than weak advice."

Erm its been expensive for school uniform for as long as i can remember so its not just down to the coalition. I was at school during Labours years and my uniform was a stupid price.

This announcement is more Emperor's new clothes than school uniform.

There's absolutely nothing new in this guidance, and we can see how it's been ignored for years and years and year's already.

Without some form of compulsion (I'd rather it not be legislated on, and I'm not sure if there are other suitable mechanisms), this is a 'no change, but we sound tough' approach.

I wish they would crack down on uniforms and books in Ireland. DD started secondary school this year and the uniform cost €186,€77 of which was for the ugly school skirt,almost €300 for books and stationary and I have to pay another €260 for school fees or some such. That's quite the norm here. Free education

It's the logo things that hike up the cost.

Asda for 2 yellow polo shirts cost £2.50 where 1 log polo shirt cost £8 in the school shop

There's been discussion of starting a MN campaign about this, I think something like that is needed because if its left up to the politicians they won't legislate it and voluntary codes aren't worth a penny as no one follows them if they don't have to.

When my dds started at secondary 10 years ago there was one traditional uniform shop. Then it came in that there needed to be more than one uniform shop. A cheap and nasty uniform shop opened up. The traditional one went out of business so now we only have the one cheap and nasty shop, who because there's no competition, are charging high prices for crap that need replacing every few months. There should be a bigger movement for sew on or iron on logos.

Can I also mention sex discrimination? Dd2's secondary school had school ties (£4) for the boys but kilts (£25) and logo'd fitted shirts (£13) for the girls. It's possible one tie could last for 5 years but shirts had to be replaced every year! Grrr...

Absolutely about the kilts. The boys here have charcoal grey trousers which can be bought anywhere for €15 but the girls have to wear the ugly expensive skirt. Parents have been campaigning for years to allow girls to wear trousers.

You could reduce costs enormously at secondary and still have a smart uniform by standardising to blazer (sold with crest, or badges to stitch to a plain one if preferred) and tie, everything else generic; plus logo games shirt with standard everything else (optional track suit or hoodie). If the basic colour was black or navy, then it would be easy to get everything else.