Uniform poverty

A report into child poverty has warned that more and more parents are struggling to pay for their children’s uniform, lunches and study equipment.

The Children’s Commission on Poverty, an 18 month inquiry, has heard that classrooms up and down the country are seeing a growing crisis in which the gulf between low and high income families is starker than ever.

The Schoolwear Association, the body representing independent retailers, claims it costs roughly ÂŁ80 to clothe one state secondary school pupil with one new uniform set. But speaking to families with secondary school aged children this figure seems to fall short.

As a mum of three I have had to kit out my eldest, who is starting year one primary this academic year.

I’ve learnt from last year’s mistake that spending more on better quality can be a false economy, as children can wear hard on their uniform and more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it will last a full academic year.

Shoes get worn out, trousers get tears in the knees and polo shirts get lost or discolour with age.

Also uniform doesn’t end with polo shirts, sweatshirts and trousers. They need a school coat, indoor and outdoor shoes, also wellies at my son’s school for outdoor learning, hats and scarves, PE kit, book bags, gym bags and a fleece that all the children wear in the winter.

My son’s school uniform in total has cost us £164.05 and we already have things like book bag and gym bag from last year. Also the school blazer is most commonly the dearest part of the uniform and he doesn’t require one so parents with children in secondary school must be spending much, much more.

Uniform is just a small part of the equation too. Many families will struggle to afford to pay for their children’s school trips, after school clubs, musical instruments and art materials, the commission has been told.

Sarah Bryson, a school poverty specialist with the charity Children North East said,   “Increasing numbers of children – not just those entitled to free school meals – faced social isolation, bullying and narrowing academic opportunities because they were unable to participate fully in school activities.

“The inequality between the haves and have-nots is more stark now. Schools reflect society and we are living in a time of great inequality.”

The commission has also heard that families are resorting to loan sharks and high credit lenders to make sure their children have the right uniform and shoes and don’t stand out as being poor.

Chantal, a single mum from North West London says, “I work full time on a decent wage yet I find paying the bills a daily grind.

“For six weeks I cut my food shopping bill in half to pay for Sammy’s uniform, shoes and school bag. Luckily he spent four weeks of the holidays with his grandparents so he was fed properly.

“Since he’s been home he’s been fed on pasta, chicken and rice. There’s no way I could ever afford any extras either like school trips. His friends have all been skiing but there’s no way he could go.

“I already go without so he can have everything he does.”

The commission is urging schools to do more to prevent unintentional poverty discrimination. The way free school meals are marked out has been an issue of classic discrimination with pupils in one school given a special gold card to buy their meals with, while other pupils paid by cash.

School trips are often a common indicator of poverty discrimination with some children saying they don’t even take the notes home to their parents knowing that they won’t be able to afford it.

Sarah Bryson reports of one school which took the children who could afford it to New York, while the children who couldn’t were offered a trip to a local cheese factory.

Matthew Reed, the Children’s Society chief executive said, “Children’s ability to benefit fully from their education is critical to their future. Yet too often, children in poverty are missing out because of the cost involved.”

The department for education said its ÂŁ2.5bn premium was helping to transform the way schools educated disadvantaged children.

The real cost of school uniform

Primary school
Popular supermarket brand
5 pack of polo shirts          £5.50
2 pack of sweatshirts        £8.00
2 pack of shorts/skirts     £6.00
2 pack of trousers              £10.00
7 pack of socks                   £4.50

Total                                     £34.00

Popular chain store
2 pack of polo shirts            £13.00
2 pack of sweatshirts           £10.00
2 pack of trousers                 £16.00
1 pair of shorts/skirt            £10.00
7 pack of socks                      £8.00

Total                                        £86.50

Totals are worked out on 5 polo shirts, 2 sweatshirts, 2 pairs of trousers, 2 pairs of shorts or skirts and 7 pairs of socks.

High St shoe shop
A pair of boys or girls school shoes start at  £28.00
School plimsolls                                                  £9.50
Total                                                                      £37.50

Uniform costs above do not include sweatshirts, fleeces or coat.

Secondary school
Glenthorne High School in Sutton, Surrey uniform
Sourced from well-known store

Blazer                                                         £30.00
2 pack of long sleeved shirts                 £14.00
2 pack or short sleeved shirts               £13.00
2 Glenthorne High School jumpers     £32.00
1 Glenthorne High School tie                £8.00
2 easy care trousers                                 £24.00
5 pack of socks                                         £6.00

Total                                                           £127.00

Total doesn’t include school coat, shoes, bag, PE kit or stationery.