‘Crushing cost’: UK parents skip meals, forego heating to afford school uniforms - survey

A survey has found that parents in England are skipping meals and relying on buy-now-pay-later services like Klarna to cover the cost of school uniforms ahead of the autumn term.The survey, conducted by parenting charity Parentkind, found that many parents were being pushed into debt to afford school uniforms.

Nearly half (45 percent) of respondents said they planned to use credit cards, while a third (34 percent) expected to rely on services such as Klarna.Of the 2,000 parents surveyed, nearly half (47 percent) expressed concern over the high cost of school uniforms, often running into hundreds of pounds for branded items. More than a quarter (29 percent) reported skipping food or heating to meet the cost.Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has called on schools to urgently ease the burden on struggling parents by cutting back on mandatory branded uniform items, ahead of an upcoming change in the law.“School uniform matters, but it shouldn’t break the bank. No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying a new blazer,” said Bridget Phillipson as quoted by the Guardian.“Parents have told us they want fewer costly branded items, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering. Schools can help ease the pressure on families right now by reducing the number of branded items they require.” Philllipson added.

From September 2026, schools in the UK will be limited to three branded items, plus a branded tie for secondary and middle schools, under the government’s Children and Schools Bill. However, Phillipson has urged parents to adopt the changes earlier on a voluntary basis.The new legislation will allow parents to purchase basic uniform items, such as shirts and trousers, from general retailers like Aldi and Marks and Spencer.At present, schools can require parents to purchase multiple logo-branded items from specialist suppliers, with some demanding more than five, and in certain cases up to 10, pushing total uniform costs to as much as £400 when PE kits are included.“Parents have faced the crushing cost of sending their children to school for far too long. For many families the bills soar into the thousands every year, covering uniforms, books, stationery, trips, laptops and travel.

These reforms are the first real step towards ending that injustice,” Parentkind’s chief executive Jason Elsom was quoted as saying by the Guardian.“Limiting branded school uniform items will make a difference straight away. Our research shows 85% of parents believe this will cut costs, 71% prefer to buy plain items and add the logo later, and 83% say unbranded uniform is just as good quality. This is about keeping money in parents’ pockets without sacrificing school pride,” Elsom said.Almost 9 in 10 parents (86 percent) of children aged between 4 to 15 in state schools in England said branded uniforms made no difference to a student’s behavior, as per the survey conducted.