In response to this article published on 14th
July: “Lidl steps up school uniform price war with £3.75 outfit”, we wanted
to emphasise that although we recognise that price is important, it is a false
economy to choose the cheap option.
There are real benefits if you are willing
to pay a little extra for a good value product and service. A uniform that is
made well does the job better and offers better value because it lasts longer
and looks the part, with all the benefits that we know uniform brings in
behaviour, learning and safety.
If uniform isn’t durable and looks scruffy
or doesn’t match, it doesn’t do the job properly. Going for the cheapest option
may also come with a hidden price tag, at the expense of the environment or the
conditions of the workers who had to produce it.
It is a misconception that school uniform
is expensive. Our research shows that school uniform costs on average just 45p
per school day per child. We strongly believe every child is worth it, and we
know teachers and the majority of parents agree. The real drain on many family
budgets is the clothing children wear when they are not in school.
We advise schools and parents to work with
specialist suppliers to find the best value uniform for children. Making good
decisions at the outset will always provide better long term value than simply
opting for the cheaper option on the shelf.
David Burgess, Chair of the Schoolwear
Association
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