Latest news with #schooluniforms
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Back to school shopping ‘starts in first week of summer break for some parents'
Parents are set to spend more than £100 per child on 'back to school' clothes – and one in eight start shopping for the new academic year during the first week of the summer holidays, a survey indicates. The average spend per child is £108.59 according to the research, which asked parents to estimate how much they usually spend on back to school clothing and products, per child, per year. More than four-fifths (44%) of parents of children of school age splurge the most on shoes, while 16% said blazers are the most costly purchase and 11% splash the cash the most on stationery, according to website MyVoucherCodes. The survey also found that 42% of parents now opt for second-hand clothes to help ease the financial burden. A further 38% of parents said they have bought plain clothing and attach the school logo separately. Those who did this typically estimated they saved more than £40 per year. One in eight (12%) parents surveyed start back to school shopping in the first week of the summer holidays, while 13% who are planning even further ahead start as early as April. Sarah-Jane Outten, a shopping and money expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: 'The cost of school uniforms and supplies can add significant pressure to household budgets, especially during the summer holidays. 'It's encouraging to see parents using creative and cost-effective methods like buying second-hand or personalising plain uniforms to save money. With a bit of planning, there are real opportunities to cut costs without compromising on quality.' Some 1,000 parents of school-aged children were surveyed by OnePoll in June and July for the research. Here are Ms Outten's suggestions for saving money on back to school items: 1. Team up with other parents for school uniform swaps. 2. Look for second-hand items online and school uniform exchanges taking place locally. 3. Buy plain items from supermarkets and add school logos. 4. Time your purchases. Leaving it until later in the summer could mean items are out of stock, although there may be a chance to find a last-minute bargain. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Back to school shopping ‘starts in first week of summer break for some parents'
Parents are set to spend more than £100 per child on 'back to school' clothes – and one in eight start shopping for the new academic year during the first week of the summer holidays, a survey indicates. The average spend per child is £108.59 according to the research, which asked parents to estimate how much they usually spend on back to school clothing and products, per child, per year. More than four-fifths (44%) of parents of children of school age splurge the most on shoes, while 16% said blazers are the most costly purchase and 11% splash the cash the most on stationery, according to website MyVoucherCodes. The survey also found that 42% of parents now opt for second-hand clothes to help ease the financial burden. A further 38% of parents said they have bought plain clothing and attach the school logo separately. Those who did this typically estimated they saved more than £40 per year. One in eight (12%) parents surveyed start back to school shopping in the first week of the summer holidays, while 13% who are planning even further ahead start as early as April. Sarah-Jane Outten, a shopping and money expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: 'The cost of school uniforms and supplies can add significant pressure to household budgets, especially during the summer holidays. 'It's encouraging to see parents using creative and cost-effective methods like buying second-hand or personalising plain uniforms to save money. With a bit of planning, there are real opportunities to cut costs without compromising on quality.' Some 1,000 parents of school-aged children were surveyed by OnePoll in June and July for the research. Here are Ms Outten's suggestions for saving money on back to school items: 1. Team up with other parents for school uniform swaps. 2. Look for second-hand items online and school uniform exchanges taking place locally. 3. Buy plain items from supermarkets and add school logos. 4. Time your purchases. Leaving it until later in the summer could mean items are out of stock, although there may be a chance to find a last-minute bargain.
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ministry of Education makes school uniforms available at 53 stores across UAE in preparation for academic year 2025-2026
United Arab Emirates: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced the availability of school uniforms for public school students from kindergarten to Grade 12 in preparation for the 2025-2026 academic year. MoE has issued a comprehensive guide outlining uniform designs by grade and cycle, pricing, and the locations of 53 outlets approved to stock the uniforms. These include 48 LuLu Hypermarket branches across all emirates, along with selected schools in Al Sila'a (Al Dhafra), Al Wagan and Al Qua'a (Al Ain), and Dalma Island. The updated school uniform reflects the Ministry's renewed institutional vision. This change aligns with the new education sector structure, introduced in July 2024, and the public education sector's visual identity, launched this February. It underscores the Ministry's commitment to strengthening holistic personal development as a core pillar of an integrated education system in line with its ambition to align education in the UAE with global standards.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘Forever chemicals' in school uniforms could be banned under proposed law
The volume of microplastics and potentially harmful 'forever chemicals' in school uniforms should be restricted, experts have said, as they urge peers to back two amendments to a crucial bill. The children's wellbeing and schools bill, which applies mainly to England and Wales and is at committee stage in the House of Lords, is poised to introduce new regulation on the cost of school uniform items, as well as the number of branded uniform items schools can require pupils to wear. But emerging evidence of the environmental and human health risks of synthetic fibres and Pfas 'forever chemicals', which are used as stain and water resistance agents, has led to concerns about the fabrics and chemicals used in their manufacture. Pfas, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is an umbrella term for a family of thousands of chemicals that degrade extremely slowly. Some have been linked to health problems including high cholesterol, fertility issues, immune system disorders, kidney disease, birth defects, some cancers and a range of other serious health problems. 'What we're failing to grasp is the cocktail effect, which is the fact that all of us, but particularly our children, are being exposed to microplastics and nanoplastics,' said Natalie Bennett, the Green party peer, who has backed both amendments. 'We're being exposed to Pfas, we're being exposed to pesticides. And the level of all of these things is mounting up all of the time.' Lady Bennett added: 'The phrase 'cocktail effect' comes from river campaigners who started to focus on the environmental impact of this. But actually [this is] what's happening to human bodies.' Amendment 202A to the children's bill calls for an almost immediate ban on the use of Pfas in school uniforms, and a requirement for manufacturers to provide a digital product passport listing the chemicals. Amendment 202B calls for action to be taken within 12 months on uniforms that could 'endanger the health or safety of persons [or] cause unreasonable public health or environmental health risk', with a specific emphasis on artificial fibres. In 2021, synthetic fibres made up 64% of the total global fibre production for the apparel industry, but clear data on the proportion of school uniforms made of polyester, nylon or other synthetic materials is not available. Anecdotal evidence suggests most uniforms are made from synthetic materials, however, with alternatives made from natural fibres marketed as exceptions. There has been longstanding concern about the impact of synthetic fibres on the environment, with those derived from petrochemicals persisting for thousands of years and shedding billions of plastic microfibres into ecosystems. But more recent research has shown these microfibres, defined as synthetic fibres of less than 5mm in length, are also infiltrating human bodies, with studies having identified them in human blood, semen, lungs, breast milk, bone marrow, placenta, testicles and brains. Scientists have found that synthetic fibres do not have to be discarded, or even subjected to the stress of a washing machine cycle, to begin shedding microfibres, with clothing shedding up to 400 fibres per gram of fabric during just 20 minutes of normal wear. 'It's obviously breathed in,' Bennett said. 'So you know, you run for the bus in your blazer, you're probably taking in great gulps of plastics, straight into your lungs and potentially into your bloodstream. And also of course, you know, you touch it and then you touch your mouth and you can also orally ingest it.' Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion The health impacts of plastic microfibres remain uncertain, but initial research has suggested they could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress or cardiovascular disease. Bennett added: 'My broader frame of this is planetary boundaries … One of them is so-called novel entities, which for my shorthand is pesticides, pharmaceuticals and plastics. And we have exceeded the planetary boundary for novel entities. 'And so that's where it's sort of the whole cocktail effect argument comes in, you know, we are poisoning this planet, we are on a poisoned planet, and we're poisoning our own bodies.' Dr David Santillo, senior scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories, said: 'Most parents are probably not aware that the uniforms their children are required to wear may be treated with a mix of forever chemicals, something that is almost impossible to tell from the label. Although some Pfas are already banned in textiles, there are many more still in widespread use. Only a ban on the whole group will be effective in reducing children's exposure to these chemicals while they are at school. 'Action on school uniforms should go hand in hand with a wider ban on the use of any Pfas in any children's textiles, so that it is not a lottery of exposure based on what your child is wearing. Forever chemicals have no place in everyday consumer clothing and should be phased out in all but essential uses in specialised workwear.' Ruth Chambers, a senior fellow at the Green Alliance, said: 'Toxic chemicals in school uniforms are yet another example of why we need stronger chemicals laws. Before Brexit, the UK was parts of the world's gold standard system for regulating chemicals, which restricted or banned hundreds of substances linked to health concerns like cancer, but our protections have significantly weakened since then. 'The government should commit to catch up with EU standards in its legally binding environmental improvement plan, and it should work towards fully banning the use of these harmful chemicals to protect people and nature.'
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
M&S gives major update on its 20% off ‘back-to-school' uniform sale – and it's bad news for parents
M&S HAS confirmed it will not be offering its usual 20 per cent off sale on school uniforms this summer after disruptions caused by a cyber attack. The high street retailer has long been a popular choice for school wear thanks to its affordable prices and "durable" range. 2 2 But this year, the retailer has confirmed it has frozen prices on its school uniforms for the fifth year running. The decision comes after a cyber incident forced the company to suspend online operations for nearly six weeks, resulting in estimated losses of around £300 million. Uniform price freeze for five years running In a statement, the company said: "In our Kidswear, we're focused on offering a first price, right price. "Which is why this year, we have continued to hold prices on our market-leading school uniform for the fifth year in a row, as well as reducing prices on our everyday essentials range by up to 20 per cent." While the news has comes as a shock to many parents, dozens say they will continue shopping at the retailers regardless. One said: "Such a shame but I will also still be shopping my children's uniforms from M&S, the price is brilliant for the quality and they last!" While another added: "Still gonna go to M&S, I've tried all brands and nothing close to the quality of M&S." And a third commented: "I'll stick with M&S as you don't need to replace unless for sizing or an overenthusiastic art class." Earlier this year, M&S cut prices on more than 100 items, including t-shirts, vests, hoodies, and shorts by up to 20 per cent. The firm said the move was part of its broader commitment to offer value to families facing rising living costs. Strong value While the lack of a summer discount may disappoint some shoppers, M&S maintains that its school uniforms continue to offer strong value. The range includes features designed to grow with children, such as adjustable waistbands and growth-proof hems, along with easy-iron shirts and permanent pleats in skirts. Prices start at £4.50 for a two-pack of cotton polo shirts, available in sizes from 2 to 18 years. All school wear includes stain-resistant technology and is covered by the retailer's extended 100-day returns policy. Alexandra Dimitriu, Kidswear Director at M&S, said: 'As the UK market leaders during the back-to-school season, we're maintaining the magic of M&S. "Trusted value and hand-me-down quality sit at the heart of what we offer in kidswear, which is why we have held our prices for the fifth year in a row.' She added that the company has also reduced prices on selected children's daywear by up to 20 per cent. Limited Stock M&S recently resumed online trading after the cyber attack, but some customers have reported limited availability of popular products. The retailer said: 'For products that are not available online, customers can add them to their wish list and when they come back into stock we will let them know." Last year, shoppers were left devastated when the clothing to grocery retailer sold out of white girls polo shirts. One eagle-eyed shopper noticed the shirts were out of stock. They raised the issue with the company on X, formally known as Twitter. How can I save money on school uniforms? IF you are struggling to afford the cost of school uniform or PE kit, you may be able to apply for a grant from your local council - but the criteria vary from council to council. This is usually in the form of a one-off payment paid directly into your bank account. Some councils will reimburse payments made to approved retailers. You can ask your local council what help is available and when you need to apply. If you can't get targeted help from your council, there are other options to get cheap uniform. Speak to your school to see if they can offer you some clothing. Some charities offer help to families in need too. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you. Charity shops can also be a good place to find cheap school uniform. They said: "@marksandspencer any idea when the girls white polos will be back in stock specifically in aged four to five." M&S replied saying: "These have now sold out and are discontinued." The pure cotton shirts were essential in many school children's wardrobe and went from sizes two all the way up to 17. A two pack of shirts cost anywhere between £6 to £11 depending on the age of the youngster. The retailer offered a solution for the shopper and said they could shop its unisex white polo range, which is similar in price and size but has slightly longer sleeves.
