Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today
announced the party’s plan to reduce the cost of buying school
uniforms, potentially saving families hundreds of pounds as
children return to school for the new term.
Labour will limit the number of branded items that parents are
forced to purchase in future by strengthening existing guidance
on the cost of school uniforms, as part of a move to “reset the
relationship between schools and families”.
Phillipson said Labour will “at a stroke” change guidance created
by the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act
2021 to ensure parents are required to buy an absolute maximum of
three “branded” items of uniform and PE kit, rather than multiple
branded items such as skirts, blouses, polo shirts, trousers,
jumpers and ties.
Phillipson made the announcement as Labour released new research
showing the cost of school uniform had risen 30% in the last
three years, exceeding the 13% rise in the overall cost of
clothing, due to the Conservative-made cost of living
crisis.
The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act
2021, introduced by Labour MP , forced schools to
review their uniform policies to see how they can be made more
cost-effective by keeping branded items “to a minimum”.
Research from the Children’s Society, however, showed that the
cost of uniforms was still high, as parents were found to have
spent on average £422 a year on secondary and £287 on primary
uniforms, driven by the cost of branded items.
Schools were expected to review policies to ensure they were
compliant with the guidance by September last year. Nearly half
of parents surveyed by the Children’s Society reported, however,
that policies had not been updated.
, Labour’s Shadow
Education Secretary, said:
“As children and parents look forward to the new term, Labour is
determined to reset the relationship between schools and
families, and that includes reducing the cost of school
uniforms.
“With the Conservatives’ Cost of Living Crisis raging, it’s wrong
that parents are having to shell out hundreds of pounds to kit
out kids for the new school term.
“That’s why Labour will limit the number of branded items of
uniform families must buy, save them money, and make sure that
every child gets a brilliant state education.
“Yet again, Labour is leading the way where it comes to tackling
the Conservative-made cost of living crisis and driving high and
rising standards in our schools. That’s why families are better
off under Labour.
Ends
Notes
- Labour’s assertions are based on savings families with two
children at secondary school would make on the cost of uniform
items such as trousers, summer polo shirts, skirts, jumpers and
ties, and items of PE kit including shorts, skirts and
socks.
- Research from The Children’s Society claimed that parents
spend on average £422 a year on secondary and £287 on primary
uniforms, with branded items costing more. The Children's
Society polled 2,000 parents across the UK in May about their
annual uniform costs, claiming that parents of secondary school
children faced the highest expenses for various clothing items,
including:
o Coats and bags averaging £75 per child
annually
o Sports shoes and boots for PE amounting to an
average £63 per child per year
o School shoes coming in at £62
o Blazers costing £46
o Skirts and dresses costing £46
o Jumpers and ties amounting to £40.
Source: 'Parents
forgo holidays over school uniform costs' - BBC News
