West Midlands parents struggle with rising school uniform costs

Research from Save the Children and the Baby Bank Alliance indicates that one-third of parents in the West Midlands are sacrificing personal essentials to afford back-to-school costs. Approximately half of parents in the region expressed concern regarding the price of school uniforms.

Government data shows annual uniform costs average £440 for secondary school pupils and £340 for primary school pupils. Specific concerns include the cost of school shoes, cited by 38 per cent of parents, and PE kits, cited by 24 per cent.

To manage these expenses, nearly a third of parents are cutting household spending, while a similar number intend to use savings. Additionally, one in five parents plan to work extra hours, and 25 per cent intend to spread the costs over several months. Baby banks have reported increased demand for items such as shirts, coats, shoes, and school bags.