Parents borrowing money to pay for school uniforms

18 August 2013

Citizens Advice reveals new figures on the school-cost-squeeze

Back to school is putting a tremendous strain on parents’ finances as 1 in 4 borrow to cover the cost of a new uniform, reveal new figures from Citizens Advice.

Almost two thirds of parents face costs of over £70 for a new school uniform for each child this term – and 19% will fork out more than £150 per uniform.

The national charity also finds that only 11% expect to pay under £30 for a new school uniform.

Yet parents are finding different ways to cope with the costs. A third have planned ahead for the pricey pullovers by saving up money for their child’s school uniform and a fifth earn enough to absorb the cost.

But a quarter will resort to borrowing money – rising to a third among unemployed parents – and 23% of all parents don’t know how they’ll pay for it.

The new figures are from Citizens Advice’s ‘great BIG school uniform survey’ which received 1,000 responses and ran online from 2 July to 12 August 2013 . It finds 9 in 10 ten parents will buy a new uniform this year. Citizens Advice also tracked school cost trends by analysing over 70 client cases about school clothing struggles, reported to bureaux between June 2012 and 12 August 2013.

While the survey found 2 in 3 parents expect their children’s school uniform will be more this year than last, it’s not just the rising prices that are responsible for the school-squeeze. Parents told Citizens Advice that school mergers often led to the introduction of a new uniform. Branded school clothing and a change in uniform policy also bring considerable extra costs to parents.

One mum, who sought help from a CAB, fears her child will get detention if she is not wearing the correct uniform. The clothing has bespoke badges and even a specific type of skirt that her daughter must wear, meaning she can’t use the one she had for primary school but can’t afford to buy a new one.

One parent told the Citizens Advice study that this year the uniform changed for the second time in three years and now more items need to be bought from a specific store. Another reported the school badge had changed to incorporate team colours – meaning items can’t be passed onto younger children.

Citizens Advice discovered 72% of parents have to buy their kids’ uniform from a specific shop. This stops mums and dads shopping around for the best price and often forces them to pay over the odds for school clothing. Last summer, figures from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), revealed parents can pay up to £10 more for each item of school clothing from a specific store.

Help with uniform costs from schools and councils is patchy. Some parents said that there was little or no support for the cost of school uniform whereas others described second hand sales and vouchers from the council for those on a low income.

Citizens Advice is encouraging schools to find ways to cut costs for families. Through ‘the great Big school uniform’ study, parents revealed different ways schools and councils are supporting them:

first school uniform provided by academy;
second hand uniform sales including at summer and Christmas fairs;
offers certain first items free;
help available towards cost;
able to make weekly payments for school uniform;
children can wear generic uniform bought from cheaper shops like supermarket.

Uniforms are not the only costs families will face this term. The vast majority (86%) of parents are worried about how they will afford school trips this year.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“Mums and Dads are anxious about the cost of going back to school. Some parents are borrowing money to pay for school clothing because they fear their children will face punishment from teachers or bullying from other kids.

“It is worrying that many parents are forced to buy school uniforms from a specific shop. This puts unnecessary pressure on already tight budgets by prohibiting choice which stops people shopping around for the best deal.

“Schools should be fully aware of the squeeze on family budgets and need to rethink their uniform policies. It is unacceptable for parents to be pushed into paying over the odds for items that they could get cheaper elsewhere.

“Plans to merge schools or create academies also need to consider the financial impact for families. For some parents, buying an expensive new school uniform because the school has merged is beyond their reach and completely unaffordable.”

Notes to editors

Citizens Advice’s ‘great BIG school uniform survey’ received 1,000 responses from parents of school age children. It ran online at www.adviceguide.org.uk from 2 July to 12 August 2013.
The OFT's report on the supply of school uniforms in UK state schools was published in August 2012. http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/markets-work/othermarketswork/school-uniforms
The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.9 million problems from April 2011 to March 2012. For full 2011/2012 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,500 service outlets across England and Wales.