Clampdown On Uniform Scam

lancsdave · 22-02-2007, 12:09

About time too !!

Government poised for school uniform crackdown

The government is preparing to take measures to prevent schools forming exclusive deals with retailers over school uniforms that allow shops to exploit their monopoly position with high prices.

A recent survey by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) showed that on average parents were overcharged by £45 million per year under the price fixing conditions.

The Department for Education and the OFT are now preparing to act over fears that expensive uniforms are deterring some parents from trying to enrol their children in particular schools.

Action may even include prosecuting schools that continue with uncompetitive price-fixing deals.

Education minister Jim Knight said: "I want every child to be able to go to the school of their choice and unfair and expensive uniform policies can prevent this.

"Schools should set affordable uniform policies that do not seek to make additional money through expensive and exclusive contracts," he added.

grego · 22-02-2007, 12:22

It can only be a good thing, I know my daughters school has a deal with Abbey St Shopping centre but you can get the uniform, though without school logo, at Asda, M&S etc.

lancsdave · 22-02-2007, 12:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego

It can only be a good thing, I know my daughters school has a deal with Abbey St Shopping centre but you can get the uniform, though without school logo, at Asda, M&S etc.

They will no doubt get round it buy allowing you to buy a plain jumper at Asda then charging £50 for the badge at school.

accymel · 22-02-2007, 12:25

Thank god will stop Abbey st being the only place to get uniform, especially when school requires logo'd stuff!! Hope this comes into force asap as this year i've got to find a huge budget to get high school uniform this year & no grant to help low income people is going to be hard!

grego · 22-02-2007, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

They will no doubt get round it buy allowing you to buy a plain jumper at Asda then charging £50 for the badge at school.

I'm not sure that you're required to wear logo'd stuff as the uniform isn't compulsary (infant reception class) only preferred.

garinda · 22-02-2007, 12:33

I agree that monopolies are wrong, and that uniforms should be able to be purchased from any number of retailers, thus making it more affordable for all.

However I think a lot of the local school uniforms are appalling. Sweat shirts, polo shirts, no school tie, no blazers, make them look like they are going to flip burgers rather than to places of learning.

In the work place most of us have to adhere to some sort of uniform, be it safety clothes on the factory floor, or a suit, shirt, and tie in a bank. Wearing a uniform should make you proud to be part of somewhere, and not like you've just finished a shift at a kebab shop.

grego · 22-02-2007, 12:36

I agree with the shirt/tie option G, Ellie wears the polo and sweatshirt and I have to admit it does look scruffy, next year she'll be having white shirt and tie!

accymel · 22-02-2007, 12:37

The whole point of uniform is that its to be inclusive for all pupils & not an indication of parental income & subject to bullying which it was the main angle for it, nowadays its become a lucrative business & making a lot of parents struggle with their budgets in order that their child has full uniform!!

I bet i could get a good full smart suit maybe several to work in a bank or whatever cheaper than i can get a childs high school uniform for

garinda · 22-02-2007, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego

I agree with the shirt/tie option G, Ellie wears the polo and sweatshirt and I have to admit it does look scruffy, next year she'll be having white shirt and tie!

The only school children I see regularly are from Rhyddings. They wear a turquoise sweat shirt and black(ish) trousers, both boys and girls, and it looks appalling...but I suppose matches the behaviour and language of a lot of them.

You can still have an affordable, easy care uniform that looks smart, and makes children feel proud to put it on.

tadah · 22-02-2007, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by accymel

The whole point of uniform is that its to be inclusive for all pupils & not an indication of parental income & subject to bullying which it was the main angle for it, nowadays its become a lucrative business & making a lot of parents struggle with their budgets in order that their child has full uniform!!

I bet i could get a good full smart suit maybe several to work in a bank or whatever cheaper than i can get a childs high school uniform for

I delivered to Barden mill this morning and ive also had a few suits from there and you can get plenty of them from 10 pounds upwards so yes i agree with you on that mel.

entwisi · 22-02-2007, 13:00

When I was at Rhyddings we had to wear blue shirt, tie, blazer, black trousers, dark socks and black shoes. There was only teh blazer that had any sort of logo on and you bought teh badge for a couple of quid at school and sewed it on yourself. We did suffer a bit of snobbery as teh rich kids had Kappa/Lacoste/Sergio Tachinni etc whilst others had to make do with in my case home knitted.

I see the kids now and its disgraceful, they look scruffy.

AccyMad · 22-02-2007, 13:13

Mount Carmel kids still wear blazer, shirt & tie and I must admit they do look smart, don't do too badly with the prices either as I usually can get the lot at Asda & just sew the school badge on the blazer. Abbey Street is a rip off, they now sell the blazers with the badge ready sewn on, which I must admit I was tempted by after years of sore fingers from sewing the damn things on, but I was soon put off by the price they charge for them.

grego · 22-02-2007, 13:16

The uniforms from Abbey St dont wash well either, so high prices but bad quality.

chav1 · 22-02-2007, 15:36

a head teacher of a school up haslingden has changed teh colour of the uniforms from red to purple simply because purple is her favourite colour leaving those kids whos parents cant afford to buy a new uniform set or want to buy replacements so soon to stand out from everyone else

i forget the name of the school but this half wits antics besides the uniform fiasco has resulted in most of teh good teaching staff resigning or going to other schools

WillowTheWhisp · 22-02-2007, 15:45

The year Mimi started at Moorhead I didn't even have the option of buying the uniform from Abbey St - school had not informed them of the new colours and were supplying the uniform through the school at inflated prices and putting the profits into school funds. There were a lot of disgruntled people who bought the things through school and then later, when Abbey St knew what the colours were, found that they did them cheaper.