School uniform swap 'easing financial strain'

A single parent has said a school uniform swap is a "godsend" during tough financial times.

Westbury-on-Trym primary school in Bristol is hosting an event where parents can hand in clothes their children have outgrown for other families to make use of.

The initiative soars in popularity at the start of each term, but runs throughout the year, even opening it up to other schools in the area.

"It's very expensive with the economical climate at the moment. Having this on site is an absolute godsend," said Jo, whose child attends the school.

Purchasing a new school uniform can easily cost between £100-£200 for new shirts, jumpers, trousers, shoes and sportswear.

One parent of a pupil starting year seven at Bristol Metropolitan Academy this September told the BBC they felt "held to ransom" by having to buy compulsory clothing.

"The school has just swapped from blazers to jumpers, but insists on pupils having the branded uniform which can only be purchased from one supplier, but it's £40 for a single jumper," they said.

"I've spent around £325 on shirts, trousers, jumpers, shoes and trainers that match what the school wants."

Cameron Shaw, Principal of Bristol Metropolitan Academy said: "We really do appreciate that school uniform remains a significant financial cost for families at an already difficult time in terms of financial climate.

"As an academy we remain committed to trying to ensure uniform is affordable and accessible to all families.

"At Bristol Met our uniform policy, shared with all parents, signposts to common retailers for trousers, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes.

"We do not have branded items of these uniform and do not insist on a single supplier for them. The only items of daily branded uniform are our tie and blazer (Year 8 to 11) and Jumper (Year 7).

"We have also been offering a 2nd hand uniform sales service which has been proving extremely popular since we launched it a number of months ago which provides the facility for families to purchase good quality uniform at a highly-educed price as well as offering the facility to swap items when they are outgrown.

"We are always happy to receive further feedback from our community on how we can continue to support with the cost of uniform"

To combat uniform costs, Westbury-on-Trym academy has paired their clothes swap scheme with the sale of iron-on school logos, allowing families to buy cheaper, non-branded uniforms while still adhering to dress codes.

"It's been really challenging for families, particularly in this economic climate," said headteacher Amanda Pritchard.

"That's why we see this as an important part of all children being able to access their education."

Fiona Wickham, who has a child at the school, says the initiative has "saved loads of money".

"A lot of these clothes have got loads of life left in them, so it's just common sense to keep wearing them," she said.

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