Read Mumsnetters reviews of Tesco F&F school uniform

[JustineBMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for Mumsnetters with children aged 5-10 who tested out the Tesco F&F school uniform range. Each tester was given a £20 Tesco voucher to go into store and buy uniform for their 5-10 year olds and have been testing out the uniform the last few weeks.

Here’s what Tesco F&F has to say: “Tesco uniforms are our best uniforms yet and with features such as reinforced knees on trousers, As-New technology, Teflon coating (eco-friendly) and much more, we’re confident that they will last and last and last.”

Testers please answer the following questions:

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?
• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?
• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?
• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?
• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?
• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

All testers who leave their feedback on this thread and fill in the short feedback survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Tesco voucher!

Thanks

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No not even close. I was disappointed in the lack of polo shirt choice and the quality for the price. The cardigan was on a par with everything else. Can get better for less and personally I think the that the Sainsburys and Littlewoods cardigans over better value for money. Size on trousers was all over the place for girls and they were expensive for what they were. £20.00 got me from what was available six polo shirts, a cardigan, PE shorts and a PE T-Shirt.
Excluding footwear I usually spend around £50.00 on uniform for dd this includes tights, shorts, socks, six polo shirts and two cardigans. Tracksuit and PE shorts and top.

Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?
Not at all. Limited choice, limited sizes and hardly anything in the right colour for dds school at bother Tesco Extras. I was very disappointed tbh. Hardly anything in dds size (age 9)
Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?
Given how badly I thought the shirts washed in comparison to other makes and the feel of material I wouldn’t expect the uniform to make it from September to Cmas.
Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?
They explained they were hoping to get the full range in by July 28th which is fair enough. They were not aware if girls school shirts were available and since the demise Ogbomosho tesco direct no way to check or order items not in the store. Not the staffs fault though.
Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?
Didn’t even entertain the trousers as they looked so uncomfortable, dd doesn’t do shirts or dresses. Dd did not like the polo shirts at all but was ok with the cardigan. PE shorts were ok but don’t look like they’ll last long looking at the seams.
How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?
In comparison to Sainsbury’s and Next the quality’s not even close. And Aldi’s polo shirts are significantly better than Tesco and and a lot less money. I probably wouldn’t use Tesco again as it’s not worth the drive out for such limited choice when you can order direct from all the other supermarket if they’ve haven’t got the required item in. I’m certainly not in a hurry to repurchase.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No. I got a basic set but not enough to allow for the amount of washing needed because of year 1 paint/dinner/mud

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

I had to ask for the winter uniform as it wasn’t out. There were a few summer dresses out but not in her size. Staff were lovely and really helpful

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I would hope they will last the year. They seem a reasonable quality

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

They were lovely. Not eapecially knowledgeable but happily went to look and get me different sizes etc.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes. She likes it and it fits well. A little long but she is short!

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

I had m and s last year and I’m happy with the Tesco quality compared to the price. Will probably buy the rest from you and use again next year if it wears well.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child

I would never be able to get everything because DDs school has quite a few things that have school logo but the basics like shirts and trousers were good value for money. You could probably get a full uniform for a school that didnt have logos

Last year including blazer and shoes I spent about £200 in total but that was 3 full sets of uniform, spare shirts, tights, PE kit, tracksuit and trainers

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

Yes, there was a good range of sizes available

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I think they will last until next year, provided she doesn’t grow out of them first

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I didn't speak to anyone about it

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

It was an ok fit but DD is tall and skinny so clothes never really fit her perfectly

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

I usually buy uniform from ASDA or Sainsbury’s and it was on a par with them. I’m unlikely to buy it again simply because I never shop
In Tesco so it would mean a special trip whereas usually I’d just pick it up when doing my grocery shop

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?
I could get the fundamentals with the £20 i.e the trousers, skirts, polo shirts and socks. I would normally spend around £50 on her full uniform for clothing and a further £50 for the shoes. This is purely as her PE kit, school jumpers and bookbag have to be purchased from a specific shop with the school logo. My daughter also seems to scuff shoes like no tomorrow so I buy 2 pairs- one that fits her and one the size up. I did end up getting her shoes from Tesco too :)
Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?
There was a good range, good sizes and I found everything I needed. The only thing that would make it more convenient would be being able to get them online. However, Tesco direct has just closed down :(
Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?
I usually have to replace some parts of her uniform each term (the white tops seem to be the first) but I do believe that I on't have to replace as much this time. (Fingers crossed)
Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?
I didn't ask for help from any staff but they were on hand if I needed and greeted me when they saw me :)
Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?
It was comfortable, it survived my daughter cartwheeling everywhere. It isn't a perfect fit (a little big) however, she has just turned 7 and is a little too big for 6-7 but not quite big enough to fully fit the 7-8.
How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?
It seemed to be made of stronger material but at the same time didn't feel as rough against the skin. The white polo shirts also didn't stain as easily, which is fantastic. My daughter is a child that rarely stays still, especially when eating, so she's constantly covered in food and mud. So far, the whites haven't stained...HUZZAH!

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I would normally spend over £100 on a back to school shop

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

I ordered online and there was a really limited range - I was only able to source some socks!! This is a shame and wasn’t specified prior to entering, although I understand Tesco Direct was closing down.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The socks seems good quality and soft, should last until they’re inevitably lost!

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

N/A - ordered online.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes. He seemed happy

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

Socks seemed fine and were well priced.

Apologies for the really pants review but it was disappointing at how limited the online range was. We are very rural (on an island) so weren’t near a store. Feels like a waste of Tesco’s money!

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No, I could not get everything I needed for £20. I usually spend around £60 per child for school uniform.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

I have checked two biggest stores within our locality. The choice was rather poor. My children need bottle green uniform and this is hard to come by. The online store is closing too, so I could not even look online for more.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I hope the cardigans, the shirts and the socks I bought will last a good part of the year.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No, I did not talk to anyone in store.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes, the fit was ok, my daughter is tall and slim, so we always have a little issue of the uniforms being on the wider side. But the ones I bought from Tesco F&F were not too wide, so she was happy after long school days too.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

It definitely is cheaper than M&S ones we usually buy. So far they came through wash well. I hope it will be the case and we will definitely be buying more from Tesco F&F provided that there is a variety of range and sizes.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

For just under £20 we managed to get a full school outfit of 2x blouse, skirt, socks and cardigan. No shoes but I wouldn't expect to get more for that price and was pleased to get this amount for the price. As my daughter is going into P1, we don't have a normal amount to spend but would expect it to be about £60.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

There was a good range available, in theory, however it was hard to find everything in the right size and frustrating that you can't buy it online anymore as it means trips to multiple stores.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I would hope these would last all year or when my daughter grows out of them. The quality seems appropriate for it's price.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I did not talk to any in store staff about the range.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

The uniform fits well and my daughter has been delighted to try it out. She looks so smart and grown up in it, she seems very comfortable.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

We have not bought other brands of school uniform but it looks of a more consistent quality than some others.

We have really appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to test the school uniform and will definitely be purchasing from Tesco's range again.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

Not sure how much I usually spend. I buy here and there when I go shopping.
But no £20 was not enough to cover everything. But it did make a dent.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

No, there was one small area of uniform available. I asked the woman at the changing room if they had any more sizes available in the back and she said no without looking. I bought one item here and had to go to a different store.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The items I got were good quality. But the sizings are mad. My 6 year old is tall but not freakishly so. She needed size 8 in the playsuit and summer dress.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

They were not. The straight forward ‘no’ I got when asking if they had any more sizes indicated the staff were not interested in interacting with me at all.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

It is comfortable and as is happy, but as before, the sizes are mad. I had to return the first items and exchange for bigger sizes.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

Personally no. I will continue to shop at TU. I prefer the colours available, and the range. I feel TU washes and wears better. And it’s cheaper.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I couldn’t get a complete uniform for £20, well I probably could have if there was actually any stock!!!

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

I went to my local Tesco that has a very small section of clothing. They had nothing. I then made a special trip (15 Miles) to a Tesco extra superstore and they have a large clothing section. They only had 1 rack of uniform and I could fine barely anything in the rights size/colour for any of three children (DS11, DD9 and DS7)

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The quality seems guns so far but it will take a few more washes/tumble drying and stains to see how well the shirts last

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

There was no one around in the clothing section to ask about stock

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

I bough DD boys shirts on her request as she says the sleeves on girls shirts are too restrictive and she can’t do cartwheels in them!

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

It’s comparable to other supermarket uniform that I buy. If they actually had stock I would buy more items

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

We could not physically purchase everything we wanted as there was a lot of items and sizes out of stock, which was a shame. If items were in stock it would not have been in the £20. It would have covered a lot of the items which we were happy with but I think it would have been about £5 short.

Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

The range was fine, but there were a lot of sizes and actual items not in stock so that was a bit disappointing.

Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

We would expect that the uniform we bought would be replaced after December due to size rather than durability as they do appear to be quite durable based on current use so far.

Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

We simply queried what range and sizes available and this was confirmed without issue.

Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

The uniform fits well and is perfectly fine for our son to play in with no issues at all.

How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

We would say that the Tesco F&F uniform was probably on par with out supermarket branded uniforms. It would be difficult to specifically note one being better ostensibly better than the other. We would definitely buy it again.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?
No I would need about £60 for all I needed
Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?
No not a good range I wanted white polo shirts but ended up getting blue which are allowed but most children wear white so my son was not very happy.
Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?
I would expect the polo shirts to only last one term ,they shrink a lot and never keep smart looking for long,I hope everything else will last until after Easter when he will wear shorts .
Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?
No i didn’t talk to any staff
Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?
The uniform fitted well and he said it was comfortable
How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?
As long as the uniform washes up nice for a reasonable amount of time I would buy it again ,it seems much the same as most other supermarkets but at the time I purchased was a bit lacking in choice

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I could get a full outfit of summer clothing for £20 but I don't know if it would still have come in at less than £20 if I'd bought a jumper too. I'd normally spend about £15-20 on embroidered jumpers and then £30ish on trousers, polo shirts and socks.

Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

There was a good range in terms of different items of clothing, but very poor in terms of different colours. Only white polo shirts and black trousers. I was able to get everything that I did get in the size I needed, though.

Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

If the polo shirts continue to shrink at the rate they did after the first wash, I'll be buying more before Christmas! The trousers were also a bit thin and I'd anticipate my 7yo DS going through the knees at some point.

Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No.

Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

My DS said they were perfectly comfortable, and it was good to have a slim leg option for the shorts/trousers as he's pretty skinny in the leg, so they were better fitted than usual.

How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

I found the overall quality a little lower than my usual brand, so I don't know if I'd get it again - possibly, if there were more colours of trousers/polo shirts to choose from. I like the convenience with other brands of being able to click and collect, as there is usually a wider selection of colours and sizes online. With F&F clothing now available in store only, it's unlikely I'd make a special trip and risk not finding what I needed.

Could you get everything you needed for £20?

No. Especially as not everything was instore. I purchased 2 pairs of trousers and 2 pairs of shorts

How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

Around £60

• Was there a good range available in store?

No. There were loads of slim fit trousers so was hard to find normal ones. No green jumpers and only about 5 packs of yellow polo tops.

Could you get the specific size items you needed?
No, there were no polo tops available in the correct size.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

In a year.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No didn't speak to anyone.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes. Loved that they have adjustable waistbands

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past?

Much better value than M&S where I would usually get my boys trousers from and the quality appears to be good.

Would you buy it again?

Yes, on cost. However, if the stock was an issue again I would quickly give up and revert to my old choice even if it is more expensive. I like to be able to order online and pick up in store.

• could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No I couldn’t everything I needed. I like to buy enough uniform to last the week and this isn’t possible for £20. I bought a set of grey pinafore dresses. 2x 2 sets of polo shirts and socks.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

Not really, I wanted to get red cardigans but unfortunately there was none available in my daughters size. There were no gingham summer dresses either and I bought the last 2 packets in my daughters size of polo shirts.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

They washed well and I think they’ll last until my daughter grows out of them. So problem won’t need replacing until Christmas time.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes, it fitted well. With plenty of room to grow and my daughter found it comfortable.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

I’ve bought both Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s school uniform in the past and I would would say Tesco’s is very similar and price and quality. I would buy it again.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No. I can only get jumpers and cardigans through the school but even without these I couldn’t get everything I needed for one child - I’d normally spend £40.

Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

No, I think the timing must have been bad. I had to visit two stores and still couldn’t get everything I wanted. I also brought a skirt in a size smaller than I would have done without a voucher.

Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I’m not sure. I’d hope they will last until they were grown out of but the skirt I brought looks tatty round the hem after just two weeks. The polo shirts are the same as every other supermarket.

Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I had to ask where it was as couldn’t find it and asked if there were any other sizes. The staff were polite enough but disinterested. I didn’t really feel I could ask anything but given the very limited stock there wasn’t much to talk about.

Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes it fitted very well and was comfortable.

How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

The design of the summer dresses weren’t as nice as the Sainsbury’s ones I had already brought DD. They were slightly plainer without the white trim and the colour (red) was darker. The grey skirt was not quite as nice as the M&S one.

I liked the tunics but my DD preferred the zip on the Sainsbury’s ones as it was a butterfly - I preferred the ring of the Tesco one but they didn’t have any in her size or the next size up so we couldn’t buy any.

The polo shirts I couldn’t differentiate between any others she has.

I wouldn’t make a special journey to buy it and tend to shop at Sainsbury’s or Waitrose (despite passing Tesco’s to get to them - my local store feels a bit chaotic and the car park is hideous). The large Tesco Extra has virtually no stock (neither did the normal Tesco I visited) so it was hard to get hold of what I wanted.

I don’t feel the quality is any better, in fact I think it’s not as good as the Sainsbury’s or M&S uniform we have previously purchased.

The polo shirts have shrunk slightly as they were a size bigger than her existing ones but are now the same.

I wouldn’t buy again out of choice (sorry).

Thank you for letting me test the product - it was nice for DD to go in looking fresh and smart for the final few weeks of term.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No (especially because there was hardly anything available in my local store!). I would normally spend about £40, not including shoes or PE kit.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

There really wasn't a good range in store! I could only find socks and one pinafore in my daughter's size. Nothing else in the right colour or size. The only item still available online was one style of the embroidered uniform jumper, so I ordered one of these with the remainder of the gift card.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The quality appears fine, and I don't expect to replace them until they are outgrown.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I did speak to a member of staff, to ask if they knew if you could still get embroidered uniform online, which they didn't know.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

The socks are prettier, and seem to be of much better quality than the ones I bought from Asda last year for a similar price. The pinafore dress is a bit shiny and does not feel as nice as the ones I bought from Marks and Spencers last year. My daughter seems perfectly happy with it though, and it was much cheaper! I bought the same embroidered jumper from Tesco's last year and the quality seems unchanged. The logo is embroidered nicely, but the material did not wash particularly well. Hopefully this year's jumper will fare better!

Could you get everything you needed for £20? No
How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child? Probably around £40-50 not including shoes.

• Was there a good range available in store? Not at all. There were what looked like the dregs from last year, hardly any black stuff (it was all grey)

Could you get the specific size items you needed? No. There was only one pack of polo shirts in the size I needed and one black skirt. I ended up buying size 9-10 polo shirts to stock up for a few years time (DD is in 5-6 at the moment) and some odd packs of socks that I found in the reduced bin so I could use up the voucher.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these? The polos need replacing already- stained with suncream and no amount of bleaching seems to be getting it out, although that's no worse than the other brands we have. The skirt seems like it will hold up well- I'd anticipate DD outgrowing it before it wears out.
• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range? No, I could see for myself that there wasn't anything to buy.
• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in? The fit was good- DD was happy that the head holes were big so she could get them on without pulling her hair.
• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again? Apart from the really really limited choice in store I liked the clothes. I wouldn't go out of my way to go and buy it again because it's not as local as other stores which have more stock but if I happened to be in Tesco and see the uniform I'd pick up bits that I needed.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I could buy one and a half sets of uniform clothes (pair of trousers, pack of shirts and one sweatshirt). To get a full set of uniform including PE kit and shoes would be nearer £200

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

No. I went to my nearest Extra and there was very little in stock across the ranges. There were no cardigans or sweatshirts in our school colours and very few slim fit trousers.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The trousers seem quite hard wearing so I would expect a couple of terms use.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

There were no staff available in the clothes section (it's upstairs) so I bought what I could and left.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

DS is tall and skinny and trousers that are long enough are huge around his waist. This seems to be the case everywhere though. The clothes seemed comfy and DS was happy to wear and play in them.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

The quality was ok but not substantially better than Aldi so I'd buy again if on offer or mid-year but I'm not sure I'd seek it out specially.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No, I couldn't get everything I would normally buy. I like to have more than one pair of uniform. Normally I would spend around £80 - £100.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

Yes, plenty of stock in different sizes.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

The trousers and shorts are good quality so I expect them to last for the school year.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I didn't talk to the staff because I found everything I needed.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Everything fit well and according to my son very comfortable. The waist on the trousers is adjustable so that is great.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

I bought from Asda before. After trying Tesco F&F I would definitely buy it again. It fits well and washes brilliantly compare to other brand.

• Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

the £20 would have covered two pairs of trousers, two shirts and most of a jumper...

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

I say 'would have' because unfortunately I could only get the trousers in the right size in the weekend we had to shop for the uniform. I think perhaps we were a bit early for doing the uniform shop as it was still several weeks of the end of term, so perhaps the stores hadn't stocked up yet?

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I think the uniform pieces will last at least two terms, perhaps all year (depending on whether DS decides to dive for the ball one too many times on tarmac)

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

I didn't talk to anyone about the range, there was lots of stock out and a good variety.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

The uniform fit well, it was comfortable and the reinforced knees are just what you need for an excitable 6 year old.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

The F&F uniform compared favorably on quality to Aldi and favorably on price to M & S.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child? I couldn't get everything, I bought 4 shirts and 2 pairs of trousers for my 10 year old and had to add an extra £2. I would also need to buy socks, shoes and trainers as well as the badged items i have to get directly from the school shop. I usually spend about £100 per child.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed? No, there was very little for boys in store. There was only one type of mid-grey trousers, all the other fits were dark grey which isn't allowed at DS's school. There were rows of uniform but it was mostly skirts, summer dresses and blouses. I did find the sizes I wanted but it was a fluke as there were only a few sizes there, not the whole range

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these? The trousers will last quite a while, I hope that they will last the year. The shirts will probably need to be replaced in January as the collars don't look like they will last very well, they're flimsy and I don't think they will stand up to having stain remover on them very often.The shirt material itself is thick though and I can see that lasting fairly well

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range? There were no staff around to ask any questions to but my only question would have been if there were unpackaged shirts to try on

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in? The trousers were a bit long but they can be turned up for now, I would have preferred to be able to get a slim fit trouser. The shirts were very wide and I could have done with buying the size smaller (bought 9-10). DS found them comfortable and as they were more active than normal during the end of term they must have been easy to move and play in.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again? It is cheaper than M&S where I usually buy uniform from but I don't think the items will last as long so it may be a bit of an unfair comparison. They are good value for money and I would consider buying uniform from Tesco again if the stock levels improve, particularly mid-term.

Thank you for the product test.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

No not with £20. I'd usually spend about £50/60. My child is a muck magnet and needs clean every day

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

Nope not at all. I think the stock was last year's. Very poor selection of sizes.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

Probably in the next 6 months or so. The trousers are thick and streachy so might last longer but the skirt is thin material.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

Asked for a bigger size in the jumpsuit. The assistant wasn't particularly forthcoming and just suggested online instead.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

The skirt is too short ( 10-11 on my average 10yr old, the only size there) it fits nicely on the waist though and the pleated bit is intact.
The trousers are a bit long ( next size up so understandable) lovely and comfy with added streach.
The jumpsuit looks fab, size 10-11 is a bit on the small side. I had to snip the sleeves to make them more comfy. The zip is awkward to open and the shoulders tight.. she needed help for the loo!

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again

Sorry to say I prefer Asda. More selection and a better fit and price.
I'd buy the trousers again but the range needs to be rolled out in all stores with twice as much stock in each size.

Thanks for letting us try it out 😁

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I struggled to spend the whole voucher as there was so little stock, so I found it hard to judge. I would normally spend a lot more than £20 but that's partly because a lot of the required uniform is logo-ed and more expensive. The non-logo stuff (skirts, shirts, summer dresses, socks, shoes, trainers) probably comes in at about £60 altogether. Not entirely sure as I tend to buy stuff as it's needed rather than all in one go at the start of the year.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

No. I made a special trip to an Extra store and the only things I could get in the right size and suitable for my DD to wear to school were socks and cycling shorts.

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

They were ok. The shorts were good for the price but I suspect the socks won't last long.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No. I assumed all stock was out on the floor, tbh.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

Yes, not bad. Shorts were a good fit in the appropriate age bracket despite skinny child.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

Pretty good for cheap basics, but I probably wouldn't make a special trip again to get them. Will likely stick to M&S or Sainsbury's.

Could I get everything I needed for £20?
If only buying a single set of uniform, then yes.

Good range in store & size wanted? Gah! No and no! Had an absolute saga getting the uniform (2 different shops in the end), and still couldn't get in the correct sizes. Online shopping would have been helpful here.

Quality & replacement...
Quality is very variable. The school dress was a hit, prefers buttons to zips and loves the pockets. Cardigan was so soft compared to our usual cheapo brand, I kept stroking it. Dress and cardigan were really good quality, would fit well in the right size, and only £1 each more than usual cheapo brand. Will definitely buy again, and recommend if it's not changed.
Same opinion on the pinafore dress (although the soft fabric one took some finding, compared to the ubiquitous scratchy polycotton pleated offering). We have sensory issues in our family, so softness is important.

But the shorts and trousers! What a letdown. On two days of one week we had to wear sports kit, so I bought shorts in the correct size. These are seriously oversized and there is no way to adjust them. I'd already removed labels so felt I couldn't return. They literally fall straight down as they are so big.
The main problem with the trousers is they weren't well-made. Good length, adjustable ... but during adjustment the button (for adjusting) fell off!
Another big bugbear of mine was sexing the trousers. In my opinion, at this age, there is little difference between the sexes, and I'd like to see unisex trousers, polos etc. I can see the argument for change, when body shapes change, but at 5 I would be happy for unisex.
What I found in store were 'straight trousers' with reinforced knees in the boys trousers' and 'boys tapered trousers' in two packs. The only trousers in the girls section were not reinforced, bootcut, only available to buy as a single item and (what really got my goat) £2 less than two pairs of the frickin boys trousers. Way to go Tesco, charge girls a premium for a less practical option. My DD needs reinforced knees, but if I send her in something the shop label as a boys option, or only stock in the boys section she or I will get treated differently. The other mums will judge me if I do that.

The items she has worn have washed really well and still look new. I would probably replace as needed- already sent at least two dresses to the ragbag since half term, and 2-3 the previous term due to stains that won't come out.

Staff? None found nearby in either store.

Fit? Adjustable items fit ok (once we exchanged for one that didn't have flying buttons). Biggest problem was getting things in the right size. Non adjustable items (dresses and polos) fitted nicely - apart from the disastrous shorts. They are abominable!

How did it compare?
I'd say cardigan and dress quality are on a par with Next but much cheaper. I usually buy from a Pound shop type of store. The pricing is not dissimilar but the quality is much better.
I would like to buy the dresses and cardigan again, if available in the correct sizes. I like the reinforced knee trousers, although the waist needed to go in five notches on each side to fit. I won't buy a size down as we need the length.
I wouldn't normally buy these trousers as i believe the other mums will judge.
If you did trousers in the same lovely soft grey jersey that the pinafore is made from, i would definitely buy them, even though DD would kill the knees. There is an old pair in the school 'spares' box, and she loves them.

Could you get everything you needed for £20? How much would you normally spend on the ‘back-to-school’ shop for one child?

I bought 4 pairs of trousers and 4 polo shirts for about £20. I figured that the other items in the range I would pick up at a later date, and thought that the trousers looked to be suitable for my son. He likes a slim leg, so when I saw them in the range, I wanted to stock up on those.

• Was there a good range available in store? Could you get the specific size items you needed?

The range in store was ok... about the same as any other boys range of clothing!

• Based on the quality of uniform pieces you’ve bought, when do you expect you’ll next have to replace these?

I hope that the trousers will last a year... trousers have always lasted him a year. The polo shirts I always replace with new every year, regardless of any permanent staining.

• Did you talk to any store staff about the back to school range and were they helpful and knowledgeable about the range?

No, I didn’t see any staff members near the clothing section.

• Did the uniform fit well? Was it comfortable for your child to wear and play in?

I did exchange the trousers for a year older than my son, as I wasn’t too sure if they would have lasted to Christmas in the correct size. The correct size looked great when he put them on. But for longevity I wanted to go a size bigger.

• How did the Tesco F&F uniform compare to other brands you’ve bought school uniform from in the past? Would you buy it again?

Overall decent quality for a reasonable price. I will buy more from the range as my youngest is in reception, so I will be buying school uniform for years to come!