BACK TO SCHOOL… Costs of school uniforms have been described as ‘extortionate’
A FERMANAGH mother has described the price of kitting out her daughters for school as ‘extortionate’.
With a first year and a third year student in her house, it will cost at least £500 on essentials to send both to school.
The Minister for Education, John O’ Dowd has already stated that the cost of uniforms was too expensive, and that, in some schools, this was acting as a barrier to parents sending their children to that school.
The Minister said his department had sent guidance out to all schools informing boards of governors that, when they are designing uniforms, they should take the affordability into account.
However, the Fermanagh mother, who asked not to be named, said it was ‘simply impossible’ to buy a cheaper version of one of the uniforms (her daughters attend two different girls’ schools).
“For some things”, she added, “you might be able to save some money but, for most items of the uniform, you have to buy specific colours and these are pricey.”
The blazer price for both schools was £69 each, although it is understood that in one Fermanagh school, the cost of the blazer is over £100.
The mother stated: “It is £500 for both our girls, and that is before anything else like school bags, books, stationary.”
And, she is now fearful she will be hit with another hefty bill in the coming years. “If you had three kids in a school I could well imagine it costing you £1000.”
School amalgamations, which will mean a brand new uniform, are another headache.
Indeed, this looks set to happen right across Northern Ireland, requiring a new crest, a new identity and by extension a new uniform.
One outlet for some families is the government’s clothing allowance scheme.
It provides support to low income families to assist with the costs of school uniforms.
The eligibility criteria are similar to those used for free school meals.
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