Parents' outcry over school uniform shake-up

And for the following school year, the required uniform will also include a V-neck jumper with two logos — those of the school itself and Wickersley Partnership Trust — on the sleeve, as well as a new PE kit.

The school said the “phased approach” would help parents with the resulting costs.

But dad Dave South called the move “disgusting”, pointing out it had been revealed after many parents had already shelled out for uniform for the next school year and saying buying branded clothes would hit them in the pocket.

Following an outcry from parents and the launch of an online petition, the school trust announced that it would defer the changes until next year but refused to scrap them.

Mr South, who has a son in Year 8 and a daughter in Year 10, said: “It is just going to increase the costs.

“I don’t mind buying jumpers but the whole uniform is changing, and you can’t go to the cheaper suppliers for things like trousers.

“I can afford the uniform, but I don’t like wasting money.

“They say it’s for a more work-like environment, but I don’t have my employer’s branding on my work suit.”

Mr South, of Bramley, pointed out a Bill going through Parliament could lead to new guidance encouraging schools to keep down costs and forcing schools to keep compulsory branded items, to a minimum – a policy he said Wickersley was going against.

The school trust highlighted one preferred town centre uniform supplier in an email to parents.

One grandparent of a Year 7 child said: “It’s so insensitive of the new headmaster to expect parents and guardians to have to buy new school uniforms, just because they are changing a logo slightly, at a time of national hardship due to the pandemic.

“Several parents had pre-ordered items for the children who will be going into Year 7 in July, ready for the September school start.

“They (the school) only recommend one uniform supplier and this supplier is the most expensive one.”

Another upset parent said the school “should be ashamed of themselves”, adding: “If they want children to wear branded logo trousers, they should provide them at a discount, and for free to those parents who are struggling on benefits.”

Headteacher Tony Hardcastle and Wickersley Partnership Trust academy trust chief executive Helen O'Brien said in the email to parents that the changes aimed to reflect the common ethos of the trust, which includes five schools, and the “significant emphasis placed on the presentation of our students”.

They added: “We believe that each school within our trust has its own identity that is represented through the school logo on all uniform.

“However, throughout our trust, all schools share a common ethos, vision and purpose and we are all working to improve our school uniform to celebrate and reinforce this.

“A student in correct uniform is a student ‘on message’, who meets our high expectations on a daily basis.”

The school uniform policy also insists on shoes which are “plain black leather with no stripes or logos” and rules jewellery should be “kept to a minimum” and make-up “discreet and minimal”.

A Change.org petition set up by parent Annie Joyce calling on people to “say no to expensive and unnecessary logos” has gained more than 780 signatures.

A spokesperson for Wickersley School and Sports College said: “School uniform standards are fundamentally linked to school performance and outcomes for students. Good uniform ensures a calm, business like atmosphere in any school and ultimately an outstanding climate for learning.

“To further drive up standards and bring Wickersley School and Sports College into line with other local schools within the Wickersley Partnership Trust, we have decided to introduce branded trousers and skirts.

“The school will not benefit financially from this change but as well as improving standards and student outcomes, it will also support local independent businesses.

“We sympathise with concerns raised by some parents about costs and - following feedback - we are giving extra time to prepare, by not making this compulsory until September 2022.

“Even with the changes in place, our research shows that uniform costs for Wickersley School and Sports College will remain amongst the lowest when compared with other schools in the area. Any family experience financial hardship is being encouraged to contact school – and we will do our utmost to help.”