Cost of uniforms

[Gillemeow]

Does anyone else's school have a huge amount of expensive branded items? New rules introduced in November 2021 were supposed to stop this but many schools are ignoring to them.

Help to stop expensive school uniforms. Please sign and share my petition.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/641227

Ours do too. They've rebranded themselves and have a full new uniform including fully branded PE kit and blazer just as my son starts Y11. Even the trousers aren't black anymore so we can't pass them down to his younger brother at a different school. Also they've said the shoes have to be ultra formal so the £70 we just spent before the summer holidays is wasted as they were more of a soft loafer type (they were still very smart). So annoying.

Some shocking stories on here. It's clear a lot of schools aren't complying with the new guidance and it does need to be tightened up.

Please do all you can to sign and share the petition. The cost of uniforms bill had cross party support in parliament and was passed unopposed so I'm pretty sure the proposed amendments to the rules would easily pass if we can force a debate on it.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/641227

The local school that we hope our child will go to, everything is branded apparently. And on the uniform policy it all states "purchased from our outfitters" which is just 1 supplier. No competition at all and prices are high. Compared to her current primary where it is very relaxed. It is time to make uniform practical and avoidable. A black tracksuit and a polo shirt is more than adequate for learning.

https://st-edwards.poole.sch.uk/parents/uniform-policy/

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits yours is bumped up by needing Yr7 specific items. Not sure why needed! Most people would get at least two years out of a high school jumper etc. The striped shirts too - why not just have white? And PE kit of course

Just paid £100 for DD2's blazer and kilt for secondary. 'Luckily' her older sister hasn't attended school for 2 years and add Covid onto that and we have an almost pristine set of PE kit (logo'd top, mid layer, skort, socks - £106) and jumper £40 so we've saved a lot.

The only parts of the whole uniform that aren't logo'd are the shirt and tights.

Do you not have a second hand shop? There is no requirement to buy uniforms new. I spend £50 per year total for DD and she’s in a private school.

A lot of state schools don't have 2nd hand shops for uniforms. Especially at secondary. Locally parents have started up their own but not a lot of people know about them yet.

I think most people do try when they can to but second hand however, the right sizes aren’t always easily available. I have this people with my sons primary school now he’s near the end… everyone holds on to the uniform until it’s worn so badly it’s no good for anyone else so if he needs a jumper or PE top which have to the logo you need to buy new. People also hand down to siblings so availability is an issue.

Some of our local secondaries seem to change the logo or uniform every couple of years so there isn’t much around second hand. Think the transition period for the logo mad secondary is over now so any stuff with the right logo gets snapped up instantly second hand.

Ours has two secondaries in the trust close together, they have the same blazer and PE kit and just change things like the tie - so more available second hand at least.

The primary bought all the y6 leavers the standard school maths set for the secondaries as well to help out the more deprived families.

I think as a set of compromises it would seem reasonable to me to go with:

School branded ties and sports socks (generally don't need multiples, fairly cheap, and don't usually need regular replacement) plus sew on badges for either blazers or jumpers - again fairly cheap and you can unpick and resew onto bigger sizes if required.

Then generic (my school used to specify no visible branding to avoid pushing costs up) shirts, day socks, trousers, shorts, skirts, jumpers and blazers (to have badges added to these two), polo shirts and shorts etc for PE.

That way you can still facilitate people being smart etc. Maybe they could even sew their own badges onto their blazers for their first year 7 DT lesson if the school wanted to be really equitable.

Stuff with striped school shirts or tartan skirts etc just seems absurd to me and unnecessary. You can be perfectly smart with the suggestions above.

For one kid at our state comp:

• bespoke thick v neck fleece with school badge (£45 ish)
• school tie £7
• four shirts with school monogram (£48)
• PE shorts (branded) £25
• PE hoodie (branded) £35
• PE top (branded) £25
• PE rugby shirt (branded) £35
• black sports socks branded (£7)

That's £220 before school trousers, school shoes, school trainers and coat. My lad is a size 7 feet so shoes/trainers are coming to £150 ish. Coat £20 and four pairs trousers £30.

Which makes £420 in total for my new starter.

We had a similar experience when my dd started secondary school plus a Chromebook with software and insurance which was about £350!!!

We had no choice over the Chromebook they are compulsory. And this is a state school!

These PE kit costs are so ridiculous.
As for logo shirts!!

stantonbury-tove.org.uk/parents/uniform

Was just looking at a school where I used to live. Their uniform policy is brilliant. Simple. Cheap. Still has blazers etc

www.theguardian.com/money/2023/aug/19/back-to-school-do-uniforms-really-need-to-cost-a-fortune?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Kids might wear blazers for 195 days a year but PE kits (up to £93 at my child's school for just the clothing) are worn for 78 HOURS a year. Plus if a parent is happy to buy a Ralph Lauren jumper for school wear that's their choice. School branded jumpers remove that choice and are more than double the cost.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/641227