Private school - uniform cost

[FrancyFancy]

I'll start by saying its 50/50 as to if my son will actually go to a private school, we haven't decided yet.
This morning I was at the local play park with my DS (2) he befriended a little girl. I got talking to her mum, I'm pretty new to the area and don't know anyone local yet.
Was asking about schools, her DD is due to start at one of the several independent prep schools, my son is registered for this school (doesn't guarantee a place). It has a distinctive very sweet uniform, which I mentioned, she told me it was £1500 including shoes etc. She said if you didn't buy as many duplicates you could probably get it down to £1000.
I had a look on the suppliers website, blazer (for all years including Kindergarten(equivalent of Reception) was £110, the duffel coat/winter coat, £130, hats at nearly £40 each (girls need summer and winter). Then a full games uniform, with its own coat costing another £40, summer dresses nearing £40, pinafores over that. Blouses £22-£26 depending on sleeve length/size
Seems like for boys it would be a lot less but still stupidly expensive.

AIBU to think this is totally ridiculous??

Private school parents - Is this the norm? If not how much do you spend? Has the uniform costs put anyone else off of private?

If you send your child to an independent school that’s how much it costs. It is eye watering but you need to factor that in to your budget. Having said that most schools have good second have uniform sales which everyone uses so you can reduce costs that way

That is outrageous. Fees go up as they get older then when they do GCSEs and A levels you have to pay exam fees.

All things to take into account. Private education costs don't stop at school fees.

This is not every independent school though - some have more elaborate uniforms than others?

We have one local prep with a "sweet" uniform like the one you describe. To me it reflected the owners style and school ethos - so yes that did put me off.

YABU. You describe yourself as distinctive and sweet. It’s a marketing ploy, it’s part of what parents who choose that school want to pay for - therefore, it’s not unreasonable to charge that much.

I would check to see if they have second hand uniform for sale. I got quite a lot second hand for both mine.

It doesn't really matter if you think it's ridiculous or not. They can charge what they like. Send your son to a school you can afford.

Total £287.60. That’s buying shirts (long and short sleeved), shorts and trousers from M&S.

Get the coats and blazers second hand. They are wool and puffers so don't get washed, but dry cleaned once a year, so last for several years and through several children.

Pinafores, dresses also tend to last a good few years.

I actually had a chat with a pal whose kids attend an independent school in London and she liked the fact you can buy all the uniform in m and s and it doesn’t involve a blazer or fancy “sweet” bits (whereas the school to which we’re sending our son does).

i agree with her: the old-school “sweet” uniforms are a bit of a racket.

That's a world of difference!! The only items at this school that don't have to be purchased from supplier are shoes and socks! Even the swimming costume/towel has the school logo!

I’m also not buying ALL on the uniform list. Like duffel coats and stuff: do you HAVE to buy it all?!

Still haven’t bought school shoes or plimsolls (or “gutties” as we called them in NI when I was at school) in case he has a growth spurt before he starts in September. Seems unlikely as he is a tiny, slim fairy of a child, but you never know.

I'm sure 2nd hand can't be an option for everyone though? Someone has to buy it new to pass on. They have Wool/Duffel coats for winter, a blazer, then waterproof coat/cagoules for walking to and from their playing fields. Just seems crazy!!

Surely before registering your interest in the school you look into such things as uniform costs? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm surprised at the percentage of posters saying YABU. Those prices are outrageous. They have you over a barrel by putting logos on everything.

This! Surely the uniform cost is the least of your worries - they can charge what they want, captive audience.

The duffel/winter coat, blazer and waterproof coat are all mandatory, as are the hats etc. Only optional things is sleeve length for blouses/shirts, baseball cap for games day etc. but these seem like things you'd want to get for comfort/sun protection anyway.

@RampantIvy totally. It’s also an accessibility issue: say you win a bursary to cover fees, if that’s available, how the hell do you dredge up the extra uniform money?

Plenty if parents want to buy new so there’s always loads of second hand - I really wouldn’t worry. Fee increases as they go up the school, above inflation rises and VAT on school fees are much bigger concerns.

That is a normal cost for independent prep. Possibly a bit towards the higher end for infants. But not at all exceptional. I don’t think the uniform costs are what deter people at all.

The biggest accessibility issue is the fact they charge fees at all, of course. But that’s a whole other debate, of which I understand there have been many on this site lately.

It’s bananas.

You need to organise a lot of potential parents to visit the school and suck in their teeth and say loudly ‘it’s a lovely school, but there’s no way I could consider a school w such a restrictive and expensive uniform.’

That sounds about right. In fact my daughters blazer was £110 in 2009, skirts were £40 and blouses around £20 each. To be fair they were v good quality and lasted as long as she could fit into them (she had the same blazer from year 8 - 11.)

No it is not the norm.

my DDs school uniform would have cost around £500 if we’d bought absolutely everything on the list. We didn’t and it wasn’t necessary. I actually spent around £250 for first set of junior uniform. Her pre prep uniform was cheaper as we used to sell it between parents.

but now we’re in state and I’m hoping to stay that way, where the cost is going to be around £250 for secondary including PE kit.

Our school uniform is extortionate too (think socks £7.50, satchel £75...) but the parents association do a roaring trade in second hand uniform. All our local indies do the same. Have you asked about their 2nd hand uniform sales?

@HurrahWuff back in Jan, I did ask the lady responsible at the PTA about second hand uniform sale and she said:

We have a PTA meeting planned in a couple of weeks' time at which point, we will aim to put dates in the diary for this year; I will email you with the information when I have it, but as we change from winter uniform to summer after Easter, we will probably have a sale just before the Easter holidays and again towards the end of the summer term.

then heard nothing more!