Full marks for this rethink on pricey school uniforms policy

It is curious to me that after multiple cost of living crises, a surge in inflation and deep cuts to the welfare budget, parents are still being railroaded into buying horribly expensive school uniforms for their kids.

- JAMES MOORE

Mercifully, change is finally coming, via the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, currently in the House of Lords. As well as introducing new safeguards to children’s welfare and free breakfast clubs in all state-funded primaries, it will also limit the number of branded items that headteachers can require pupils to wear, to three (excluding tie).

As measures go, it is hoped it will bring down the cost of a school uniform and save parents £50 a year per pupil.

The price of kitting out a child comes to £442 for the average secondary school student, and £343 for primary-age pupils, and can be a struggle for a significant number of parents. The Department for Education has published analysis showing that more than 4 million children will benefit from the simple rule change.