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School uniform 'tax on parents' School uniform 'tax on parents'
(about 3 hours 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 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 required that at least one item was 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 this 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 OFT review was prompted by complaints over high prices and poor quality, and claims from retailers that the market was closed.
Profit for schoolsProfit for schools
The uniforms market is thought to be worth about £450m a year, with most state pupils having to wear them. The uniforms trade 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 uniforms bought from specified retailers cost parents about 23% more than if they shopped around in other outlets and 150% more than if they shopped in a supermarket.
Some schools claimed that the restrictions made shopping more convenient for parents and meant a better quality of uniform. Some schools claimed the restrictions improved convenience for parents and ensured better quality, the OFT said.
This restriction on competition acts as a tax on parents, which mostly goes to the chosen retailers John Fingleton Chief Executive, OFTThis 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. Parents buying secondary school uniforms were short-changed by £32m every year, while primary school uniforms cost £13m more.
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 calculated that if schools let parents use supermarkets, uniforms would cost £27 less for secondary pupils and £9 less for primary pupils.
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. Citizens Advice said the findings reflected the experiences of low-income families.
School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school DfES spokesman OFT chief executive John Fingleton, said: "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. School uniforms are good for discipline and school ethos, giving pupils a real sense of identity with their school DfES spokesman
The OFT's findings will be passed to the Department for Education and Skills.
A DfES spokesman said schools were advised to make sure uniforms were affordable.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."
Gillian Windass, of the National Governors' Association, said: "Each school has to look at its own policy and consult with parents.
"There may be certain circumstances where schools say: 'We like our exclusive uniform and we don't want to change it'. But is that an affordable option?"