Secondary school uniform is extortionate. My daughters blazer is over £50 and the jumpers £30.
My son went to a grammar school and the three pe kits plus lab wear and summer and winter blazers and no bursary or funding. There is a reason that only certain demographics access this kind of education.
We do ok but I know we are only a few pay packets away from a crisis. So I don't judge people for struggling.
School holidays are an expensive time. You think about not only the extra food but also that’s traditionally a time for new uniform and schools shoes. I think uniform should be got rid of. If you have a tiny budget for everything and have to pay for school uniform then that budget for day to day clothing is greatly decreased. Kids can still tell who’s in the finest John Lewis/M&S uniform or the Aldi budget range. So if the clothing was from Gucci or Primark the ones who will say something will say it whether it’s about uniform or clothing.
You speak much sense bumblebee I agree with so many points.
I have 3 kids in 3 different schools.
2 allow 1 days debt school dinners and online payments.
I think senior school kitchen is provided in house.
The 2 primaries school kitchen is no longer council run its been privatised and run by private companies called dolce and Integra.
They are less forgiving with debts and zero flexibility.
Primary is 2.40 a day seniors is 2.60.
Bus fare to senior school is 2.50 a day.
Breakfasts or tuck bar morning break we top up money online additional to lunches we normallly add £1 a day.
So senior school child £ 3.60 a day food plus £2.50 a day bus costs £6.10 a day to get fed and have a education
£122 per month!
Uniforms when she started year 6 was over £500 state academy.
Other average academies are £300 to 400 parents to use only 1 uniform provider shop not supermarkets non logo.
I underestimated how costly a senior age child is.
My 2 younger kids go on year 6 residential trip the same year £800 as 400 each for less than a week in the UK.
Year 6 costly time leavers proms, leavers hoodys.
Presents for teachers has reached insane levels tbe pressure of class collections seen 1 mum shamed for giving very little made me so angry.
A council who split sliblings cant be 1 places at once at Primary age so additional travel costs and some childcare as cant be at 2 schools miles apart at the same time and they too young to make their own way to and from school know a few people in that situation.
School trips additional.
A freimd had to go begging to the head to get help with cost of trips and it's discretionary and very embarrassing for some families.
School's budgets cut so they constantly fundraising pushy pta mums also numerous charity days we supposed to create outfits at last minute and take in money.
I dont remember half of this when i grew up in the 80s. Times have changed.