To think school uniform is too expensive?

[Loveheart1133]

Secondary school is going to cost in excess of £200.

That’s just for one child. That’s for 2 sweatshirts, 1 full PE kit, tie, 2 x trousers, 5 x shirts, shoes, stationery.

The £200 is not including school bag, coat, trainers for PE.

I know that the government were supposed to be making new rules about limiting the number of branded items. But as far as I can tell the school require logo jumpers, PE kits which consists of shorts, top, socks, and tracksuit. Plus Summer polo top.

I’m lucky in that I do have the money, but I can imagine for some families especially with 2 or more children it’s completely unaffordable.

Items get lost despite being labelled never to be seen again.

I know people will say they get a lot of use out of them etc etc but honestly I begrudge paying all that money for polyester clothing to dress my child like a mini adult going to work in a bank.

Isn’t it about time that uniform has an overhaul and was actually comfortable and affordable.

Our children’s secondary has decided to change its uniform. So that’s more money I hadn’t planned on spending. No idea why, parents weren’t consulted.

Many people save up, it’s not like it’s suddenly sprung on you out of nowhere.

I have 2 kids in primary school and all school uniform for both has cost around £300

A lot of schools do have comfy affordable uniform. Unfortunately it sounds like not that one.

Do parents who moan about the cost of uniform buy their children expensive phones and tech and designer clothes.? Asking for a friend

3 branded items and a tie. So for your school or it looks like Jumper & 2 items of PE Kit are branded.
The rest of the items you mentioned, you have to buy anyway (but why 5 shirts ??).

Lots of places have uniform giveaways, look out for one near you (usually found on Facebook)

DS's school have cut down on the branded items but still require 4 different types of footwear (school shoes, indoor PE trainers, outdoor PE trainers and football boots), which is not helpful given his gone up 2 shoe sizes in a year!

As I said it’s not a problem for me personally.

But surely you can understand that some families have very little wiggle room with their finances?

Not everyone can afford to save up, or they might have to sacrifice a weeks caravan holiday to buy uniform.

Designer clothes?

How many people are buying their children designer clothes?

Most people I know give their children their old phones once they are done with them. Any tech is usually a Christmas present.

What makes you think that people are prioritising designer clothes and “phones” over uniform?

Some families can barely afford the essentials let alone designer clothes.

It’s 5 PE kit items. I did say.

Part of me thinks it’s lunacy and part of me thinks a uniform is necessary. I think really a compromise could be reached.
I used to spend around 1K kitting out 3 dc with all the required items for going back to school in September - I absolutely could have halved that by buying second hand, cutting down the amount I bought (to one skirt, 2 shirts etc but would be an increase in washing) but it was a big chunk at the end of the summer holidays to spend. Fortunately we had the money to buy it without worrying about bills being paid but it’s not the same for everyone.
I Now only have 1 to buy uniform for and I feel giddy about it! (Will quietly forget the amount being spent on dc2 still at uni…)
He still has a bag, a tie and a coat that fit and work fine, I bought one jumper at Easter because his old ones got too small so I think I’ll just buy one more now. He also needs multiple shoes and a new pair of football boots - like a pp he grew 3 shoe sizes in the last school year 🥴

Well it's a lot of money for shit quality and ugly clothes.
While I personally don't buy expensive designer clothes it is something I would prefer to buy my child than the uncomfortable clothes schools usually require.
If I had £200 to spend on clothes I really don't want it to be on some horrible blazer or whatever.
To be honest school uniform could cost 50p and I'd still complain about having to waste my 50p on that shite.

Many advantages of having a uniform at school.
If you can afford clothes, you can afford school uniform.

An old debate. There is help for those genuinely in need. Otherwise start saving. You presumably get child benefit? I used to save that each month.

Perhaps a moot point but private school uniform - blazer alone is £100. Three different types of sports tops. All kit is branded. Branded bags. All in for one kid for everything, close to £1k.

£10 second hand blazer that lasted 3 years. 3 shirts £10. School tie £5. Two pairs trousers £15. Shoes £30.

Much cheaper than buying everyday clothes to wear!

Schools can only have 3 branded items of uniform (plus a tie for high school)

Which of the items are branded?

It is unusual to have that many branded items. I thought the Govt said schools had to reduce it to only 3 plus tie. More than that is unreasonable.
You should be able to buy shirts, socks, trousers and skirts from M&S/Asda etc budget and style depending.
Many schools have second hand collections and local charity shops have branded items. Failing that they can ask the school for support.

Yes.
If you can afford clothes I would rather they be ones that look nice, look good on a child, fit well and aren't uncomfortable.
Unfortunately typical uniform clothes don't always meet that.

Can’t imagine anyone paying for private school expects the uniform to be cheap!

Yanbu

Ive set aside 250 for my dd - aged 7

That includes shoes, pe kit, spare uniform, underwear and vests and socks

And ive only got one!

How are they getting away with that?!

I’m sure there is a limit on how many branded items now, 4 I think? I could be wrong.

Most schools round here do second hand uniform sale at the end of the school year or over the summer and shirts etc Asda tend to do pretty good deals on packs of 3 or 4 for £9/10.

DC’s school have piles of secondhand uniform for sale. I could afford to buy new, but my children would rather have secondhand (it’s cool to look scruffy) - My DD has just started high school and I have bought all her uniform, including blazer and PE kit for £40. I will buy her M&S leather shoes which are £28 and a pack of brand new white shirts from Vinted which were £8. Black socks for £3.50. The whole lot came to under £80, which is definitely less than it would cost me to clothe her for 5 days a week for a year.

But children will always need clothes, a warm coat, shoes, sports kit and school equipment. It doesn't matter whether it's called "uniform" or not, it's just basic necessities, so £200 to cover a whole year sounds like a bargain to me. Or should a child be wandering around unclothed and uneducated?

Thsy have fo limit branded items...

But "grey trousers" or "navy football shorts" arent branded.

Uniform is necessary but it should be simple.