Latest news with #schooluniform
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
M&S' £2.25 school tops split opinions as some mums say it's the best ‘life hack' & others claim it's ‘making kids lazy'
AS the back-to-school scramble looms, parents across the UK are already eyeing up uniforms. But one particular item from Marks & Spencer has sparked a surprising debate online: their £2.25 'easy dressing' school polo shirts. 4 Hailed by some as an absolute "life hack" for busy parents, others are raising an eyebrow, claiming we might be "making kids lazy." The shirts in question are M&S's two-pack of unisex easy dressing school polo shirts, designed with ingenious hidden features to make getting ready for school a breeze. They're part of M&S's Adaptive range, developed in collaboration with The National Autistic Society, focusing on simpler, quicker, and more comfortable dressing. Made from 100% pure cotton, they boast StayNew technology for lasting colour and Stain Away to tackle those inevitable playground marks. The clever bit? Behind the traditional buttons, there's a hidden tape, making them easier to fasten - a godsend for little fingers - or rushed parents! One mum, Kimberley - known as @ - took to TikTok urging other parents: "Why on earth would you send your infant school child to school in anything but this?! Easy dressing shirts from @Marks & Spencer." She even advised her followers to "Run to M&S instore before 6 Aug for 20% off," tagging her video with #schoolhack and #mumhack. For her, it seems the shirts are a non-negotiable for starting school, promising to shave precious minutes off the morning routine. And it seems she's not alone, with many parents praising the quality and practical ease of use. Parents are praising it as many think it can help navigate the daily chaos of school mornings, especially with your children who are learning how to dress themselves. School banned my daughter, 12, from 'diversity day' for wearing Union Jack dress - the reason was ridiculous The video gained 123.8k views and 60 comments after just four days of it being shared. Many people rushed to share their opinions, but some views were mixed. One wrote: 'Are we making kids lazy, I just think they need to practice their fine motor skills. 'That's just me though, they may have a place for kids with difficulties.' 4 4 However, in defence of the clothing one person said: 'They are designed for kids with disabilities… it's the 'easy dressing' range which is designed to make school uniforms accessible to all!' But another commented on their use after a couple of washed by writing: 'Yeah they're not great. 'The velcro goes all weird and eventually stops working properly. 'Great until you've washed them a few times. I got them last year and replaced them all after the first term.' And another said: 'Yes it's a life hack but my god don't they irritate the kids putting them on and off.' EXTRA HELP WITH SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS IF you can't get targeted help from your council, you might have some other options available to you. In some areas, you can talk directly to your school, which might be able to offer you clothing. Or, you might be able to get cheap garments from low-budget shops or charity stores. Some charities offer help to families in need too. But bear in mind charities often have a limited amount of money to give and usually have specific criteria which must be met in order to get a grant. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you. Meanwhile, you can always try approaching your nearest Citizens' Advice branch. If you don't know where your nearest Citizens' Advice branch is, you can find out by visiting If you're not eligible for a school uniform grant you might be able to get help through the Household Support Fund.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Leicester's free school uniform pop-up shop to return in 2026
More than 1,500 children in Leicester have received free school uniform items from a charity pop-up shop, organisers Charity set up the shop at the Highcross shopping centre using £50,000 in anti-poverty funding from the city idea was to offer pre-worn school clothing of all types to lower-income city council has now confirmed it will support the project for a second year in 2026. Originally known as Leicester Children's Holidays, LCH Charity now offers several projects to help disadvantaged children in the East Midlands. Since 7 July, the pop-up uniform shop has been stocked with thousands of pre-worn items donated by parents at 50 of the charity's partnered schools. The store has now closed, but staff are still working to ship online orders to families who could not attend in person. The rest of the stock will be stored away and used to help families next year. Paula Richardson, provision support assistant at the charity, said there were some parents who said they could not afford a polo top "which is sometimes £3"."It just shows that it's really hard nowadays to buy uniform. It's a real struggle," she said."We do so much for children that are underprivileged and aren't able to go on holidays or don't get to go out to the cinema."I just think if that was me in that situation I'd want something like this to help my children." "Every child on average has received 10 items of uniform or PE kit and we have supported in the shop about 1,500 children," said LCH's chief executive Nichola Moore. "That's 15,000 items of uniform that has gone out of the shop over the last three weeks, which is a huge amount."Ms Moore said there was more schools could do to bring down the cost of uniform, such as allowing more "generic" non-branded items."If you've got a bigger family - two, three, four children - the costs run into the hundreds and hundreds of pounds, families just haven't got that money," she said. Hozan, 40, said the pop-up shop had made her and her son Younis "very, very happy"."If you buy PE clothes, or shoes or a bag and blazer, everything is very expensive," she parent said the store was "very beneficial when you're on a low income" and volunteers were doing "very important" work. LCH chief executive Nichola Moore said Leicester City Council had agreed to fund the pop up shop for another year "because the demand has been so high".
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Best school uniform sales from M&S, Tesco, Morrisons and more
With the summer holidays underway, school uniform shopping might not be top of your list right now. However, we've already spotted some excellent school uniform deals, so now's a good time to get a head start before the back-to-school rush begins. As well as tracking school uniform sales dates, we're in regular contact with all the major retailers, so we know when the deals are landing. We'll keep this page up to date with the latest offers throughout the summer holidays, so you can make this your one-stop shop for nabbing the best school uniform deals. So far, we've seen offers that include 25 per cent off individual items or even bundles of whole uniform sets for just £5. Right now, you'll find school uniform sales on at M&S, Tesco and Morrisons, which you can find out more about further down. These retailers don't have sales on at the moment, but here's what you can expect from them: Sainsbury's: The supermarket slashed the price of its Tu school uniform range by 20 per cent in early June, and this is expected to return before the autumn term starts. Tu's school uniform prices have been locked since 2022, starting from £3 for a pack of two polo shirts. Asda: At the end of June, it reduced the price of George's school uniform by 20 per cent. Asda told us there are no plans to bring this back over the summer, but we'll let you know if it changes. Despite this, prices are still reasonable, starting from £2 for a crew neck t-shirt. Lidl: As part of a limited-time promotion, the supermarket had a £5 school uniform bundle on offer. This included two polo shirts, a sweatshirt and a choice of trousers, a skirt or shorts, all for a fiver. It was available in stores around early July, so we'll let you know if it returns. If you need to stock up on other classroom essentials, we've also tested the best school shoes, best kids' backpacks and the best kids' water bottles. Our recommendations are tried-and-tested with kids, so you can be sure they'll go down well with little ones, as well as last the school year. M&S: 20 per cent off school uniform From today until stocks last, you'll find 20 per cent off across all of the M&S back-to-school range. The deal is only available in-store, so you'll need to head to your local M&S to benefit from the discount. If you shop using the link below, you'll pay full price. Prices in the sale start from £4.50 for a pack of two polo shirts, plus you can pick up school shoes as part of the offer. M&S has incorporated some handy design features into its school uniform range, including extra hem material (which can be let down to allow for growth spurts), adjustable waistbands, and 'easy to iron' shirts. Morrisons: 25 per cent off school uniform Until Sunday 20 July, you can save 25 per cent across the Nutmeg back-to-school range. The offer is available in Morrisons shops, and you'll need the supermarket's loyalty card, known as the More Card, to take advantage of the discount. Online stock is fairly limited on the Morrisons website. In the sale, you'll find a pack of two polo shirts for £3.75, a pack of two short-sleeved shirts for £5.25, a pack of two trousers for £7.50 and lots more. Morrisons doesn't charge more for larger sizes, so whether you're buying for the first day of school or for older kids, you'll pay one flat price. Tesco Clubcard holders can get 25 per cent off F&F school uniforms when shopping online and in store from Tuesday 22 July to Sunday 27 July. If you've been thinking about signing up for the loyalty scheme, this could be the perfect time. With the promotion, you'll find polo shirts from £3 ( trousers from £7 ( jumpers from £4 ( and lots more. Stock is limited online, so it's worth heading to the shop in person if you're struggling to find your child's size. Aldi: £5 full school uniform set You can pick up a whole school uniform set for just £5 from Aldi starting from Sunday 29 June. The bundle includes two polo shirts, a sweatshirt or cardigan and a choice of trousers, a skirt or cargo shorts. If you want to buy the items separately, then you'll pay £1.75 per item, or £1.50 for a sweatshirt or cardigan. You'll find a range of colours and sizes available from 4 years up to 12 years, so you can kit out older kids without having to pay more. Keep in mind that this deal is part of Aldi's Specialbuys promotion, so stock is likely to be limited right now. How to save money on school uniforms Back-to-school purchases can quickly rack up, so school uniform sales are one of the easiest ways to save. If you miss out on a sale but still wantcheap school uniforms, check out secondhand clothing sites like Vinted and eBay. We had a quick search and found items that were new or barely worn available to buy. Uniformerly is an online marketplace specifically for school uniforms, where you can search for items to buy from other parents or the PTA at your child's school and arrange to collect them. If you're worried about the cost of a school uniform, it's worth getting in touch with your local council about school uniform grants. This can help with buying uniforms, as well as other school essentials such as a PE kit and travel costs. You can find the contact details for your local council at
BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Pupils and parents slam skirt ban in Bolton and Wigan schools
Some parents and pupils are calling on schools in Greater Manchester to scrap their plans to ban pupils from wearing schools plan to implement the policy from September, including Canon Slade School in Bolton and Fred Longworth High School in a pupil at Canon Slade school, said she disagreed with the school uniform changes, adding it was "taking away our femininity".In separate statements, both schools said the decision had been made following discussions with parents, staff and governors. Fred Longworth High School said the change came after girls had reported feeling "uncomfortable and self-conscious" and the change would "eradicate pressure" and remove an "unnecessary barrier" to learning. In guidance from The Department for Education, it strongly encourages schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for a Year 10 pupil, said she did not believe that she should be forced to wear trousers. "We already had the choice to wear trousers like some people did, some people didn't, and that was completely fine," she said. "But now that we're getting the choices taken away from us, it just feels like it's really forced. "I think it's bad because it's taking away our femininity and what we see makes us girls."Her mother Karen also said the change in policy would be an extra cost. "For most parents of existing pupils, we've already bought the skirts," she said."In the case of Summer, she's only going to be wearing [the skirt] for nine months because she'll have finished the school in May. "So how's that making it affordable for some parents?" Scarlett, who is due to start the school in September, said she would prefer to wear a skirt."We're all growing up so it does make you feel a bit more comfortable," she said."It's not a fashion show, but at the same time you always want to look nice and presentable."James Watson, an Independent Network councillor on Wigan Council, has started a petition after his daughter's school also announced plans to bring in a trouser-only policy from has been signed by more than 1,000 people so far, following the decision by Fred Longworth High Watson said: "It's a very good school that she's in and she's had a fantastic time there, but she's worried now from September about wearing trousers to the point where we've even had a conversation that she doesn't want to go to that school anymore." Canon Slade School said the decision was made "following more than a year's worth of careful thought and consideration"."Adopting trousers for all students will help to empower staff to set an appropriate tone for a high standard of education and provide all students with a sense of belonging."This will in turn promote our professional and inclusive ethos."It added that the school had reduced branded items and the school would continue to support families financially. 'Safeguarding concerns' Fred Longworth High School said: "A strong uniform policy is a key tenet in creating a positive environment for learning."We make no apologies for the fact that we are a school with high standards, and as part of this, we expect all our students to wear the uniform in the correct way."The vast majority of our parents work with us and are broadly supportive of our policies."The school added that it was implementing the change "that will support many of our girls who are telling us that they feel uncomfortable and self- conscious"."We are eradicating pressure to wear skirts at inappropriate lengths and therefore removing an unnecessary barrier for our girls," it said."The short length of dresses poses a modesty problem which in turn can present safeguarding concerns both inside and outside of school." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Fury as school BANS skirts forcing all girls to wear trousers & ‘look like boys' with ‘no right to express femininity'
PARENTS have expressed their outrage after a school has announced it will ban skirts. Newhouse Academy in Heywood, Manchester, will be implementing the trousers-only policy from September. 2 Parents were told that "boys and girls will be expected to wear plain black school trousers". It is a move that will "move away from skirts being a part of the girl's uniform." The school claims that the policy has been a success in other schools. Parents have expressed their outrage following the announcement. One mum told the Manchester Evening News that she "would never have considered this school" for her daughter if she'd known about the change. They claimed that the school hadn't held adequate consultations on the decision. One felt that it "disregards the female students and their right to express their femininity." The parent felt that forcing girls to wear trousers and "look like a boy" failed to "embrac[e] the two genders equally". In a statement, Newhouse Academy said they were "committed to working in partnership with our parents and community about important decisions that impact our young people". While they have no legal obligation to consult parents, they said they had been consulting with the local community "for months". It included a formal listening period during which people could put forward their opinions. Following the first consultation, the response was mostly positive, however, new parents felt they had been excluded. The school then extended the consultation to allow all parents to express their views which they said again was mostly positive. Staff were also involved in the change, in addition to the student council and relevant governors. The decision was also informed by student opinion. Students were even allowed to decide the type of trousers they will have as their new uniform. They added: "We have done more than is required of us because we feel it is right to do so." While they did acknowledge that some people disagreed with the decision, they said ultimately it had been met with support. It comes following several uniform changes across schools in a bid to maintain higher standards. Another trousers-only policy was put in place at Fred Longworth High School in Wigan. This decision was implemented in an attempt to curb the trend of girls rolling up their skirts which had become a "serious safeguarding concern". They had previously changed the uniform to a pinafore style dress but this didn't dissuade the girls from changing the length of the dresses. Last year, Buile Hill Academy in Salford banned socks, instead insisting that female students wear tights with their skirts. The same policy at Moorside High School in Swindon was brought in to maintain a "professional dress code" according to Consilium Academies Trust which manages the school.
