{"id":563,"date":"2025-04-29T15:34:41","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T15:34:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/?p=563"},"modified":"2025-05-02T02:34:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T02:34:57","slug":"every-year-im-forced-to-spend-an-unnecessary-200-on-my-daughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/29\/every-year-im-forced-to-spend-an-unnecessary-200-on-my-daughter\/","title":{"rendered":"Every year, I\u2019m forced to spend an unnecessary \u00a3200 on my daughter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
One of the biggest rip-offs was the price of my daughter’s school skirt (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When my 12-year-old daughter, Ella, started secondary school<\/a> last September, we were hit with the reality of just how expensive education<\/a> really is.<\/p>\n

At her state school, kitting her out with the compulsory, branded logo parts of the uniform cost just shy of \u00a3200. This consisted of a full PE kit \u2013 including a skirt, T-shirt, jumper, and socks \u2013 as well as a blazer, tie, and polo shirts.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest rip-offs was her school skirt, which cost \u00a322 from the school uniform supplier because no high street<\/a> or supermarket versions were allowed. <\/p>\n

As a result, she had to make do with just the one, as the sheer ridiculousness of spending \u00a344 on two skirts for a child was too much.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, at a time when every penny counts for families, I welcome the Government<\/a> stepping in with the Children\u2019s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. It promises to \u2018ban schools from requiring parents to buy more than three branded items as part of the school uniform\u2019.<\/p>\n

But while any savings that can be made will help \u2013 the Government reckons parents could save \u00a350 per child each year \u2013 it isn\u2019t enough and more really needs to be done to take the pressure off families.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Kirsty\t<\/div>
As a parent, I like the simplicity of school uniforms (Picture: Sian T Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The system is broken and this proposed policy won\u2019t fix the real problem; the strict, overly specific uniform requirements.<\/p>\n

Because \u2013 even if a school now limits its branded items to blazer, tie, and PE top \u2013 parents still face a mountain of hidden costs on non-branded items, alongside the usual stationery, bag, and other similar items.<\/p>\n

For both my children, I can look to be spending \u00a3300 just on the branded logo items and up to \u00a3500 for everything<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Sure, many schools allow you to shop around for the basics. But while the high street and supermarket retailers might technically fit the bill, the reality is that children and their parents are often quietly pressured into buying the more expensive versions.<\/p>\n

\n
Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Do you think school uniforms are overpriced? Have your say in the comments below<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Skirts have to be a certain style and length, shirts have to be the right fit, and trousers have to be a certain fabric. This is something I know all too well about. <\/p>\n<p>In August last year, I thought I had the specifications in the school\u2019s policy all covered, but six weeks into the new term, Ella was pulled up during the weekly uniform inspection alongside her peers, for the wrong fabric for her trousers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1325879611.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22994934\" alt=\"A child wearing school trousers and trainers plays outside\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>We found it tricky to find suitable trousers that she felt comfortable in (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thankfully, there was no punishment, she just came home and told me. Even though it was the school\u2019s error in not being clear enough with their policy, they would not allow her to keep those trousers, so we had to buy more.<\/p>\n<p>We found it tricky to find suitable trousers that she felt comfortable in and that fit properly, so we ended up with just one pair, which was the same cost as two of the previous ones. <\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tMore parenting opinion from Metro contributors \t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/25\/peppa-pigs-real-life-baby-gender-reveal-a-ham-fisted-gimmick-22973340\/\">Peppa Pig’s real-life baby gender-reveal is a ham fisted gimmick<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/20\/mummy-pigs-three-kid-privilege-isnt-afforded-british-mothers-22916724\/\">Having three kids is a status symbol – unless you look like me<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/19\/let-children-eat-easter-eggs-harm-22920576\/\">I let my kids gorge themselves on chocolate – I’m not a bad parent<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/11\/im-a-mum-two-dont-agree-schools-phone-ban-22888317\/\">I’m a mum of two and don’t agree with schools’ phone ban<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/11\/im-a-mum-two-dont-agree-schools-phone-ban-22888317\/\">I’m spending my kids’ inheritance to teach them the value of money<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/31\/told-daughter-enjoyed-face-said-22822995\/\">I told my daughter what I enjoyed – her face said it all<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The new trousers were \u00a350 in total, but that wasn\u2019t the full extent of the damage. The whole ordeal left my daughter feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable at a crucial time where she was trying to adjust to life at senior school.<\/p>\n<p>Ever since, I try to be as prepared as possible.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"540\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image-ba48.png\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22126974\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>This reform is a step in the right direction, but it is nowhere near enough (Picture: Kirsty Ketley)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, as children get older and more self-conscious, not all are comfortable wearing second-hand and no parent wants to watch their child feel embarrassed because their school jumper is faded or a slightly different cut compared to everyone else.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tHow Kirsty saves costs on school uniform\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>I am a huge fan of buying second-hand where possible and it’s saved me a few hundred pounds. I do this by: <\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Buying non-branded uniforms (where allowed) cheaply off secondhand clothing sites like Vinted<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019ve even bought branded items from parents whose children are a couple of years older than mine<\/li>\n<li>There are also Swap Shops too, which is where parents swap uniform items for ones that they need<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I think that recycling clothes in this way is not only important from a sustainability perspective, but a brilliant way of easing the financial burden \u2013 especially as kids grow out of their clothes at a rate of knots.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If the Government really wants to make school uniforms affordable, they need to go further and tackle the culture of exclusivity and \u2018one supplier only\u2019 rules \u2013 which is where parents can only buy from one supplier who the school dictates. <\/p>\n<p>They also need to properly regulate the prices of uniforms and force schools into accepting cheaper alternatives, without punishing children who wear them.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-763158661.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22994933\" alt=\"Over shoulder view of mother plaiting teenage schoolgirl daughters hair\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>No one should be forced to fork out hundreds of pounds a year for uniforms (Picture: Getty Images\/Image Source)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It means recognising that affordability isn\u2019t just about the branded logos. It is about giving parents real, practical choices because uniforms shouldn\u2019t be a financial burden that adds another layer of pressure onto them. It certainly shouldn\u2019t make children feel awkward because their clothes aren\u2019t quite right.<\/p>\n<p>This reform is a step in the right direction, but it is nowhere near enough.<\/p>\n<p>Until rules are properly enforced and schools are made to accept real, affordable options, uniforms will stay an unrealistic, unfair cost to families.<\/p>\n<p>No one should be forced to fork out hundreds of pounds a year just so their child can fit in \u2013 or not be called out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk\">James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the biggest rip-offs was the price of my daughter’s school skirt (Picture: Getty Images) When my 12-year-old daughter, Ella, started secondary school last September, we were hit with the reality of just how expensive education really is. At her state school, kitting her out with the compulsory, branded logo parts of the uniform […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":565,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=563"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":571,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/563\/revisions\/571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}