politics
Scandal as kids isolated over wrong school uniform and parents forced into debt
Major Julie Pell runs a uniform bank on behalf of the Salvation Army
TL;DR
- 47% of parents identify school uniforms as their biggest back-to-school financial worry.
- A third of parents go without necessities to cover uniform costs.
- Children are being subjected to detentions, isolation, and exclusions for uniform breaches.
- Government research estimates average secondary school uniform costs at £442 and primary at £343.
- New government rules from September will limit the number of branded items schools can require.
- Currently, only 22 out of 153 local authorities in England offer a dedicated school uniform grant.
- Some local authorities have cut back or withdrawn uniform support schemes.
- Campaigners argue new government rules do not go far enough to address the high costs.