Cost of uniforms still too high despite guidance change

The cost of school uniforms is still too high despite rules meant to lower the costs, the Children's Society has reported.

The charity claims that parents spend on average £422 a year on secondary and £287 on primary uniforms.

The Children's Society polled 2,000 parents across the UK in May about their annual uniform costs.

Parents of secondary school children face the highest costs, with coats and bags costing around £75 per child annually, spending on blazers being around £46, and sports shoes and boots for PE amounting to £63 per child per year,

Changes to the Education Act last year means that schools in England should be helping cut costs for parents. That could be by promoting cheaper second-hand uniform options or removing unnecessary branded items from their uniform lists.

The survey from the Children's Society, however, found pupils were still expected to have an average of three branded items of uniform.

In addition, 45% of parents reported that their school uniform policies had still not been updated.

Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "With inflation and the cost of living eating into family budgets, we are disappointed that the affordability of school uniforms remains a significant financial burden for many families.

"While some schools have made commendable changes to reduce costs, this positive trend is still not widespread enough. We urge parents who struggle with the affordability of school uniforms to contact the school and the school governors."