PARENTS and carers are being urged to provide their views on the cost of branded and compulsory school uniform items.
And Children’s and Education Minister Inna Gardiner revealed that over half of respondents so far were dissatisfied with how much uniforms cost.
The survey – which closes at 5pm on Friday – is open to parents and carers of pupils of government schools and of those children who will join one next year.
It asks them how much they pay, whether they are satisfied with the quality and cost of school uniforms, and which items they think should be branded.
The survey also follows a Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority report earlier this year which made a series of recommendations and found that the school uniform market could be improved for consumers by considering policies from other jurisdictions.
The report said that there were too few providers of uniforms in Jersey, with most supplying clothes on exclusive, rather than competitive, terms, while some schools had a high proportion of branded or compulsory items.
Deputy Gardiner has committed to implementing new measures by September next year and she said the survey, along with advice from head teachers and the JCRA report, would help to shape the upcoming school uniform policy.
She explained: “It is clear – from speaking with parents and carers – that, even if they value having some kind of uniform, the sheer number of compulsory or branded items that they have to buy drives up costs and causes anxiety.
“This is true even for parents and carers whose children attend school with second-hand shops, or can access some support with the cost. If, as I’ve committed, we are going to introduce clear guidance to support schools and make sure that there is competitiveness in the market, I want to ensure that I have given all the people involved an opportunity to share their views.”
She added that it was “important” that any changes were brought in with “advanced notice” and with “a lengthy transition period”.
Deputy Gardiner also encouraged any parents currently struggling with the cost of uniforms to approach the welfare co-ordinator at their children’s school.
