By Ben Jones. Cover image: Illustration, not featured school, copyright voice.wales
As families struggle to cope with rising food and energy costs, many are faced with an added financial burden which can cost hundreds of pounds – school uniforms.
In October 2021, parents of pupils at Fitzalan High School, Cardiff received an email detailing plans to introduce new changes to childrens’ uniform, to coincide with the school moving to a new location in 2023. The changes, which will begin in September 2022, would see a variety of items changed.
Parents with students already in school are facing an estimated increase of up to £50 per pupil, according to one parent who spoke to voice.wales, bringing the total costs of uniform up to £163 per pupil.
Tansaim Hussein has three children in the school, and explained that as an average, she has already had to spend around £450 for each child over the course of their education.
Now, following the school-wide change, she feels that this uniform is no longer useful.
Whilst a school spokesperson told voice.wales that pupils already at the school “can continue to wear existing uniform in each key stage,” parents of students beginning in September will face the increased costs and others may feel under pressure to get the new clothing.
But the incident also highlights the wider issue of increasingly expensive uniform hitting families.
“Uniforms are costly, especially the blazers,” says Tansaim. “They are around £25, which can add up. I ordered clothes for my son who started last year and it came to over £150, which is ridiculous.”
“Now I’ve heard that they will be changing the uniform as they get closer to opening the new school building, which means all the uniforms bought will now be wasted.”
“I think it will affect the students – if they don’t have the right uniform they aren’t allowed in school. They can get sent home if wearing non uniform or even incorrect colour shoes and coats, which is ridiculous,” she said.
“They have to have black coats, shoes and backpacks. It’s not always easy sometimes to find black coats. They have to go sacrificing food and other necessities of life just to pay for a uniform.”
“Even the shoes, black rucksacks, they can’t have logos, even if you’re wearing the wrong footwear, you’ll be sent home.”
“Uniform should be free, or at least, they shouldn’t be as costly as when you’re buying other essential learning items like rulers, pencils, calculators, sports clothing, shoes and bags – it all adds up immensely.”
After putting these claims to Cardiff Council, they directed us to the Pupil Development Fund – a financial grant for those on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, Employment Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Income Support, who may not be able to afford uniform.
According to parents we heard from however, they hadn’t been told in the initial email that grants and support were available and no alternatives were outlined.
YC Sports is the supplier for Fitzalan High School, and provides uniforms for a total of 93 schools – both Primary and Secondary – across the Cardiff area.
The regular fit blazer, which originally cost £15, is now being sold for £30. Parents with children starting at Fitzalan can also buy the ‘full pack,’ which includes one blazer, jumper, polo shirt and PE clothing, for £163. At another Cardiff School, Cardiff High, however, a similar pack will set you back £264.
Despite the response provided by the school assuring that existing pupils could continue to wear older uniform, when a reporter spoke to a member of staff at YC Sports, they explained that certain years would be required to wear the newer, and more expensive uniform.
Tansaim explained over the phone that previously, prior to the change, she had to borrow money from family because of the hidden cost of children being effectively homeschooled during the pandemic- through the laptops and tablets they needed in order to learn.
“For three of my children, I’m facing having to take out a loan in order to pay for uniforms and food,” she said. “It isn’t good timing whatsoever – electricity bills are going up, you may have to cut down on cleaning products, on food, because you’ve overspent on the uniforms. Before the change, I was spending £200 on uniforms for my kids.”
“Foodwise, even ASDA is becoming expensive, I’m profiling the cheapest places just to survive.”
Talk has also spread across the playground, with children sharing stories of how their own families, and vice versa, have been affected by recent changes and the cost of living crisis.
“I’ve heard from my children’s friends that they can’t afford it. Luckily I can, for now,” said Tansaim.
Another parent, who asked to remain anonymous, echoed her concerns. They said that parents were originally consulted on new uniforms ahead of the move to a newer building in 2023, with many objecting to some of the more specific changes.
“The standard uniform would be altered to include shirts and ties, as opposed to just simple polo shirts. Some parents objected to this on the grounds of cost, and how the labour of washing and ironing would mostly fall upon women,” she said.
“Despite that, we’ve been informed that the change is going ahead for some school years. Given the rise in costs in fuel, people are struggling to feed their families yet the school feels it appropriate to add this extra burden on families, in a school where 30% of pupils are on free school meals.”
“Financial hardship, environmental waste and comfort are just three concerns. What will happen to those who are not eligible for assistance but equally not able to fund new uniforms for their children?”
An older student at Fitzalan High School, who also wished to remain unnamed, also got in touch and told us they had heard about the uniform changes and that uniform policy was strict.
“They expect you to pay for joggers and long sleeve tops for PE,” they said. “You can’t wear your own clothes for PE in the winter unless you have an excuse.”
The student said that other school costs had also gone up: “The food in the canteen, the prices, they’ve doubled!”
“Originally it was £1.40 for a calzone and now it’s £2.90. They didn’t tell us when the prices would increase. Pupils on free school meals are only given £3 a day allowance. It’s also 80p for a small pot of fruit. It’s ridiculous, how are kids meant to be healthy and be fed properly if they don’t have the money for it?”
The council said that feedback would be welcomed before and after changes are made, up until November 2022.
A Fitzalan High School spokesperson said: “The new uniform is being phased in and pupils can continue to wear the existing uniform in each key stage. Uniform grants are available.”
