Wed, 03 Sep 2025

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 'Less of a stigma' on second-hand school uniforms

A family with four children spends £800 on uniforms despite buying many in sales and from charity.
The States of Guernsey said 1,027 children would receive a grant to fund their uniform this year, with an additional 667 applications received as of Monday. Les Varendes High School's principal Verona Tomlin said each States secondary school has a uniform store that offers school supplies and equipment to pupils who need them. Nikki, the mother of four children, tried to shop in sales and charity shops but some costs were unavoidable due to specific school uniform requirements. She commented: "We're not sure what colour socks they wear affects how well they learn." Principal Tomlin said a uniform shows that students belong to the team and want them to feel like they belong. The family saved their August pay to cover the cost of going back to school, with Nikki accepting hand-me-downs from friends and family. A Jersey parent, Clive, agreed that second-hand uniforms are a good idea, saying: "We always look for second-hand stuff, try it on before they go back to school, and then pass them down to the younger siblings." Another parent, Freya, 17, said she had to buy new stationery every year which was annoying. Jade Gallichan from Paperclix estimated that parents spend between £100 and £200 per year on uniforms in Jersey. Claire Mackenzie from Jersey Hospice Shop East said their pop-up sales of new uniforms at reduced prices were hugely popular, with a full uniform costing between £15 and £20. Carl Walker from the Jersey Consumer Council estimated that it could cost up to £400 per child to prepare them for school, not just for uniforms but also stationery, lunch boxes, haircuts, coats, etc.
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