Cheap School Uniform Discussion

MoneyNicola

A friend told me tightsplease.co.uk are having a 50% sale on school tights on Monday 16th August. My daughter seems to go through school tights very quickly so i was happy to see i could buy a multi pack of 5 for £6 at this website!

LJG7777

Hi, I know this thread is quite old but I work for a school uniform supplier and have come across this during my research to provide information for parents about the uniform grants available in their areas. I would just like to make a few points from a suppliers perspective as we are constantly seen as the bad guys:

Firstly, when you buy school uniform directly from schools, and it is expensive, this isn't because their supplier is expensive. This is often so that they can make funds which go back into the school to fund other things. When a school charges £16 for a knitted jumper this is 'their' price to 'you' not the suppliers price. Do a quick search for school uniform suppliers and you will see that none of them charge these prices. Things like this need to be taken up with your school.

Secondly, many schools insist on wanting 'awkward' uniform. By this I mean bespoke items that they have designed themselves. In addition to this they don't want to take a bulk delivery (to reduce everyones costs). Because of this the cost is actually high for the supplier so this cost will 'always' be high to the parent. My suggestion - talk your school out of this at all costs! lol

Thirdly, school uniform has been proven to improve concentration and results when it has been implemented.

Fourthly, school uniform can be expensive for a parent when the time comes around but if your school uniform costs around £150 for the year this is only roughly 77p/school day (195 school days in a year). How much would it cost to kit a child out in the latest designer labels so that they compete in the 'one-up-manship' games that would ensue in a school without uniform? A child would not want to be seen in the same clothes more than once/twice a week if they were to wear their own clothes as they would be bullied and rediculed by their piers. This could end up costing parents £150 a month let alone a year! School uniform masks families that may not have as much money and helps to show everyone as being equal - it should be here to stay no matter what.

And finally we come down to supermarket uniform. Yes it's cheap, yes it's made in sweatshops in India/China (probably), yes they are selling it at a loss to get you through the door to sell other cheap items to you. However, the more and more we demand something for nothing the more and more smaller businesses are going to go bust. Does it matter if your school uniform is now £3 for a whole outfit if both you and your partner are unemployed because the supermarkets are starting to take over every sector available and have put 'you' out of work? I'm sure you would care then. We as a nation need to realise that we can't have things for free (or virtually nothing) because someone somewhere is suffering - if we continue this trends, one day this person will be YOU.

julierwilson

There are lots of great deals at supermarkets but the problem is most schools have the logo embroidered on so you can't buy the cheaper clothes. Why can't we have iron on or sew on badges? Kids at Springmead Primary School have and have put the info on their website.

jap200

arthur_dent wrote: »

Does anyone have a recommendation for smaller waist trousers/skirts. I may be a big girl myself but my 2 dds have very small waists.

I have the same issue with one son and find the best option is M&S long length trousers (not sure if they do skirts in different lengths), but size down.
I think they only have one style in long/short for trousers:

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Supercrease-Trousers-Shorter-Longer-Lengths/dp/B0026Q2TEG

They also have adjustable waist as well.

Janepig

I've just taken delivery of some black school trousers for DD from Matalan, which are the only ones that fit her on the waist without having adjustable waists and they're fab. They vary from £3 - £4 per pair depending on size, and they're kind of lycra/stretchy so DD wears them for sport and running in school too. Adjustable waists are okay in the winter when she has a vest tucked in, but in the summer it's just too uncomfortable, and I've usually got to pull the buttons in so far that it spoils the look of the trousers/skirt completely.

Jx

2giraffes

Went to Asda today and not much in the way of uniform in, so went online - they have free instore collection until June 21st, and also, their girls ruffle front polo shirts are £3 online, whatever the size, so the 4 that I already had and paid £4 each for will be going back!! Good thing I wasn't being organised and washing everything and putting name tags in yet

mum2twinsx2

Im trying to be proactive and order ahead of the rush starts in next two weeks or so! But am finding stock levels arent great still, which i thought they would be as majority schools will be broken up for summer tomorrow! Is it just me?? or the sizes I need! May have to brave the shops then temptation of other stuff will get me!

go_cat

I put this on the grabbit forum earlier

Uniform for £15 inc coat, trousers, polo shirts / shirts from Tesco

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3380384

chrissyy2007

Why is it some folk always try to make you feel bad about buying any kind of bargain?

Well I have news for you, in many cases parents have no option but to buy these items.

If you have problems with the ethics of buying these goods take it up with the government and not the consumer.

Maybe you are not aware of this but we are in a recession and will be for the next 10 years at least. Costs are going through the roof and any saving is justified.

Uniforms are very expensive at the moment so if I can get trousers, t-shirt and coat for £15 then I will.

It will offset the ridiculous £12 per jumper I have to pay, the £16 for the two t shirts for p.e./games as well as the £30 for the two sports tops they are forced to wear. The £7.00 for the two shorts and the £7.00 for the two sports socks.

All because they are compulsory.

Don't forget we then have to get trainers which even though my son is 11 and has the smallest feet in his class is only available in adult sizes and therefore adult prices. He takes a six by the way.

So I will be lucky to get a pair the other kids won't take the mick out of for less than £40.

Then the football boots. That is a laugh and a half. Most dont come in changeable studs anymore so will have to buy 3 pairs unless I can find a pair of adidas or nike with removable studs for less than £40.

Then there is shin pads, swimming trunks, pencil case and pens which will all be pinched the first day back and have to be replaced. Not to mention his school bag etc.

Then there is the school trip to pay for because the school told the kids it was a treat for doing well at sats even though it is the parents who have to pay for it and then there are his music lessons and swimming lessons to pay for, all in the first week so forgive me if I don't feel guilty about buying clothes which in all probability have been made in a sweat shop.

The chances are the dearer stuff in other shops has been made there aswell anyhow.

My priority is putting food on the table and I'm damned if I am going to feel guilty for doing that.

delain

I quite agree with Chrissy!

the things in the uniform shop we have to use are overpriced tat. The jumpers in ASDA are actually much nicer quality - but I can't buy those because they don't come in the right colour and I don't want the children bullied.

I think that it is highly unlikely that the average child will be bought designer clothes to wear once. Lord knows I wouldn't do that.