Consumer rights when a school is the retailer.

mad-dan_2

Not sure this is the right place to be asking these questions, but i've been searching for an answer for nearly 18 months now, and found nothing, so hopefully someone will be able to offer some advice or pointers.

To cut a long story short, the high school my kids go to has changed from a normal high school to what they now call a "Community Comprehensive with Specialist School Status" But i'm not quite sure what this means.

the various issues i currently have, and which make me feel like i am been forced to spend money i shouldnt have to are...

1- School uniform, while i know there is no problem with school uniforms, the issues i do have are..

1a- The correct uniform which must be worn at all times (even in the blistering heat we have had recently) comprises of a jumper, Tie and blazer, all of which MUST be purchased off the school at hugely inflated prices. The jumper currently costs £22, an identical item without the school logo on would cost around £5, same deal for the tie and blazer.

The biggest problem i have with this is you are forced to buy the items off the school at what ever price they want to charge, as the uniform MUST have the logo on, you have no other option.

2b- As the uniform must be purchased off the school you would expect them to carry a stock of items? NO, you have to order them, the problem with this is, how do you know the exact size to order, and if when the item comes it doesn't fit, they school charges you £6 to change it for a different size, surely there is some kind of distance selling regulations in force or something.


My next problem is a change in school policy which now stops the children leaving the school property in their lunch hour, this now means the children are forced to purchase their dinner from the school canteen, again at hugely inflated prices

I do have various other issues along the same lines with the school, but I'll just start with these.

I look forward to any advice people can offer me so i can address these things with the school.

poet123

Par for the course. Uniform is expensive and having the logo fosters the sense of belonging to a community. Re not leaving the premises, it means they are not consuming junk, sneaking off premises to smoke etc, etc. I am in favour of both.

bris

Our school does the same, live with it or send them somewhere else.

I agree with them not being allowed to leave at lunch time, our school stopped this 2 years ago and it stopped all the trouble at our local shopping centre. School diners are not a rip off and at least they will be able to buy something decent.

oh and as for you question, no it's not against your consumer rights.

Buzby

Are they banning packed lunches too? As to the badge and restriction to purchase from the sole supplier, it is not against any law, however this first became an issue 15 years ago at one Scottish school, and the local supplier arranged for the correct badge etc and the price was 40% less.

The school soon dropped their price as nobody was buying their stock.

mad-dan_2

Hintza wrote: »

So not only do you want the education for nothing, you want the uniform for nothing.

And then you want them to get get their chips at lunch too?

No I'm sorry, you clearly not read my post, or i've not explained it correctly.

I have 2 children in this school.

per child i need 3 jumpers at £22 each

2 Blazers at £86 each

1 tie at £10

1 full PE kit at £110

that comes to £358 per child, 2 children £716

children grow, and the uniform wears out, it all needs replacing at least once a year which comes to £1432 a year.

this excludes pants, shoes and shirts, which cost another £200 a year

this is £1632 a year.

it costs £4 per day on public transport to get my kids to school and each child needs £4 per day for a meal, £12 a day which is £60 a week and they spend 38 weeks a year in school, £2280 which, with the uniform comes to £3912 a year.

so, £3912 a year, and this is before we get into school trips, or money for cooking stuff for their cooking lessons.

I feel that this is far to expensive when a large amount of it is an expensive which could be made much cheaper.

mad-dan_2

And to just ad, if any of the items dont fit, they charge you £6 per item to change them.

poet123

mad-dan wrote: »

No I'm sorry, you clearly not read my post, or i've not explained it correctly.

I have 2 children in this school.

per child i need 3 jumpers at £22 each

2 Blazers at £86 each

1 tie at £10 ..38 weeks

1 full PE kit at £110

that comes to £358 per child, 2 children £716

children grow, and the uniform wears out, it all needs replacing at least once a year which comes to £1432 a year.

this excludes pants, shoes and shirts, which cost another £200 a year

this is £1632 a year.

it costs £4 per day on public transport to get my kids to school and each child needs £4 per day for a meal, £12 a day which is £60 a week and they spend 38 weeks a year in school, £2280 which, with the uniform comes to £3912 a year.

so, £3912 a year, and this is before we get into school trips, or money for cooking stuff for their cooking lessons.

I feel that this is far to expensive when a large amount of it is an expensive which could be made much cheaper.

You do not need to buy 2 Blazers nor 3 jumpers.

1 Blazer is sufficient and two jumpers max (one would be ok if you are strapped for cash and can wash and dry it after school midweek)

Presumably pants, shirt and shoes can be bought anywhere, so 3 shirts per child £10, 2 pairs of trousers £15, one good pair of shoes £40. So, £130.

If you are on a low income school meals will be paid for, if not £4 is average for a full meal and probably £3 or less would suffice if you have a cooked evening meal.

You would have known the uniform requirements before you accepted places at the school so what has changed?

Ask about a uniform sale, or buying lost items, or swaps, many schools arrange these.

wealdroam

Distance Selling Regulations apply to a school just as much as any other seller.

Not sure you are buying at a distance though.

earthstorm

wealdroam wrote: »

Distance Selling Regulations apply to a school just as much as any other seller.

Not sure you are buying at a distance though.

but if they are going to the school in person to order the items, just because the school has to order the items in to fulfill the order then DSR would not apply.

Its like you going to any retailer and finding what you what are not on stock, but they can order this in for you to collect in a few days. DSR would not apply as you are purchasing direct at their place of business.

Also i dare say their will be thousands of parents in the same boat as the OP

tomwakefield

OP

Could you not try on the jumpers at this place where you found identical ones for £5. At least then you'd know the correct size and minimize the risk of having to reorder for the £6 penalty.

redpete

mad-dan wrote: »

My next problem is a change in school policy which now stops the children leaving the school property in their lunch hour, this now means the children are forced to purchase their dinner from the school canteen, again at hugely inflated prices

...or take in a packed lunch.