Cost of school uniforms

Gillemeow99

There's an interesting article in the Guardian called Back to school: do uniforms really need to cost a fortune? (I can't post links yet)

I was wondering what people thought of the comments by Matthew Easter, Chair of the Schoolwear Association.

Most secondary school students spend a maximum of 2 hours a week doing PE. That's 78 HOURS a year. On this basis, it's hard to justify the school branded PE shorts, t-shirts, tracksuit bottoms, hoodies and socks still required by many secondary schools. Given that children are unlikely to wear school branded items outside school, this is not only a huge waste of money, it's also bad for the environment. 

Requiring school branded items of clothing removes families' ability to set a budget that matches their means. Most parents I've spoken to begrudge paying up to £18 for a school branded jumper that will be half hidden by a blazer and only worn for school on the coldest days of the year.

In relation to Matthew's concern that allowing parents to buy generic school jumpers would result in some students wearing Ralph Lauren jumpers, uniform policies that specify plain jumpers avoid this problem. In any event, it doesn't look like Ralph Lauren even offer traditional school v-necked jumpers. Neither do any of the other high cost designer brands I looked at. 

I think we need to keep school uniform costs to a minimum, allowing people to control the cost of what they buy, particularly in the current cost of living crisis when some families are struggling to pay for basic necessities like food. 

On this basis, I would urge you to sign the parliamentary petition linked in the article. 

MattMattMattUK

One has to remember that it very much does depend on the school, some schools require a lot of branded items, others require very few. From friends and family members I know that this varies from a minimum of two items per school, jumper and tie, with the first tie being FOC, or tie and blazer, through to others where it is tie, jumper, blazer, polo shirts, bags, PE kit etc.. There is however no harm in schools offering additional branded items for those who want them.

The other side of that is that it is often used to raise funds for the school which are hugely underfunded. In better off areas the schools are generally able to raise funds via donations and community events relatively easily, because of that they never needed to go down the multiple items of branded uniforms, one of the parents sponsors the sports teams etc., where as in less well off areas schools cannot afford to stop selling the items, their budgets are already in deficit, cutting back will push them further into the red.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/aug/19/back-to-school-do-uniforms-really-need-to-cost-a-fortune

Gillemeow99 said:

In relation to Matthew's concern that allowing parents to buy generic school jumpers would result in some students wearing Ralph Lauren jumpers, uniform policies that specify plain jumpers avoid this problem. In any event, it doesn't look like Ralph Lauren even offer traditional school v-necked jumpers. Neither do any of the other high cost designer brands I looked at. 

Lots of high end brands offer v neck jumpers, Ralph Lauren certainly do. It might not come in sizes suitable for primary schools, but it would certainly fit secondary school pupils. Many other premium brands will also offer them as well. I do not see anything wrong with requiring a branded school jumper, they are usually sub £15, but equally schools should not require branded polo shirts, shorts etc. 

https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/slim-fit-cotton-v-neck-sweater-3614713189814.html

Spendless

No they don't. It's a money spinner for the school. Most countries do NOT have school uniform and frequently have a better educational system than the UK does. It's a nonsense to say it's to prepare you for work as kids often go onto FE colleges and Uni where there's often no uniform to wear (just a certain dress code to abide by eg don't turn up in a bikini or your PJs) and if it's a certain course wear  the uniform there without problems. Nor does it stop bullying, bullies will just look for something else instead. Unfortunately I know this for a fact, my always in the correct uniform child ended up under the MH team due to sever psychological bullying at school, leaving said child with issues to this day - though now in their 20s! 

strawb_shortcake

I'm not needing to buy school uniform just yet, as my Son is still in his Brothers hand-me-downs. Just checked the online shop for compulsory items.

Blazer £40.25

Rugby shirt £35.25

Tie £9.25

They've removed the branded polo shirt that used to be £14.

School shoes I find expensive but worthwhile, but in fairness I only buy 1 pair a year which are typically in the region of £55-60. My Sister always bought cheap shoes from shoe zone and she'd be spending more on shoes than I as she had to buy multiple pairs.

My older two were always happy with  wearing a uniform until 6th Form. Uniform was meant to be smart business, but the girls wore whatever took their fancy, boys couldn't get away with anything less than a 2 piece suit and tie

Savvy_Sue

annabanana82 said:

Blazer £40.25

Rugby shirt £35.25

Tie £9.25

It's the rugby shirt I would have REALLY resented: my lads were not sports minded! Trying to buy footie boots once, cheapest out of stock, so would I like to look at this pair? Twice the price of school shoes for something he'll wear at most for 20 hours, I don't think so ... 

To be fair, I bought unbranded PE kit because I hadn't realised they'd updated 'the list' to included branded sweatshirt, joggers, t-shirt and shorts, and no-one ever commented. If they'd been representing the school I'd have relented, but that was never going to happen!

55ryan

Spendless said:

 Most countries do NOT have school uniform 

Many countries have school uniform, much of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA. Even a very good friends daughter in the Philippines they have to wear one. There is no 'most'. 

badmemory

The expensive school uniform now is totally against the original intention of school uniform.  The original idea was so that no child was disadvantaged by not being able to afford the likes of designer gear, an equaliser if you like.  A high school near to me at one point actually had as part of their uniform for girls designer trousers.  The school had been quite sensible until the head retired & the new one came up with this.  Can you tell it still annoys me to think about it?  They can't select their pupils so they make it impossible for some to be able to afford to go there.  If you are at one of these you should see the list of give us money for this give us money for that on an almost daily basis.

silvercar

I always found school uniform cheaper than kids having sufficient everyday clothes to cover 7 days rather than 2.

AndrewDerek

School uniforms are really overpriced. I don't understand why, but it's true.

I know that in other countries school uniforms are not so serious and children can wear any clothes they want as long as they are not too provocative. I support this particular approach to school clothes because not everyone has the opportunity to buy such expensive variations of uniforms...