September was a busy ‘Back to School’ season and parents across Worthing and Arun will have shared in discomfort with the rising cost of school uniforms for their children.
I was pleased to come together with schoolwear industry leaders, educators, parents, Department for Education officials and Schoolwear Association to discuss and explore the ways in which we can collectively strive to provide economically accessible, high-quality, and sustainable school uniforms for all students, no matter their background.
We recognise that there is a great benefit of school uniforms in acting as an important social leveller. They promote a sense of belonging and community, improve behaviour and wellbeing for students and can be a sustainable and good value option for parents.
However, we cannot overlook the growing cost of buying school uniforms, particularly at the point when a child joins primary school or transitions into secondary school, and this has been heightened by the current cost-of-living crisis.
That is why I am pleased to join the campaign to scrap the VAT on school uniforms to help alleviate the cost for families. and ensure all pupils have access to all the well-recognised benefits of school uniforms.
