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NI education: Sports kits 'drive up' school uniform costs

Sports kits 'drive up' school uniform costs says retailer Just now Share Save Robbie Meredith and Andrew McNair BBC News NI Share Save Getty Images 'Many parents now are paying more for their child's PE kit than they are for their uniform', MLAs have been told Branded school sports kits have driven up the cost of school uniform and "ruined the reputation" of sellers, a retailer has said. Jan Buchanan told MLAs in Stormont's Education Committee that many parents were now are paying more for their child's physical education (PE) kit than they are for their uniform. She was one of a number of retailers who gave evidence to the committee about proposed laws to limit the price of school uniforms. One parent told BBC News NI that rising costs of uniforms made it "exceptionally difficult". As well as a maximum price limit, Education Minister Paul Givan also said that there could be a limit on the number of branded items, such as PE kits, a school could ask parents to buy. The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill is currently being scrutinised by the education committee. Significant amount of money Kerri Denvir Kerri Denvir has two children aged five and nine Kerri Denvir has two children in primary school in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. She told BBC News NI that items often need replaced throughout the year, and that costs were "going up, and up, and up". "They just don't last and they're growing out of them very quickly," Ms Denvir said. "They fall in the playground and get a hole in the joggers, and that's another £20. You're constantly having to replace things," she said. "Sometimes there will be a deal in August, but when you go in during the winter to replace it the price has gone up. "It's not two or three pounds, it's a significant amount of money, and the cost goes up maybe £20 or £30 a year." 'Exceptionally difficult' Tina Mellon, a single mother-of-three, said the rising cost of uniforms was "exceptionally difficult to manage". She told BBC News NI that her son, who is in primary school, requires a branded PE kit as well as his main school uniform. "I feel many unbranded items would be just as acceptable, particularly for primary school children and most certainly for physical activity," she said. Tina Mellon Tina Mellon says branded PE kits make it "exceptionally difficult" for parents 'Northern Ireland falls short'