CUT SCHOOL UNIFORM COSTS SAYS NORTH EAST MEP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 3rd Sep 2008

With parents struggling to pay for the high cost of their children's school clothes, local Durham MEP Fiona Hall has called on schools' governing bodies to keep down uniform costs, by minimising the number of expensive 'badged' items displaying the school logo.

Fiona says that families already burdened with rising living costs have to face further financial strains as a recent study revealed that the average costs of sending a child to school now tops £1,000 a year.

According to the leading supermarket chain ASDA, parents need to spend an average of £266 per child on school uniforms and £207 on PE kits; and with school meals, stationary equipment and school trips also having to be paid for many parents will be digging deep to manage costs.

Concerned at the expense of school uniforms Fiona said, "Some local school still require parents to pay for a jacket, jumper and polo shirt all with the school logo on. These are only distributed by preferred suppliers and are much more expensive than standard items.

"Such a requirement is hardly reasonable, especially in the current economic climate.

"Rather than force parents to fork out several hundreds of pounds to buy special items of clothing featuring school logos, it should be possible for pupils to wear appropriate plain clothes which can be easily obtained from a variety of shops at affordable prices."