Cost of School Uniforms and School Activities on the Rise

Friday 31st of August 2007 10:27:39 PM

For some UK parents, paying for uniforms each year for their children uses up what little money there is for items other than the necessities. But since many schools require uniforms with custom embroidery and other embellishments, parents are forced to buy these uniforms from certain companies that cater to the schools. “The Government should take action against schools to make uniform policies more realistic and affordable and should monitor schools to make sure they stick to the guidelines,” said chief executive of Citizens' Advice, David Harker. Many parents feel the same way. In addition to paying for new school uniforms, parents are also asked to contribute to school funds and pay for their child’s field trips. Parents of children from low income families are not always able to pay these extra costs, which impact how their children learn in school because they are not able to participate in school activities. The average cost for students to attend school including uniforms, books, and to fund for trips and other activities is about ₤1000 per child each year. For parents, this is proving to be too much. "It is compulsory to have everything with the embroidered school logo on purchased at a specific shop," said one parent about paying for her daughter’s secondary school uniform. In the past, UK government has encouraged schools to avoiding limiting the number of shops where parents can purchase uniforms. Even the Schoolwear Association, which represents the companies and shops that supply school clothing, encourages schools not to limit the place where they can be purchased. But until more is done, parents may not have much say in where uniformsare purchased. (c)Stephen Rainer, www.sxc.hu