New Forest Parents Campaigning to Make School Uniforms More Affordable – In-Common

A recent survey conducted by the New Forest Uniform Campaign has shed light on the financial strain that school uniforms place on parents in the New Forest area. The survey, which gathered responses from over 225 parents, revealed that a staggering 68% of parents are making sacrifices in other areas of their lives just to afford the costly school uniform requirements for their children.

According to the survey findings, more than half of the parents surveyed (50.9%) admitted to going into debt or taking out loans in order to purchase school uniforms. Some parents even reported resorting to using food banks to make ends meet after buying the expensive uniform items.

The survey also highlighted the widespread belief among parents in the New Forest that school uniforms are simply unaffordable. A significant portion of parents, 36%, strongly disagreed that their child’s school uniform was affordable, with an additional 33.8% expressing disagreement.

Parents like Jade, whose children attend a New Forest school, expressed frustration over the financial burden of school uniforms. Jade shared how difficult it is to afford all the required items, leading to her children wearing uniforms that they have clearly outgrown. She emphasized the potential savings if schools allowed the purchase of plain items from more affordable stores, as the current situation forces families to miss out on other activities and essentials.

Another parent, Lauren, highlighted the financial strain of school uniforms, especially for families on low incomes. Lauren suggested that having fewer logoed items, such as just one piece of uniform with a school logo, could significantly reduce costs for families like hers.

Greg, a parent whose children attend a New Forest school, criticized the requirement for almost every item to be purchased from the school shop, making the uniform unnecessarily expensive. He also pointed out the lack of consultation with parents on uniform policies, leading to additional financial burdens.

The New Forest Uniform Campaign is advocating for schools to make uniforms more affordable by reducing the number of branded and bespoke items and expanding the range of items that can be purchased from budget-friendly retailers.

The high costs associated with school uniforms have broader implications, as highlighted by the Child Poverty Action Group. Their research indicates that the annual cost of school uniforms and shoes for a primary school child is at least £336, rising to £462 for a secondary school child. Additionally, branded school uniforms were found to cost more than double the price of unbranded items from high-street retailers.

At a national level, the government has signaled intentions to address the issue of expensive school uniforms by limiting the number of branded items schools can require in their uniforms and PE kits.

The New Forest Uniform Campaign plans to present the survey findings and personal stories to schools in the region, aiming to prompt changes that would alleviate the financial burden on families. The campaign emphasizes the importance of reducing branded and logoed items in uniforms to ease the financial strain on parents.

In response to the challenges faced by families, initiatives like Step Up Safe Space, a school uniform exchange program, have been established to support parents struggling to afford school uniforms. Food banks are also urging schools to reconsider their uniform policies to lessen the financial strain on families, particularly those with multiple children.

The collective efforts of advocacy groups, parents, and community organizations are crucial in addressing the issue of unaffordable school uniforms and ensuring that all children have access to education without imposing undue financial hardship on their families.