The cost of school uniforms has been revealed, after a new survey revealed that parents “remain concerned” about the expenses that go with sending a child to school.

Nearly all children in schools, from reception to Year 11, are required to wear school uniform, while the vast majority are required to have a PE kit to a certain specification.

A new survey from the Department for Education revealed that the average cost of a school uniform and PE kit in 2023 was £381.96.

When adjusted for inflation, this was £6 cheaper than the same purchases would have cost in 2015.

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While there were higher levels of expenditure for children in secondary school (£442) compared to those in primary schools (£343).

However, despite the evidence suggesting that costs of school uniform are comparatively lower than they were in 2015, the report finds that parents “remain concerned”.

Summarising the findings, the report read: “Whilst there is clear evidence that the financial demands on parents/carers with respect to school uniform requirements are lessening, and that other indicators which are the focus of the statutory guidance are moving in the right direction, the 2023 survey also shows that parents (unsurprisingly given the currently economic climate), remain concerned about the cost of school uniform.”

The report comes out at the same time teachers are calling for urgent action from the government's Child Poverty Taskforce.

More new research has revealed that the UK's school staff have spent £40M over the past year supporting pupils with hygiene issues.

Research from smol, in collaboration with charity, The Hygiene Bank, has found that the UK’s state school staff believe that, on average, over a third (37%) of pupils in their school are experiencing, or have experienced, hygiene poverty.

Almost two thirds of staff (62%) have seen children arriving at school with dirty uniforms or kit, and 60% have noted unclean hair or teeth.

Staff have observed lack of self-esteem (51%), bullying (41%) and isolation (36%) as leading impacts on the pupils affected.

The issue is so prevalent that 1 in 6 school staff (16%) have even been approached by a pupil about a fellow child experiencing hygiene poverty.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said: “No child should suffer the shame and embarrassment of coming to school in dirty and unwashed clothes because their family either can’t afford to wash them, or doesn’t have enough money for spare items of school uniform- which are becoming increasingly expensive for many.

“It is undeniable that teachers are having to pick up the pieces of rising levels of child poverty, caused by the worst cost of living crisis in half a century.

“We welcome the new government’s pledges to tackle this issue and we want to see them look carefully at the issue of hygiene poverty and take steps to address this as part of the Child Poverty Taskforce. We are looking to ministers to work with us, support this important campaign and help deliver a future where no child is held back by poverty.”