'School uniform costs for my four kids has put our Christmas in jeopardy'

Karyssa Bates is pushing for school uniforms to be scrapped or made significantly more affordableafter forking out over £900 to kit out her children for the new academic year. The mother-of-four revealed the eye-watering expensehas jeopardised her family's Christmas, whilst the emotional burden is equally devastating.

Knowing she is not alone in this predicament, Karyssa opened up about her ordeal to NeedToKnow, saying: "I think uniforms should be abolished because of the whole expense. It should just be a jumper and trousers or skirts and a polo shirt.

"Standard PE kits you can buy from supermarkets to make things cheaper, rather than telling parents they need to purchase clothing with the logo on. If there were a swap shop near me, I'd be so grateful.

"But there isn't. And I'm left being limited on what I can do as I have this cost in the back of my mind constantly. The children are the ones really suffering, and I hate disappointing them because of some outfit."

Karyssa is "sick with worry" about the expenses she's been forced to shoulder this year. She had begun setting aside money for the costs last Christmas, stashing away £75 monthly into a uniform fund to help balance the books, but it has not proved sufficient to rescue their festive celebrations.

She revealed: "It's had such a huge emotional impact; I feel like I'm failing as a mum. I wasn't able to get them everything they asked for at Christmas last year, and I won't be able to do that again – if anything at all."

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The stay-at-home mum has two children at secondary school alongside twins at primary school. The expense of uniforms this year was more than half of her £1,700 monthly Universal Credit payment. With food bills and other household essentials totalling £1,525, the uniform costs have compelled Karyssa to slash spending wherever feasible, particularly if any of her four children experience a growth spurt or ruin their uniform.

She explained: "I do cheaper food shops where I can and I don't add any extras such as sweets or other treats. I take them on fewer days out – or not at all.

"They only get general clothing if bought as presents for birthdays and Christmas from family. I can't afford to get them anything new. There just isn't any spare money left over for anything else."

It is estimated that a school uniform now sets parents back £442 for a secondary school pupil and £343 for primary school children. This is a dramatic increase from £96.24 per pupil just two years ago, according to the Schoolwear Association.

Labour has pledged that the quantity of branded school uniform pieces will be capped from September 2026 as part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill in order to reduce the cost for parents.