Survey finds thousands of children nationally punished over unaffordable uniforms, as cost pressures hit Yorkshire and the Humber families.
More than a third of parents in Yorkshire and the Humber (38%) are still struggling to afford mandatory school uniforms and PE kits, according to a major new poll by The Children’s Society.
Over four in ten (41%) said that uniform prices had not become more affordable over the past year, despite efforts to make more second-hand items available.
Nationally, the same survey of 3,000 parents found that thousands of children across the UK have faced punishments linked to unaffordable uniforms – including detentions (12%), isolation (9%), and even exclusions (8%). Secondary school pupils were most likely to be affected, with one in eight (12%) placed in isolation for uniform breaches beyond their control.
Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, said:
“Across Yorkshire and the Humber, too many families are feeling the squeeze from high uniform costs. Every child in our region should be able to attend school without fear of being singled out because their parents can’t afford expensive branded items.
“With school uniform costs still crippling family budgets, we welcome the proposed limit of three branded items in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and urge the government to implement it – parents overwhelmingly support this much-needed change.”
The poll also found strong backing for reform, with 78% of parents UK-wide supporting a statutory limit on branded items. Parents suggested an average of three branded items would be reasonable, but they said they are currently required to buy five items in primary schools and six in secondary on average.
Jumpers, cardigans, PE tops, and ties remain the most common branded items, inflating costs. Over the summer holidays, when uniform bills peak, The Children’s Society is working with charity shops, community projects, and uniform banks to make affordable second-hand uniforms more accessible across Yorkshire and the Humber and the rest of the UK.
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