Government's uniform plans good but not enough, says Birmingham swap shop
The plans could see four million children get cheaper school uniforms
The government says four million children will get cheaper school uniforms thanks to a new law they're trying to pass.
They say the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill would save parents £50 a year by limiting the number of school-branded items children have to wear to three, excluding school ties.
We spoke to Lorraine Murphy from Rubery Swop Shop, a second-hand school uniform charity in Birmingham.
She said “I think it’s a good start, but it does need to go further. The cost should be as low as possible for all children, no matter which school they attend.”
Lorraine said the current rules around branded items mean some parents are paying considerably higher prices than others.
“Some schools don’t require any branding whatsoever and I think their education is as good as anybody else’s with branding.”
Lorraine gave the example of one local primary school that only requires pupils to have a branded tie that costs around £6. She said more schools should follow in their footsteps.
There are other changes she’d like to see, such as an end to schools requiring PE kits to have children’s initials embroidered on them.
MPs have previously raised concerns about the high costs parents face in buying branded items of clothing for uniform.
The Department of Education said parents are having to pay on average £442 for secondary school uniforms, and £343 for primary school uniforms.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "Looking smart at school shouldn't cost the earth and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.
"Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year and make sure family finances have no bearing on children's time at school.”
The new uniform laws will save parents £50 a year in the back-to-school shop, according to the DfE.
Alongside the uniform limits, the Bill proposes to introduce free breakfast clubs, create a new register of all home-schooled children in England and reform academies.
Ministers have faced criticism from advocates for the academy system for moves they believe will restrict their freedoms and which could limit their pay scales.