27 April 2023
The Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, has pledged to work with school
headteachers and the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority, JCRA, to make school uniforms
more affordable for parents.
The Minister has written to headteachers following a market study by the JCRA. She has shared the
recommendations of the JCRA and outlined their joint aim for these recommendations to be taken
forward this year, to come into effect from September 2024.
The JCRA study – which has been published today – found that many stakeholders saw social and
safeguarding advantages to having school uniforms. Despite this, it also found that there are two
main factors which raise costs for parents.
Firstly, many schools required branded and/or compulsory school uniform items: in some schools
this made up more than 40% of all uniform items. which leads to greater expense for parents.
Secondly, the JCRA identified that the small number of retailers, and the widespread use of
exclusive contracts means that parents have a reduced choice when buying uniform.
The report makes three recommendations:
- The Government of Jersey should consider policy in other places, including the UK
- Schools should conduct regular reviews of all contracts and supply arrangements for
uniforms
- The JCRA should develop more specific guidance on the design and operation of
competitive tenders for school uniforms
Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, said: “School uniforms provide pupils
with a sense of community and identity and act as a social equaliser; they also make it easier for
parents to get their children ready for school.
“However, I’ve been concerned about cost and committed to reducing it since coming into office
last year. I have spoken with parents who are concerned about the cost of school uniforms,
especially with the cost of living rising. I have raised their feedback with Headteachers at my
regular meetings with them.
“Schools are already taking steps to make uniforms more affordable: many have re-selling
communities for second hand uniforms, I welcome the finding that 90% of schools are already
doing second hand sales.
“This is welcomed by many parents, but it doesn’t address the market as a whole. It’s clear from this
report that there is more that individual schools can do to ensure they are offering parents more
choice and flexibility. At the same time, it shows that we need to put in place clearer guidance to
support schools.
“I have written to all headteachers today to ask for their support and suggestions in how we can
develop guidance to make sure that school uniforms are competitively priced. I’d like to thank the
JCRA for this study, which gives us a good factual background that we can build on.”
The study is available online via the JCRA website: www.jcra.je/
gov.je