Families have been banned from buying supermarket school trousers and are being forced to purchase bespoke logo-embroided uniform for three-times the price.
Parents of children at National Academy in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, have slammed the school for telling them that they are only allowed to buy the £16 a pair trousers.
They claim that they are strictly forbidden from buying cheaper pairs and sewing the logo on themselves.
Donna Lambert (pictured), 45, a Tesco worker from Hucknalll, who is mother to Lilleigh, 11, said: ‘It’s definitely a price rise, and I could see why that would be a problem for lots of parents’
Both Asda (pictured) and Tesco are selling similar trousers, without logos, for just £6 each
Pictured is Tesco’s version of girls’ school uniform trousers which cost only £6 at the supermarket
Both Asda and Tesco are selling similar trousers, without logos, for just £6 each.
Donna Lambert, 45, a Tesco worker from Hucknalll, Notts, who is mother to Lilleigh, 11, said: ‘It’s definitely a price rise, and I could see why that would be a problem for lots of parents.
‘It’s a shame that they don’t get a choice of what trousers they have to wear anymore. It seems unfair that the school have forced parents’ hands in this way.
‘I know that there has been a lot of fuss about it over the internet, especially on social media.’
Lorna Dignum, 46, a support worker from Hucknall and mother of Phoebe and Scarlett Price, both 11, said: ‘I think it’s an outrage, the amount that they are charging.
‘It’s outrageous. I have twins, so the cost is doubled for me, and I dread to think what other parents with even more children must have to pay.
‘Of course, don’t forget that you have to buy two pairs as well, for when you wash one of them.
‘They just don’t think about us mums and dads, don’t they?
Lorna Dignum, 46, a support worker from Hucknall and mother of Phoebe and Scarlett Price (right), both 11, said: ‘I think it’s an outrage, the amount that they are charging’
‘Overall I’ve paid £291 for the both of them, this year and it’s a lot more than some people can probably afford – especially bearing in mind the current economic climate.
‘I don’t understand why they’ve had to change it. The old uniform was just as smart.
‘Bear in mind that you have to buy the PE kits too as well, it’s ridiculous.
‘Before this year, we would buy their uniform from Tesco’s or Asda and just sew the logo on.
‘But we’re not allowed to do that now, and they’ve started to be really quite strict about it .
Lilleigh Lambert, 11, at the National Academy, Hucknall
‘Lots of people don’t even have the uniform yet, because they’ve run out of stock.
‘It’s created a monopoly in terms of where you can get the uniform, where before we could get them from anywhere.’
Emma Mowbray, 35, also from Hucknall, is a part time hairdresser and mother to Kaiden, 11, and Dean, 14.
She said: ‘It’s crazy, absolutely crazy. I’ve had to buy four lots of these trousers, when they could have just kept wearing the same ones as last year for free. I’ve paid over £250 for trousers this year.
‘It’s an awful lot of money, and they really have been strict and quite pushy about it.
‘Fortunately I’m in a position where I can afford it, but I know for a lot of parents it would be a real struggle.
‘It would be a shame to think of people being priced out of education because of the cost of uniform.’
Emma Gardner, 31, who is a full-time carer to autistic son Lee, 10, said: ‘Thankfully Lee was able to fit into the junior trouser, so I’ve only paid £13.50 for each of his two pairs. But it’s still an investment.
‘He can get very anxious at times, and this change has not been helping him at all.
‘It’s a shame that they’ve put the price up, I think a lot of parents would be keen to hear why they have chosen to do that.
‘We would like to have some sort of explanation for what has been done, and they maybe then we would sympathise with them a little bit more.’
A memo from the school sent out to parents said that any ‘non-regulation trousers, even if they have the embroidered academy logo, will not be accepted.’
For PE, all children are told to bring: navy/sky reversible rugby shirt with academy logo; navy jogging bottoms with academy logo; navy/sky sports socks; navy/sky/white shorts with academy logo; navy/sky/white polo shirt with academy logo; trainers; football boots; a gum shield; and shin pads. A wind-proof jacket is optional
According to the school’s uniform policy, boys must wear: a navy blue blazer with academy badge; a pale blue shirt (long or short sleeves); a clip-on academy tie; branded black trousers; and plain black polishable shoes (not plimsolls, canvas trainers or boots)
According to the school’s uniform policy, boys must wear: a navy blue blazer with academy badge; a pale blue shirt (long or short sleeves); a clip-on academy tie; branded black trousers; and plain black polishable shoes (not plimsolls, canvas trainers or boots).
For PE, all children are told to bring: navy/sky reversible rugby shirt with academy logo; navy jogging bottoms with academy logo; navy/sky sports socks; navy/sky/white shorts with academy logo; navy/sky/white polo shirt with academy logo; trainers; football boots; a gum shield; and shin pads. A wind-proof jacket is optional.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, which runs the academy, said: ‘It is down to each individual academy to set its own uniform policy, we do not get involved in these matters.’