A Liverpool primary school has ended its long-running partnership with a uniform supplier, prompting the business owner to claim he was replaced for "no reason". Since 2011, families have bought Woolton Primary School uniforms from Asif Hussain’s Laser Schoolwear.
Mr Hussain said he was shocked to be told by headteacher Alison Mulvaney that the partnership was ending in favour of another supplier. He said he could not understand why the school had moved to a new provider less than three miles away.
School cites parental feedback and quality
A Woolton Primary School uniform policy, created last October, named Laser Schoolwear as its designated provider. That policy was due for review in two months’ time.
A school spokesperson said the decision to change had been taken following "parental feedback, quality and sustainability of the proposed uniform" and the involvement of pupils and governors.
Mr Hussain, who operates Laser Schoolwear from London Road with branches in Garston, Walton and West Derby, said: "I’ve been providing the uniform for 14 years and never had an issue. Nothing had changed from us and for no reason whatsoever, they’ve changed supplier.
"The head came into my shop and told me we’re not to sell the uniforms anymore. The parents have been told we haven’t got anything in stock anymore, but I have."
Change signed off by governors
In the Autumn 2025 term, some parents raised concerns with Mrs Mulvaney regarding the uniform and PE kit. Having worked previously with Kitted Out Schoolwear on Bleasedale Road in Allerton, she met with them to see if they could provide uniform for Woolton.
With no contract issues preventing a change, Laser was given 12 months’ notice, although Mr Hussain told the ECHO he had not received this notice. The change of supplier was signed off by the school’s board of governors following a comparison of the existing and proposed uniforms. A letter was sent to parents in February this year informing them the preferred supplier would change to Kitted Out.
Mr Hussain said he had been inundated with support from parents since the change. He added: "I’ve been in the trade for over 25 years.
"I’d understand if the quality wasn’t good or we didn’t have the stock and I know by law there’s got to be more suppliers to make sure parents don’t get ripped off. We have to put orders in for the stock to make sure we have it in time for the new school year.
"I ordered this year’s last October."
Government changes from September
From September this year, the government is introducing changes to ensure affordability should never be a barrier to the schools for which parents apply or the activities in which children can participate. From next month, schools must limit the number of compulsory branded items of school uniform and PE kit they require pupils to have.
According to Woolton’s 2025 uniform policy: "The board will also make sure that the school’s uniform supplier arrangements give the highest priority to cost and value for money, for example by avoiding single supplier contracts and by re-tendering contracts at least every five years.
"This policy will be reviewed annually by (the) head teacher. At every review, it will be approved at the finance committee and then taken to the full governing board."
A Woolton Primary School spokesperson said: "The decision to change uniform provider was made following consideration of parental feedback, the quality and suitability of the proposed uniform, the service available to families, pupil voice and involvement of the governing body."
