Eye-watering sum parents fork out for school uniform annually revealed – kids may be punished if you don’t pay in full

PARENTS fork out £422 a year on their child’s uniform and clothing for school, a poll found.

And the cost conscious who buy cheaper supermarket versions to save cash say their kids get detentions as a result.

Despite schools being urged to ease the burden on families, the survey found pupils, on average, are expected to have three branded uniform items from expensive providers.

But almost a third must have as many as five such items and 13 per cent need up to seven.

Coats and bags are the priciest at £75 per child annually, with footwear for sports adding £63.

School shoes cost £62, blazers £46, skirts and dresses £46, and ties and jumpers £40.

The average total of £422 is for secondary school pupils, with the typical cost for primary kids at £287.

Ministers want schools to be flexible and allow children to wear cheaper high street options.

But the Children’s Society poll of 2,000 mums and dads found more than 12 per cent have seen their child put in isolation for breaching school uniform policies — while around seven per cent have had kids excluded.

One pupil said: “I got a detention for wearing a jumper that was the right colour but didn’t have the school badge.”

Their mother added: “I can’t afford to buy a school jumper — the cost of living has gone up, and I am having to prioritise putting food on the table.”

Mark Russell, chief exec of The Children’s Society, said: “With the cost of living eating into family budgets, school uniforms remain a significant financial burden for many families.”