Seven reasons why school-specific school uniform is important:

Stories in the national media sometimes focus on the cost of school uniform without acknowledging the benefits. 

School uniform is a serious matter and should not be brought down to the lowest common denominator. There is real value in school uniform, for both children and schools.

Here are seven reasons why the Schoolwear Association believes school-specific uniform should be respected:


1. School Uniform is an important part of a child’s life. A quality uniform can help to give confidence and promote pride and a sense of community.

2. Supermarkets do not sell school uniform, they sell clothes which can be worn at school, at very cheap prices for a short period to get footfall through their stores. There is a very big difference between clothes for school and a properly balanced school uniform.

3. The right balance between school specific and generic is essential, otherwise it is not effective as
a proper school uniform.

4. Respect, for the uniform, for the rest of the school rules and the teachers, is an essential part of the smooth functioning of a School. Sir Michael Wilshaw has made his views very clear on its importance on a number of occasions.

5. Every August and early September, there is a hysteria in the media, which is totally misguided. On the whole Schools and Parents make good choices.

6. The only time any parent has to spend significant money on uniform at Back to School, is for the start of Year 7, when their child moves to secondary school. The cost can be spread over many months by using a Schoolwear Specialist, who is usually a member of the Schoolwear Association.

7. Independent Research has shown that school uniform is great value for money, much cheaper than clothing worn out of school hours, and that the vast majority of parents are satisfied with their School’s current arrangements.

School uniforms are great value for money!

For years, the Association has fought against criticism that school uniform is too expensive, but now we have proof that this isn’t the case!

According to the latest study, school uniform costs on average just 45p per school day. A relatively small price compared to the £113 price tag for the outfits children wear when they aren’t in school.

Here at Schoolwear Association we believe that it is important for every child to wear school uniform, to give them a sense of pride with their school and to improve behaviour. With children spending at least 10 hours a day wearing school uniform, we believe uniform should be good value for money and long lasting, something which we are constantly encouraging.

The new research reveals the average secondary school outfit is priced at £88.05, just 45 pence per school day. With PE kit, the total averages £127.32. A Primary school uniform comes to £33.48, rising to £42.32 with a PE kit. A separate poll of 2,000 parents shows they typically spend more on outfits the children wear outside of school than they do on uniform, with almost half dressing their children in high street and designer fashions. The average non-uniform outfit came in at £113.

Our Chairman, David Burgess, is keen to tackle the common misconception that school uniform is too expensive. “We completely understand that for the poorest in society, uniform is a major expense but most schools have arrangements to look after them, and many of our members contribute to those schemes by providing free uniform to those in need. Most parents can afford to buy their children’s uniform, and like teachers, they agree that quality, school specific uniform contributes to better education and behaviour. It is a worthwhile investment, and we believe every child is worth it.”

How to get the best value from your child's school uniform

Some parents can find buying school uniforms quite a worry, especially if you have more than one child, so to prevent having to buy a new uniform every term follow these simple tips on how make the most out of your child’s uniform: 
 

• Make sure you look for good quality uniform as it needs to stand up to the wear and tear of being worn and washed almost every day! Look for things like extra value in heavier fabrics, long life features and robust stitching to ensure the quality of the item.
• Naturally, most parents avoid buying their child’s uniform until it’s time to go back to school but, this isn’t always the best option. If the majority of parents are rushing to buy uniforms at the end of August then most of the sizes and items will be gone, so consider buying your uniform as soon as school finishes that way you are guaranteed a better choice.
• Another way you can make the most out of your child’s uniform is by buying it slightly bigger, meaning you can get at least another years worth out of your jumpers and shirts! Once your child has outgrown their uniform you can offer the items to other parents to use.
• One thing to remember is that the way you wash and iron the uniform can give it a longer a life, so make sure to use low temperatures and read the items labels! (You can read about how to keep your uniform smart and clean on our previous blog post).
• Lastly, don’t forget to label your child’s name on their uniform, often enough they will leave it in the PE changing rooms!