Cost of living: 9 ways to save money on school uniforms before September - including grants & how to apply

As children across the country enjoy the summer holidays, parents are no doubt already looking ahead to the next school year. It’s no secret that “back to school” can be a pricey business, especially when it comes to school uniform.

The Children’s Society found that parents are spending an average of £422 a year on secondary school uniforms and around £287 on primary uniforms for their little ones. Some schools even request that parents buy full uniform sets with school logos on each item, including socks - and costs can quickly add up.

With this in mind, cash-strapped parents are being offered budget-friendly tips to save money on uniform costs before the new school year begins. The frugal experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have revealed nine helpful ways to pin down uniforms in time for September for less.

Rebecca Bebbington, online consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “While kids have not long broken up for the school holidays, we want to offer advice to parents who are worried about affording uniforms for their little ones. It’s shocking to learn parents are spending over £400 just on secondary school uniforms alone and primary school costs are not much cheaper.

“But it’s less of a surprise in the current economic climate, especially if some schools are making parents pay for branded clothing. This can make clothes such as trousers, blazers and even socks much more expensive. We have found some helpful ways parents can save money on uniforms, such as checking online community groups for second-hand uniforms as well as making the most of back-to-school deals throughout the holidays.”

Nine ways to save on school uniform costs

Start the hunt for uniforms early

When schools break up for the holidays, many parents take their kid’s old uniforms to charity shops or straight to the school as a hand-me-down for others. It’s worth looking early to avoid disappointment by the end of the summer break.

Message online community groups

Join multiple online groups in your local area as well as national parenting groups to increase the chances of finding clothes for sale. Local groups particularly help if you’re after branded uniform clothing.

Uniform swapping

Many parents start online groups specific to their local school where you can easily swap clothing such as a top or a blazer for a skirt or a pair of trousers. Start looking straight away so you have the best available options.

Look for back-to-school deals

The moment the holidays near an end, back-to-school deals come in full swing. Make sure to subscribe to email offers from supermarkets and outlets so you can take advantage of deals such as 10 to 20% off uniform items.

Pre-loved giveaways

Check around selling groups for members who are selling bundles of school uniforms as part of free giveaways. Make sure to turn post notifications so you don’t miss out as they will likely be given away quickly.

Shop around for deals