How much does your secondary school kit cost for Year 7?

[SophiaWinters]

I'm working out my budgeting and am in the process of estimating how much to set aside for secondary school kit. Out of curiosity, how much does it cost (your estimation) to kit out your son or daughter for a new start at secondary school? Include cost of uniform, PE kit, shoes and accessories, stationery, books etc.

Well done. That's fab.

Wow, the great uniform ripoff is alive and kicking. DD1's school seems very reasonable by comparison - the only compulsory items are:

Blazer (£26)
Clip-on tie (£3)
PE Kit (comes to £13 in total)
Locker key (£3, refundable)

The rest is all non-logo'd and can be bought anywhere, which means her current school trousers (new following growth spurt, from Sainsburys) will serve, as will her current navy tracksuit top and bottoms.

She'll need shoes and some bits of stationery, but it shouldn't come to more than about £120 in total.

And as I have 2DDs I can pass stuff down

Compulsory Stuff:

Blazer £45
Jumper £18
Tie - £6
Jacket - £35
Gym T shirt - £6 x 2
Shorts - £6 x 2
Gym fleece - £12
Joggers - £12

Other stuff

Trousers £15 x 3
Shirts £ 12 for 2 x 3
Shoes £45
Trainers - £40
Bag - £30
Gym bag - £10
Stationary ?? - he got a £10 voucher from primary school parent council to spend in WH Smiths so hoping that covers most of it.

so that's about £360 plus underwear :)

No idea about books but will probably have bus pass to pay for too

£300, with trainers,shoes and a new bag.

Talkingnonsense. No its not private school. Its a CofE school. They have one style of skirt too but some girls still get away with a stretchy belt! The teachers inspect the children in morning registration for correct uniform.

DD2's school have just introduced a new uniform but are selling it as a package including a coat and bag for around £240. PE shorts and Sweatshirt (non compulsory but freeze or boil) are extra as are more shirts than the two provided. So on that alone around £300. I always find stationery adds an extra £50 - pens, memory stick etc. Shoes and trainers another £100 or so. I would budget for around £500 - more if spending on a really nice bag and winter coat.

I am on a reasonable wage but even so I feel the pain. In DD2's case they already have a nice uniform which was brought in a few years ago but as they are moving into a new building and becoming an academy they have to change - appalling as a lot of the students are on free school meals. No idea if there is a uniform grant anymore but even so the "extras" are extortionate.

We were selling second hand uniform last night at new yr 7 induction evening.
I kitted out several people with
2 x jumpers
4x blouses
2 x skirts
2 x pe shirts and shorts
1 x pe hoody
For the grand total of £23.

Lots of very happy people ...it would cost £200 in school supplier.

Everything at ds's new school is logoed and or named. I got the biggest sizes I could get away with without him looking too silly. Although it was expensive overall the individual items weren't too bad. He has a lovely thick school coat (compulsory uniform) that was only £40.

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea, that's a bargain! :)

We are a very generous PFA

Just got my daughter's essential stuff for Year 7, still don't have shoes (it's too soon) which include two pairs of trainers, one for indoor, one outdoor; stationery. Just bought one skirt as at £41 thought I'd buy another when she needed it. Already spent £450 including the hockey stick. Wanted to stick my fingers in my ears when the lady in the uniform shop gave me the total but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated!!!