School uniform costs

[Hippybottommoose]

In April, MPs agreed to pass a new law to make school uniform more affordable and accessible to all children, regardless of circumstances. Guidance will be published in Autumn.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-law-to-make-school-uniform-costs-affordable-for-all

I have one child in secondary, and another starting year 7, and a third in primary. We've received guidance from both primary and secondary as a reminder for uniform standards from September: Primary - logoed cardigans, logoed polo shirts, logoed PE top, logoed PE hoodie, logoed school satchel and recommendation to buy logoed skort/shorts - with everything else not branded and can be bought wherever; and Secondary - logoed tie (different type for each school house and different again for yr11 so unlikely to be passed down!) logoed blazer, logoed skirt, logoed PE top, logoed rugby top, logoed PE waterproof top and strict guidelines for other items such as black socks only, no woolly tights, no skinny trousers, PE leggings/joggers to be a specific type with no branding on them.

All of the logoed stuff for both schools is available at one shop only.

The kids look great, all matching, nice and smart. But it feels like nothing is going to change despite this new law. Yes, some stuff does need to be logoed such as the blazer, but does the school really need 5 different types of ties? And primary, do we really need the thick cardigans, unshapely logoed cardigans that go bobbly and shrink in the dryer, rather than supermarket ones that cost a quarter of the price, and frankly actually fit better.

I'm really strongly doubting anything wil change even once the government publishes guidance. Has anyone actually found this new law had made an iota of difference to their school's uniform policy?

Lots of school uniform suppliers sell the badges separately so with, for example, the blazer you could buy a plain blazer and sew on the badge yourself.

The one thing I hate most about buying logo uniform from single suppliers is when the quality is shit.

My dc are at schools where the uniform has to be bought from a single supplier - as soon as this change was implemented, the quality and fit went downhill sharply. I cannot actually buy the required tracksuit bottoms for my ds in a size that actually fits him (well, I could, if I wanted to pay 50% extra on top of the already ridiculous price for a custom make) - he’s not a bizarre shape, just quite slim (he needs a 22 inch waist, but has to have a 24 inch to get the right length!). And the sports base layers (£30 each for top and leggings 😱) are rubbish quality - I’ve had better ones off Amazon for a fiver (more comfortable to wear, according to my dc, and warmer too)

Ours too. Really pushing the logo uniform.

I suppose they get a cut and need the funds.

I've just kitted our DC1 for secondary school and spent over £200.
They have a school coat with a logo which was £40!! This means that they will also need a second coat to wear outside of school, so it's a double expense.

There are a couple of optional items on our uniform list such as PE bag and PE rain jacket. I haven't bought these as I regard these as 'things that only get used in year 7'. But, it's difficult to know what you can do without until they start.

Primary school cant enforce a uniform anyway, so buy stuff from the supermarket in the correct colours.

For the older kids, it really wont change until enough parents revolt. You gotta just follow their complaints procedure and complain about the uniform and the cost, and maybe site the new rules etc. Then encourage other parents to so the same.

In April, MPs agreed to pass a new law to make school uniform more affordable and accessible to all children, regardless of circumstances

No they didn't. Read the press release you posted a link to...

"The new law, introduced as a Private Members’ Bill by Mike Amesbury MP and given Government backing, enables the Government to set statutory guidance for schools to consider about costs for uniforms."

Schools won't change anything in response to this. They have had guidance to make uniform affordable for at least 15 years and have ignored it.

We just buy jumpers from Asda and take it to a embroidery shop who put the badge on

I found the uniform lasted and when worked out as cost per day of use it wasn’t that much. They need less other clothes outside of school unless they have specialist hobbies.

I think realistically now for anything to change parents at individual schools will need to push back and ask the school and governors to look into their uniform and making it easily accessible to all.

We are pretty lucky here, ds has just left primary school where there was no expectation of anything logoed but the school logo jumpers where only £8 so it was doable.

He is starting secondary school and they cover the cost of the first uniform for all pupils so no massive outlay

But it feels like nothing is going to change despite this new law

That because unless/until something changes, it will indeed carry on as now.

The guidance, which already says all those things, has been in force for decades now (I think it came in under Blair?)

But neither that administration, nor any other subsequent, put any penalties for departing from that guidance - not even censure/desist.

And that's despite fine words and promises at various points along the way (I thought Gove came closest to achieving it)

So frankly I don't believe it'll happen

I'll be pleasantly surprised if it does, so maybe hoping mynexpectatin is wrong

We can't get away with in senior school but I just got to asda and get their own none branded uniforms.

DDs primary is in an area with a high rate of deprivation. They’ve never insisted on any logoed school uniform and state that they ‘actively discourage’ branded or designer sports clothing for PE. They’re really sensible about it. Most of the children still have the logoed cardigans/jumpers that are available to buy though, but they’re only £10 each. The only thing they request you buy is a book bag, but that costs £5.

It drives me bonkers.

There is no evidence expensive uniform and logos improves outcomes academically.

There is evidence that it forces families on low income to make sacrifices to buy uniform or send their child in something they can afford and have them isolated for weeks on end.

It creates a bigger divide.

I'm all for uniform. I go to the supermarket, bank etc and staff are in uniform.

But they aren't in balzers and ties. And they aren't in a 'one size expected to fit all' uniform .

If schools really want to create this community feel and sense of belonging they say it's to create they'd do that by having a simple colour scheme which is economically accessible for all, flexible to fit all the body shapes that exist in society and create a proper inclusive education where all pupils feel valued for their contribution to school life and their efforts rather than their skirt being the right length and their trousers fitting their thighs correctly.

The 2 secondary schools that have polo and sweatshirt uniform in mh area have been the highest achieving year on year and the 2 schools (academies) who are uniform obsessed have been getting worse on worse results year on year.

This is a bugbear of mine. I started my own thread about it a while ago
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4198426-School-uniform-from-compulsory-suppliers

My DD is in year 11 and has been wearing a pair of plain black leggings (that i bought specially) for pe. The normal PE kit was skorts for girls but the last year theyve been wearing PE kit for all day on the days they have PE, and the school said they could wear plain leggings or joggers (with reminder emails that it was a heinous crime not permitted to wear branded ones)
Now the school has brought out it's own branded leggings and they will no longer be permitted to wear the plain ones. I'm miffed that I will have to buy new pair for her to do 1 hour of compulsory PE for less than a year. She hates PE and will participate with minimal levels of enthusiasm in either the plain ones or the branded ones! And in terms of being identified or representing the school she would be wearing with branded polo shirt or fleece (or both)

He is starting secondary school and they cover the cost of the first uniform for all pupils so no massive outlay

What?? Is this UK? I couldn't support this if it is coming out of the schools already stretched budget!

Agree that it should all be simpler. We have to buy pinstriped shirts, £18 per shirt and can't get elsewhere. Specialist PE tops £48 for polo and jumper, no other items allowed, new tie every year £9.

The new law had so much promise and yet just doesn't deliver. It should be made law that schools can not have a single supplier.

My youngest is going into reception and it has cost £180 so far without school shoes or pe trainers. This is our local catchment school that is in a normal working class area. I am sure some weeding out of less well off families by the academy is going on as £15 for one school jumper (embroidered but polyester) is extortionate.

I'm happy with our school uniform. We have access to a number of charities, 4 local ones I can think off, who you can apply to for help with funding for educational costs like uniform, stationary, books and bus passes. You have to apply months in advance though.

A number of local schools also give year 7s free school uniform when they join the school.

Everyone in that year whatever their parents income.

It's often the PE kit which pushes the cost up massively. There probably needs to be a uniform to remove pressure to have the latest football club strip, but plain tracksuit/shorts/Tshirt would be so much cheaper than the fancy logoed kits. Obviously they might want something for playing other schools, but how about doing that with "bibs", which could be kept at school and used by whichever team is playing?

I was also unimpressed when they switched the girls PE shirt to a very "fitted" style. Fitted styles are fine when you're choosing whether or not to buy, and you can choose clothes that work for your figure. Forcing teen girls into a shirt which emphasises that they are not averagely-endowed seems cruel.

My DC’s primary school just brought in logo PE shirts which is just completely unnecessary. In the past I’d spend maybe £6 and get a pack of 3 T-shirt’s but now it’s £7 for one logo T-shirt… They’ve always had logo cardigans which are £12 a piece.

DS is starting secondary school next month and his whole uniform including shoes,
football boots which they insist on and stationery has cost me at least £250. Absolutely everything has to bear the logo aside from the white shirts and trousers so those are the only thing I’ve been able to buy generically. The full PE has to have the logo and it isn’t just a shirt and shorts, it’s also a weird looking rugby top and specific socks. I honestly spent £150 at the uniform shop on all of the logo stuff alone…

I don’t know how some parents afford it.

I wish our school would get rid of the button up shirts and ties and stiff formal trousers. Kids would learn just as well in plain joggers and T-shirts in school colours!

Do either of the schools run a second hand uniform shop?

Not all parents can afford it, its very unfair. Though i see the point of the schools to ensure all the kids look the same in terms of uniform but it isnt possible, not all parents have jobs.
Im lucky my daughters school isnt fussed on logos, so their ubuforms are black jumpers, skirts or trousers, white shirts and black shoes, and by black shoes they mean shoes or trainers. The way they see it as long as the kids turn up then its better than nothing.

It's often the PE kit which pushes the cost up massively

Very true

Our secondary had a blazer (thriving second hand sales) and a tie (inexpensive) and everything else for the main uniform could be generic

The full PE kit was eyewateringly expensive, and they were meant to have all of it. Fortunately in practice plain black shorts, leggings and tracksuit bottoms were OK, but that still left 3 different tops and overpriced weird coloured football/hockey socks