Beginning in September 2022, a new law will safeguard parents in England against excessive school uniform fees.
State schools will be required to remove extraneous branded items from their uniform requirements, making it easier for parents to buy elsewhere or hand down clothing.
However, Shoana Qureshi-Khan is one mother who has not witnessed a decrease in the cost of school apparel.
For her 11- and 13-year-old sons, she has still had to purchase several items of clothes with the school insignia.
She stated that the school blazer alone costs between £45 and £60. It’s a staggering sum for which there is no preparation.
Even though the boys attend the same secondary school and can share some items, Shoana estimates that she has spent over £300 outfitting them this summer.
“Honestly, it’s completely insane. I think I can understand the need for a logo to make students feel like they are a part of the school’s family, but it’s so superfluous “She stated,
“A few pounds can get me something else at the supermarket. It is unfair to hardworking families and exacerbates the inequality gap.”
The narrative of Shoana will resonate with hundreds of other parents.
Concerning some is the fact that September’s new guidelines contain a loophole.
It means that schools that require a new uniform contract with a vendor have until December 2022 to do it. They will then have until the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year to implement these clothing.
Some youngsters may continue to wear things with school insignia, such as blazers, even though the new law requires branding to be kept to a minimum but does not outlaw it.
Emma Prosser, who heads the Uniform Project Nottingham, offers assistance to parents who have difficulty affording school uniforms.
She began by organizing uniform exchanges between parents whose children attended two primary schools.
But demand has increased so much that she now offers a uniform bank to the parents of students at 19 schools in Nottinghamshire, from which those in need can obtain free uniforms.
We found her surrounded by mounds of donated sweaters, pinafores, and thick coats.
She stated, “You have three types of parents.” “Those who favor new purchases and brands. Those who truly cannot afford it and require assistance. In addition, a rising proportion of folks with enough income just do not see the value in purchasing new. Buying used products is far more environmentally friendly.”
Now, Emma collaborates with local food banks to provide uniform products in addition to necessities, and she claims she has never been busier. However, the logos restrict the ease with which good clothing can be shared.
Emma stated, “You must cater to your parenting community.” “You can’t achieve that if you insist on logos and want everyone to have an extra £300 for every child they have.”
A mother of four entered the Uniform Project while we were there. She was overcome with emotion and refused to share her name, but was relieved to receive free sweaters, cardigans, pants, shirts, and skirts for her family. “I’ve been in a state of terror,” she admitted.
“To outfit my son for secondary school will cost me £98, as he must have logoed items other than shirts,” she says. “It’s challenging to spend as much on a single uniform as on a whole business. This year it has hit us hard.
The Children’s Society predicted that the average cost of a school uniform in 2019 will remain unchanged from 2020 at £315 per primary student and £337 per secondary student.
But the organization, which helped pass the new law, feels that parents should be able to fight back when uniforms are too restrictive.
Mark Russell, chief executive officer, stated, “If parents believe their local school’s uniform policy has not changed, they should contact the principal and the governing board.”
“If they are still unsatisfied, they should contact their local representative or the Department of Education. The department will subsequently contact the institution to require compliance with the law.”
A representative for the Department of Education stated, “School uniforms should never be a hardship for parents or an impediment to students’ access to education.”
They said that the new law going into force the next month should assist families to reduce expenses. “We are aware that schools and families face significant cost challenges on a broader scale, which is why this government is giving over £37 billion to help homes in greatest need and to support families through the Household Support Fund.”
Unlike many other things, school uniform prices have not increased significantly this year. The difference is that for a growing number of families, the ability to make a substantial one-time payment at the beginning of the school year has become far more difficult to attain.
The new rules are intended to help with this, but there are a lot of grey areas, and parents and schools are likely to disagree on what constitutes “essential” or “appropriate.”
Parents who believe their school is not adhering to the new guidelines are instructed to contact the school’s governing board in the first instance.
When this legislation won bipartisan support, the aim was that a gentle reminder to parents that schools must comply with the new criteria would be sufficient to reduce the cost of most uniform programs.
