The Welsh government has refrained from demanding that school emblems be removed from clothing, but schools in Wales are being pushed to evaluate their uniform to make them more affordable for families. Before the end of this term, families should be informed of any changes, according to education minister Jeremy Miles.
The issue of whether branding should be required at all, on PE gear, or just on one item, like a jumper, was raised. The current advice for governing bodies is that if a logo is necessary, it should only be on one item, yet many schools want badges on multiple items of clothing.
Making Affordable Uniforms
Stuart Martin, a parent, stated that putting brands on PE equipment was “taking it a bit too far” and that there should be some way to help families manage the cost of living. Specialist stores claim to offer longer-lasting, higher-quality products.
According to Emma Rees, proprietor of Uniform2go in Bridgend, supermarkets do not stock clothing for sizes outside of the typical range, but they do stock items for children as young as two and adults with chests up to 50 inches. Parents who come in with a whole outfit spend little more than £100, but that sum would support their child for at least one full academic year.
- Welsh government has refrained from demanding that school emblems be removed from clothing.
- Specialist stores claim to offer longer-lasting, higher-quality products.
- Parents who come in with a whole outfit spend little more than £100.
- Extending uniform recycling programs has the endorsement of the ASCL, but it needs more financing.
The education minister stated that standardized exchange programs should be in place everywhere even though many schools and institutions currently have them. At Ysgol Bro Edern in Cardiff, one uniform swap shop was established two years ago and is run by parents.
It helped some people with the cost of living and had positive effects on the environment, according to Ben Frost, a health and wellbeing teacher at the school.
Extending uniform recycling programs has the endorsement of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), but it needs more financing.
Welsh Conservative education spokeswoman Laura Anne Jones claimed that the Labour government is not taking any “discernible action” despite the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, praising the new guidance’s emphasis on affordability. Low-income families can apply for a £300 grant from the Welsh government to help with the cost of school uniforms.
