Parents forced into debt to pay for school uniforms
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Parents are being forced to fork out hundreds of pound to kit out their children for attending state schools, according to a survey out today.
The average cost for kitting out a primary school pupil is now £156 - including uniforms, coats and bags - and £285 for a secondary school.
According to the charity Family Action, which carried out the survey, the cost has increased as the number of flagship academies and free schools increases.
The charity points out that this means parents on the poverty line are being forced to spend up to two-fifths of their income in August on back-to-school costs.
“Many schools use the transition to academy status as an opportunity for rebranding - which often includes changing the uniform,” says their report, The Big Stitch Up. “Although some headteachers will argue that rebranding a school can have a positive effect, it can also result in parents having to pay a significant penalty in back-to-school costs.”
The survey of 13 state schools - 10 secondary and three primary - unearthed one example of an academy where 70 per cent of parents had to take out loans to pay for the new £225 uniform. The previous uniform for the old school had cost £99.
The charity is urging schools to scrap specially branded school uniforms let parents shop around for plan, standard clothing from a retailer of their choice.
The report adds that local authority school uniform grants are now a “postcode lottery” - with several offering nothing at all in the way of help for parents.
Advice from the Department for Education says schools should “make certain that the uniform chosen is affordable and does not act as a barrier to parents when choosing a school”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments