With schools due to go back next week, new research shows more than half of parents are struggling with the cost of uniforms.
Figures show it costs roughly £1,000 to send primary school age children back to school and £2,300 for secondary – a sharp rise that far outpaces inflation and earnings growth since 2022. The financial strain has been echoed by UK parents in a new survey from Park Christmas Savings.
Published just this week, the research shows a third of parents will be sending their children to school in second hand uniforms, due to new ones being too expensive.
Against this backdrop, 54% of parents claimed they were struggling to meet the cost of uniforms and eight in 10 said they feel stressed and anxious about finances ahead of the new school year.
The survey, which included responses from over 3,500 parents, also found the cost of school tech was a cause for concern. More than half of parents said they feel they need to budget for laptops or iPads, with 44% saying they will spend between £200-£400 on them.
Findings show 15% parents are worried about the cost of school lunches, claiming they’re unsure if they have enough money to consistently cover them.
Katherine Scott, director of marketing at Park Christmas Savings, said the findings ‘reflect the very challenging financial pressures parents are under.’
‘The cost of living has hit UK families hard and the need to save and budget throughout the year for major outgoings is more crucial than ever,’ Katherine continued. ‘Park is one of the UK’s oldest and most trusted family brands and we champion supporting families in encouraging a steady and affordable savings habit.
‘We welcome the government’s call for limits on branded uniform items to help families on a budget. Too often branded items are over-priced and poor quality.’
Photo by Eyestetix Studio via UnSplash
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