School expenses

[starryeyed19]

Hi

I was wondering if I could get some advice on how much starting secondary school costs - I'm making a list of uniform according to the school website but is there anything else I need to take into account?

I'm on a very limited income so am trying to do plan ahead a bit

Rucksack, pencil case and stationery. My DD had to have a specified atlas, and a Spanish dictionary. Winter coat, but check if it has to be a specified colour.

Hello! You sound very sensible to do this.

Things to consider; iPad - school may have a scheme to lease one?; scientific calculator; maths sets (protractor/compsss etc) you may need to purchase a dictionary/bible/language dictionary; lab coat; indoor/outdoor trainers; lunch costs; charity donations of about £5 per term: sadly world bloody book day doesn't disappear at secondary school so £10 for that; I'd also try and find out from a current year 7 parent what trips you are likely to have to fork out for. Also don't skimp on labelling kit/uniform as it is a PITA (and expensive) if it goes missing.

Good luck to your newbie Y7!

Check and see if your school has a second hand uniform shop, lots do. In addition to sports kit we needed Astro boots for hockey, mouth guard.

Do you know anyone with DC already at the school? If so, they may be able to tell,you which bits of uniform you really need and which options are never worn.

If possible, keep using old primary backpack, and get a new one a couple of weeks after they've started and s/he's had a chance to get their eye in, in terms of what confirms to the unspoken teen code.

PE kit can add up, because as well as school shoes, s/he'll need acceptable trainers (some schools are stricter on colours than others) and maybe football/hockey/rugby boots.

Find out if the school,has a preferred type of calculator before getting one. And if they go for the very widely used Casio, Wilkos usually stock them at a better price than elsewhere on high street.

OK you have uniform list.
If they have school stockists, don't assume everything has to come from there. Our school at one point said school skirts had to, but hardly anyone did and that requirement has now gone, I think.
Buy big: e.g. blazers with arms down to little fingers. Lots of people do this and it increases how long they last. (Or have a small child, DD1's blazer lasted 5 years).
Don't buy too soon because of growth spurts.
If you are struggling, some schools have quiet second hand uniform for children in need. e.g leavers are asked to donate uniform back so it can be redistributed.

Rucksack / school bag.

You may be asked for contribution towards art sketchbook / pencils, & food tech. At our school you just provide the food tech ingredients yourself when they are rotated onto that (only about 8 weeks of the year).

Pencil case containing pen, pencils, selotape, pritt, geometry kit, calculator. Don't buy a calculator without checking the recommended model and whether the school provides it at a discount.

Many schools round us seem to do a France trip at the end of year 7, but they have a maximum number so not even half the year group go. but if you wanted something like this you might need deposit money to hand.

I have found it useful to have at home

• a French reference book (verbs & vocab)
• a CGP KS3 Science guide
• a second pencil case so the school one stay in the rucksack and doesn't get forgotten

A big potential hidden expense is that some school assume pupils have access to a laptop and printer at home. They should make allowances/arrangements for those that don't, but I guess some will be better than others. Some schools set homework electronically. (Ours doesn't).

Secondaries seem to have far fewer random requests for money than primary schools, but there still might be occasional charity days.

Transport costs?

School dinners costs?

Our school does an outward bound/bonding day for y7s in Sept that costs ~£25. Forgot about that.

I would advise you contact the school and ask for the key things your DC will need including sports kit. Saves you wasting money on items that are not needed. Also ask them if there are anything you may need to pay for or towards so you can plan for those too.

Definitely agree with second set of stationery items at home. In secondary they really need a specific quiet area for homework, even if it's just a corner of a bedroom (often ours, because its out of the way)so it can be kept there.

Very sensible to plan.

Uniform shops near us do a lay away plan so you can go in now and try on/bundle up all that you need with a small deposit. Then pay a bit off weekly. Maybe they will offer that near you?

Also don’t feel like you need too many of things before they start. You can always go back the month after to top up after another payday has passed.

DD’s School offered a cheap offer of their preferred GCSE calculator and maths kit within first term so might be worth asking if the school will be doing that.

I don't have any paydays anymore, sadly. I'm a SAHM now and a carer for my son. These are all excellent tips, thank you so much. I started hyperventilating when I saw some of the prices on the school outfitters site

Contact the office and enquire about the second hand uniform now before everyone else. Some of it may be brand new. You may have to pay for embroidery though.

If your DC get FSM, check whether the school offers a grant towards uniform from PP money - I know the school my DC has been allocated do this, but they have an expensive uniform (kilts, blazers, everything embroidered by the official school outfitter...).

starryeyed19. One of my DC's schools had a fund especially for parents in your position, in fact our PTA donated some of their funds to it. This state school was able to help with some costs and these parents were allowed to access the used uniform supplies, taking uniform free of charge before their children started at the school. I would write a short private and confidential letter to the headteacher explaining your difficulties and asking if there is any available help. I am sure they will be sympathetic and discreet.

Do you know anyone with a child at the school already?

starry. The fund I mentioned also paid for school trips for children whose parents were struggling financially. The other children never knew.

Schools vary quite markedly with 'kitting out' expenses, even state ones.

I would be doing a recce of the school website for info on the school uniform etc... If most of the items can be bought non-logo'd then it reduces costs markedly. It tends to be the sports kit that costs most IME. The schools do usually send out info packs with details of uniform and additional resources required. However, it's often not until April/May that they do so.

I think if you budget for £250 (including school shoes, trainers etc...) you may come out of it with change, but you might not...

Agree about what's been said ^ about access to printer and a PC/laptop (and the cost of paper, print catridges etc...). I think at DC2's school they do have on-site homework facilities for the pupils who can't access these at home. It's a PITA having to stay on at school to do homework after a long school day though.

The schools often tell the DC they need dictionaries but I've not noticed them being used much (if at all).

I made sure that I bought things 'as and when' (once I sussed out what was required) to spread the cost. It was more of an issue for DC1 than DC2 because the former's uniform (bar shirts and plain trousers) could only be bought at one outfitters. All in, I reckon I spent £350 for him and about £200 for DC2. DC1's school has a policy for a uniform change for the 'seniors' (which required new blazer, trousers and jumpers) which added considerably to the cost. And suits in the sixth form!

Good luck!

cartridges even

Ask on a local buy and sell facebook page for uniform for sale.

As well as a core set of stationary (that's already been mentioned) we had to buy some specific art materials (think they were about £7). We also had to pay a locker key deposit and an equipment deposit. (£10 each, we won't see them again until DC leaves the school having not lost any keys or damaged any equipment!).

At DC's school we pay a set amount for DT materials at the start of each year - this does mean you're not scrabbling around for cooking ingredients every week, but on the flip side means a lump sum to find up front.

DC's school will provide a basic set of uniform items for DC from low income families - might be worth enquiring if something like that exists at your school?

Is your child in receipt of Pupil Premium?

If so - or tbh even if not if you are on a very low income - then contact the school and explain your position, exactly as you have here - you want to plan ahead, you want to budget, and the cost of uniform is going to b difficult for you.

The school WILL help. Some schools will use PP money to buy school uniform for you (we do for certain items e.g. school sweatshirt), others will have a specific uniform grant you can apply for, others will have a second hand stash of uniform for exactly this situation (my DC's secondary asks every summer for outgrown uniform to be sent into school - a small amount is sold at advertised 'second hand uniform sales' but the vast majority is discreetly 'recycled' to those who need it most).

Also ask about what is really needed, and what the school might sell to you at discounted prices (again as an example, DC's school sells a 'Maths pack' of everything needed, at the same price as they get it from their suppliers) or loan (e.g. textbooks / revision guides / dictionaries etc are loaned out for a tiny deposit or free.

I looked at the uniform site for my son's new school and blazer was over a hundred pounds and tracksuit for PE coming in around£80!! Without all the shoes, football boots, kit etc. Is this normal? Its a state school.

I think schools vary wildly in the cost of uniform.

DC's state school allows them to wear "any black blazer" - I think we got one for about £20.

just looked at the nearest comp and blazer is £28 They really don't look 80 quids worth of difference

As schools are now asking for financial donations from parents (yes, sorry new secondary parents, you will be receiving those letters in the first term - they are voluntary though and there are strict DofE rules on how and what to ask for) I think some schools should reconsider the costs of their school uniform. If uniform is not very affordable they need to rethink.

DD’s Secondary School (academy) hasn’t asked us for any voluntary donations apart from specific things. Eg an optional book signing where they could buy a book, an optional GCSE calculator and maths kit. No other donations requested.

Blazers are around £30 but they wash well and have a thousand pockets so actually very handy.

In total I think her full uniform came in at £150 plus shoes.