BRIDGET PHILLIPSON: 'I know what it's like to grow up in a struggling family - money was tight'
I know what it's like to grow up in a struggling family. My mam was a single parent and money was tight.
But when it came to school, she always made sure my shirt was clean and my shoes shone. Back then, we were lucky. Our uniform was affordable – a tie and a sew-on badge, not a long list of branded items.
Today, it's a different story. Too many schools demand costly branded blazers, jumpers and PE kits, piling the pressure on families. Some children are even missing school because their only uniform is in the wash. It's punishing poverty, and it needs to stop.
New figures from Parentkind show a third of families use buy-now-pay-later schemes to afford uniform, almost half rely on credit cards, and a quarter go without heating or food to cover costs.
Today's parent survey also shows that despite four in five parents saying supermarket uniforms are just as good, nearly half have reported that their child was punished or told off for wearing supermarket not branded kit.
For children on free school meals or with special educational needs, it's closer to two thirds. Uniform matters. It creates pride and belonging. But when the cost stops children learning, it has failed its purpose.
Parents want fewer branded items – and we're delivering. Through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we're capping uniform at three branded items, meaning families can shop where suits their budgets.
Schools already have guidance to keep branded kit to a minimum, but too many still demand five, ten or even more costly items. That's why we're legislating. But I know families need help now.
So today I'm calling on every school not to wait until September 2026 when the Bill becomes law. Show leadership. Ease the burden. No child should miss learning because their family can't afford a blazer.
Many schools are already proving it can be done – changing policies, working with suppliers, and showing that great education is about teaching and high standards, not logos.
Reducing the cost of kitting out children is just one of the measures government is putting in place to support families, building on our free Best Start breakfast clubs, expansion of 30 hours of funded childcare, and significant extension in free school meal eligibility, reaching half a million more children. Through our Plan for Change, we are backing families at every stage.
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Daily Mirror
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
New school uniform rules with parents set to save money from September
The Labour Party government has called for a cut in the cost of branded school uniforms for kids in England, with parents set to benefit ahead of a significant change The Labour Party government has now urged schools to slash uniform costs ahead of a major rule change, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appealing to schools to reduce the number of branded uniform items parents are required to buy. From September 2026 onwards, schools in England will only be permitted to require parents to purchase three branded uniform items, plus an optional branded tie for secondary schools. This new move should help them save money amid the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis, with Ms Phillipson pushing for change before the school bell rings once more in September. In other news, headteacher spotted a pupil stealing from school, but the explanation is heartbreaking. BT warning for anyone who still has UK landline in their home According to Birmingham Live, schools can currently force parents to buy an unlimited number of branded uniform items, which can prove costly for struggling families. Meanwhile, Ms Phillipson told The Sun she is pressing schools to implement these changes immediately, before the new term starts, to prevent families being "pushed into hardship". Ms Phillipson told the publication: "These figures lay bare the stark realities facing hard-working parents, with expensive branded school wear pushing families into debt. It's a disgrace that families are being forced to choose between food, heating and the back-to-school shop, and it needs to stop. "School uniform is a national tradition in this country, and it isn't going anywhere, but buying it shouldn't push families into hardship. That is why I am calling on schools ahead of the new term, urging them to start implementing these changes now. Parents know, and Sun readers know, this is common sense stuff. You don't need a posh blazer to learn your times tables." She continued: "Cutting the cost of school uniforms is just one of the ways we're putting more money in parents' back pockets as part of our Plan for Change for the country. From free breakfast clubs to half a million more kids getting free school meals, I'm absolutely determined to make sure where a young person grows up does not determine what they go on to achieve." The Department for Education has stated that these measures would save families £50 per child, based on the assumption that they bought all their clothes from specialist uniform shops.
Powys County Times
6 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Quarter of parents sacrifice food or heating to afford school uniform
More than one in four parents will go without food or heating to afford school uniform, a survey has suggested. A poll of 2,000 parents of school-age children in England found nearly half (45%) use credit cards to pay for uniform, while more than a third (34%) use 'buy now, pay later' schemes, such as Klarna, to cover costs. Nearly half (47%) of parents are worried about the cost of buying uniform for the start of the school year, according to the poll for charity Parentkind. The Education Secretary has called on schools to reduce the number of branded items of uniform they require ahead of an incoming change in the law. Speaking ahead of the new term, Bridget Phillipson said no family should have to choose between 'putting food on the table' and buying school uniform. Her comments come as a survey, carried out by Censuswide between July 31 and August 7, found 29% of parents said they will go 'without heating or eating' to pay for school uniform. Nearly a third (31%) of parents said they were likely to go into debt to buy school uniform. The poll – of parents of children aged four to 15 who attend state schools in England – found that 46% said they make personal sacrifices and 'go without' to pay for school uniform. The Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes a proposal to cap the number of branded uniform items schools in England can require. The Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, plans to require all schools in England to reduce the number of compulsory branded uniform items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary and middle schools. It is due to come into force from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) said. But schoolwear retailers have warned that the cap could increase costs for families as they say it could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality items which might not last as long as branded items. Meanwhile, Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent in north-west London, has suggested that a cap on branded school uniform items could hamper teachers' efforts to improve behaviour. The poll found that 85% of parents believe schools could cut costs by reducing the number of branded school uniform items they require. Nearly three in four (73%) parents said they would be better off financially if schools reduced the number of branded items, while 61% said it would make their lives easier. Overall, 86% of parents who were surveyed said they believed the number of branded school uniform items makes 'no difference' to how well-behaved children are at school. Ms Phillipson said: '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. '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. 'Our plan for change is keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking families, so the back-to-school shop doesn't push parents into debt and children can focus on their education, not their outfit.' Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: '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. 'Limiting branded school uniform items will make a difference straight away.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'It's important to remember that many schools already do a lot to ensure that their uniform is as affordable as possible for families – and recent feedback from NAHT members shows that further changes are already being made.' He said schools are increasingly relaxing or changing their rules – including limiting branded items or making them optional – to keep costs down. Mr Whiteman added: 'We have also heard from schools allowing trainers instead of shoes, as they can be cheaper and used for PE as well as every day, and uniform lists being made gender neutral so clothes can be passed down for siblings.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Schools are acutely conscious of the financial pressures on families and the need to keep the cost of uniforms to a minimum. 'Most school leaders already take measures to ensure that is the case. 'We support the intention behind the Government's plans to limit the number of branded items, but have suggested that a cap on the cost of uniforms might be a better way of achieving this policy aim.'
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
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Quarter of parents sacrifice food or heating to afford school uniform
A poll of 2,000 parents of school-age children in England found nearly half (45%) use credit cards to pay for uniform, while more than a third (34%) use 'buy now, pay later' schemes, such as Klarna, to cover costs. Nearly half (47%) of parents are worried about the cost of buying uniform for the start of the school year, according to the poll for charity Parentkind. The Education Secretary has called on schools to reduce the number of branded items of uniform they require ahead of an incoming change in the law. Speaking ahead of the new term, Bridget Phillipson said no family should have to choose between 'putting food on the table' and buying school uniform. Her comments come as a survey, carried out by Censuswide between July 31 and August 7, found 29% of parents said they will go 'without heating or eating' to pay for school uniform. Nearly a third (31%) of parents said they were likely to go into debt to buy school uniform. The poll – of parents of children aged four to 15 who attend state schools in England – found that 46% said they make personal sacrifices and 'go without' to pay for school uniform. The Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes a proposal to cap the number of branded uniform items schools in England can require. The Bill, which is currently being considered in the House of Lords, plans to require all schools in England to reduce the number of compulsory branded uniform items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary and middle schools. It is due to come into force from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) said. But schoolwear retailers have warned that the cap could increase costs for families as they say it could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality items which might not last as long as branded items. Meanwhile, Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School in Brent in north-west London, has suggested that a cap on branded school uniform items could hamper teachers' efforts to improve behaviour. The poll found that 85% of parents believe schools could cut costs by reducing the number of branded school uniform items they require. Nearly three in four (73%) parents said they would be better off financially if schools reduced the number of branded items, while 61% said it would make their lives easier. Overall, 86% of parents who were surveyed said they believed the number of branded school uniform items makes 'no difference' to how well-behaved children are at school. Ms Phillipson said: '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. '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. 'Our plan for change is keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking families, so the back-to-school shop doesn't push parents into debt and children can focus on their education, not their outfit.' Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: '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. 'Limiting branded school uniform items will make a difference straight away.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'It's important to remember that many schools already do a lot to ensure that their uniform is as affordable as possible for families – and recent feedback from NAHT members shows that further changes are already being made.' He said schools are increasingly relaxing or changing their rules – including limiting branded items or making them optional – to keep costs down. Mr Whiteman added: 'We have also heard from schools allowing trainers instead of shoes, as they can be cheaper and used for PE as well as every day, and uniform lists being made gender neutral so clothes can be passed down for siblings.' Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'Schools are acutely conscious of the financial pressures on families and the need to keep the cost of uniforms to a minimum. 'Most school leaders already take measures to ensure that is the case. 'We support the intention behind the Government's plans to limit the number of branded items, but have suggested that a cap on the cost of uniforms might be a better way of achieving this policy aim.'
