OVER half of parents are unhappy with the cost of school uniform, a government survey has revealed.
Children’s and Education Minister Inna Gardiner said the consultation on uniforms had received responses from 599 parents of primary- and secondary-school children.
Deputy Gardiner said the government would be publishing a new policy by the end of December, following recommendations made by the Island’s competition watchdog earlier this year amid concerns over cost.
Questioned by Deputy Andy Howell during this week’s States sitting, Deputy Gardiner said: “Fifty-five per cent of parents were either very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the current cost of uniforms.
“The majority of parents are spending between £100 to £200 on school uniforms per year and the majority of parents advised they felt there were too may branded items and compulsory items.
“They believed that it should be between one and two items of branded clothes for the main uniform, and one or two branded or compulsory items for PE uniform.”
Deputy Gardiner said there had been a “very clear public outcry over the last two years at least”.
A Jersey Competition and Regulation Authority report in April this year highlighted the high number of branded items that parents have to buy for their children.
Deputy Gardiner said: “Some schools don’t have any, some schools have one or two, and some schools have 17.
“The gaps are very, very big and this is the reason that a new policy will be finalised by the end of this year and published.”
A three-year implementation period will form part of the policy, she said, allowing parents, schools and retailers to adapt to the new law.
The JCRA’s report found that it was “not uncommon” for branded or compulsory items to make up more than 40% of listed school uniform items.
It recommended that the government consider policy development and practices adopted in other jurisdictions, that schools regularly review their contracts with suppliers, and for the JCRA to work with authorities to improve guidance on the tender process for uniforms.
The market for school uniforms in Jersey is worth £1.6 million, the watchdog found.
