Parents have been left frustrated by the rising cost of school uniform, with one mum claiming she is facing a bill of more than £200 just to kit out her child for secondary school. With the summer holidays in full swing, families across the UK are beginning to prepare for the new school year, but the cost of getting children ready is proving a major concern for some.
Mum details £200 uniform bill
One parent took to Mumsnet to share how much she expects to spend on her child's secondary school uniform - and said the £200 bill doesn't even cover everything they'll need. She wrote: "Secondary school is going to cost in excess of £200. That's just for one child. That's for two sweatshirts, one full PE kit, tie, two pairs of trousers, five shirts, shoes and stationery. The £200 is not including school bag, coat, trainers for PE."
The mum said she was aware the government had been looking at new rules aimed at limiting the number of branded school uniform items children are required to have. However, she claimed her child's school still requires several logo items, including branded jumpers and a PE kit made up of shorts, a top, socks and a tracksuit, as well as a summer polo shirt.
Parents divided over costs
While she admitted she is fortunate enough to be able to afford the costs, she said she could understand why families with multiple children may struggle. She said: "I'm lucky in that I do have the money, but I can imagine for some families, especially with two or more children, it's completely unaffordable." Also she raised concerns about children losing uniform despite items being labelled with their names.
The mum went on to question whether school uniform needs an overhaul, arguing that children are being asked to wear expensive clothing that isn't necessarily comfortable. "I know people will say they get a lot of use out of them, but honestly I begrudge paying all that money for polyester clothing to dress my child like a mini adult going to work in a bank," she said. "Isn't it about time that uniform has an overhaul and was actually comfortable and affordable?"
Some parents find cheaper options
Her comments prompted a debate among other parents, with some agreeing the costs can quickly add up. One parent revealed their children's secondary school had recently decided to change its uniform, leaving them with another unexpected expense. "Our children's secondary has decided to change its uniform. So that's more money I hadn't planned on spending. No idea why, parents weren't consulted," they said.
However, others argued that school uniform doesn't necessarily have to cost hundreds of pounds. One parent said: "Many people save up, it's not like it's suddenly sprung on you out of nowhere. I have two kids in primary school and all school uniform for both has cost around £300." Another shared how they had managed to keep costs considerably lower by buying second-hand items. They said: "£10 second-hand blazer that lasted three years. Three shirts £10. School tie £5. Two pairs trousers £15. Shoes £30. Much cheaper than buying everyday clothes to wear!"
