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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| School uniform 'tax on parents' | School uniform 'tax on parents' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Parents in the UK are spending an extra £45m a year because of restrictions on school uniform suppliers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has found. | Parents in the UK are spending an extra £45m a year because of restrictions on school uniform suppliers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has found. |
| The investigation found 84% of schools require that at least one item is bought from specified retailers. | The investigation found 84% of schools require that at least one item is bought from specified retailers. |
| The OFT said it was a tax on parents, mostly benefiting the chosen retailers, and called on school governors to scrap exclusive agreements. | The OFT said it was a tax on parents, mostly benefiting the chosen retailers, and called on school governors to scrap exclusive agreements. |
| More than 2,000 schools responded to a survey about their uniforms policy. | More than 2,000 schools responded to a survey about their uniforms policy. |
| The review was prompted by complaints over high prices and poor quality, and claims from traders that the market was closed to them. | The review was prompted by complaints over high prices and poor quality, and claims from traders that the market was closed to them. |
| Profit for schools | Profit for schools |
| The uniforms market is thought to be worth about £450m a year, with most state pupils having to wear them. | The uniforms market is thought to be worth about £450m a year, with most state pupils having to wear them. |
| Governors usually set dress codes, while schools can appoint a manufacturer to produce clothes which are sold directly to parents. | Governors usually set dress codes, while schools can appoint a manufacturer to produce clothes which are sold directly to parents. |
| They can also select which outside retailers to use. | They can also select which outside retailers to use. |
| The review found that compulsory clothes bought from specified retailers cost parents about 23% more than if they were able to shop around in other uniform outlets and 150% more if they shopped in supermarkets. | The review found that compulsory clothes bought from specified retailers cost parents about 23% more than if they were able to shop around in other uniform outlets and 150% more if they shopped in supermarkets. |
| Some schools claimed that the restrictions made shopping more convenient for parents and meant a better quality of uniform. | Some schools claimed that the restrictions made shopping more convenient for parents and meant a better quality of uniform. |
| This restriction on competition acts as a tax on parents, which mostly goes to the chosen retailers John Fingleton Chief Executive, OFT | This restriction on competition acts as a tax on parents, which mostly goes to the chosen retailers John Fingleton Chief Executive, OFT |
| A third of schools operating exclusive contracts with retailers said they did benefit financially, the survey showed. | A third of schools operating exclusive contracts with retailers said they did benefit financially, the survey showed. |
| The OFT said parents buying secondary school uniforms were short-changed by £32m every year, while primary school uniforms were costing £13m more as a result of restrictions. | The OFT said parents buying secondary school uniforms were short-changed by £32m every year, while primary school uniforms were costing £13m more as a result of restrictions. |
| It calculated that if schools let parents buy from supermarkets, secondary pupils' uniforms would cost £27 less a year and primary pupils £9. | It calculated that if schools let parents buy from supermarkets, secondary pupils' uniforms would cost £27 less a year and primary pupils £9. |
| 'Over the odds' | 'Over the odds' |
| A spokeswoman for Asda said a skirt, shirt and blazer from the supermarket chain cost £12.90 - about half the price of one blazer from a school outlet. | A spokeswoman for Asda said a skirt, shirt and blazer from the supermarket chain cost £12.90 - about half the price of one blazer from a school outlet. |
| "There are many people on a tight income, regardless of school, who want to be able to clothe their children in quality school uniforms but they are being forced to pay over the odds," she said. | "There are many people on a tight income, regardless of school, who want to be able to clothe their children in quality school uniforms but they are being forced to pay over the odds," she said. |
| John Fingleton, chief executive of the OFT, said: "This study has shown that parents have to pay higher prices for school uniforms where exclusive agreements exist. | John Fingleton, chief executive of the OFT, said: "This study has shown that parents have to pay higher prices for school uniforms where exclusive agreements exist. |
| School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school DfES spokesman | School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school DfES spokesman |
| "This restriction on competition acts as a tax on parents, which mostly goes to the chosen retailers. | "This restriction on competition acts as a tax on parents, which mostly goes to the chosen retailers. |
| "We call on school governors to eliminate these exclusive agreements." | "We call on school governors to eliminate these exclusive agreements." |
| The findings will be passed to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), which is responsible for guiding state schools on uniform policies. | The findings will be passed to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), which is responsible for guiding state schools on uniform policies. |
| A DfES spokesman said schools were advised to make sure uniforms were affordable. | |
| He said: "School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school. | He said: "School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school. |
| "Heads who turn round failing schools tell us that uniforms play an important part in their work to raise standards." | "Heads who turn round failing schools tell us that uniforms play an important part in their work to raise standards." |