What is the government doing to improve access to second-hand uniforms?
Giving access to affordable uniforms is no longer optional—it’s a duty of care that schools must provide and particularly important for families from disadvantaged backgrounds who may be unable to afford brand-new uniforms. New UK guidance came into place in 2021, stating that every school must provide a second-hand uniform service by September 2023, but this is a) not widely known amongst parents and b) lacking direction as to how this needs to happen.
What does the government guidance on second-hand school uniforms say?
According to this blog, “Schools should also make sure that arrangements are in place so that second-hand school uniforms are available for all parents. Schools can participate by signposting parents to an already established second-hand uniform scheme, or they can set up their own provision.
Information on second-hand uniforms should be clear for parents of current and prospective pupils and published on the school’s website.”
We’ve seen varying responses from schools, some of whom see this initiative as a vehicle for change and others who, unfortunately, see it more as a box-ticking exercise.
What provisions are currently in place for second-hand school uniforms?
We speak to schools every day, and before coming on board with Uniformd, second-hand school uniform is usually organised through:
- Tabletop sales
- Whatsapp groups
- PTA / School Administrators
However, none of these are perfect options, and many schools and parents experience frustration with them.
Tabletop sales
Many schools fulfil their legal obligations to supply second-hand uniforms through a first come, first served, once-per-year tabletop sale – but anybody who has had a child in school knows that:
Children grow out of their clothes year-round
Kids lose, stretch, stain and rip their clothes the instant they’re given them
Unless you go yourself, there’s no guarantee your child will remember to get what they actually need
In addition, many parents work and can’t take time off to attend a sale during the day, especially when every hour worked counts toward paying for their children’s schooling. It’s a catch-22 whereby those who can least afford it are forced to buy brand-new uniforms because they lack easy access to second-hand sales.
Uniform WhatsApp groups
Joining a WhatsApp or Facebook group to buy, sell, and swap second-hand uniforms can be a great idea, but it comes with its own problems too.
Firstly, it’s not easily scalable and requires admins to update group members constantly, and these admins will need to handle the volume of requests and match them against uniform stocks, with no centralised database of supply and demand.
Secondly, it’s not easy to ask for a second-hand uniform in front of all our parent friends—a stigma still exists around this (even if it shouldn’t!!).
Lastly, let’s be honest – call us anti-social, but nobody wants to handle all those notifications.
PTAs / school administrators
Often a school PTA or administrator will do the hard work of organising second-hand uniform sales – which is brilliant. But notepad lists of what you’ve got and trying to handle the petty cash for everything can be very frustrating, especially when you’ve got the business of running a school to attend to!
What’s the solution, and how can schools comply with government guidance regarding second-hand uniforms?
We’re parents, and we’ve experienced these issues firsthand. That’s why Uniformd exists: to give schools an easy-to-use service that enables them to sell pre-loved, donated and second-hand uniforms year-round, responding to parent donations demand, to create a more sustainable, fairer ecosystem for schools and parents alike.
Schools can sign up for free and list all their available second-hand uniforms. Parents can then browse and purchase the items at their own convenience, picking them up from the school admin office (or wherever the second-hand uniforms are kept). The funds go straight back to the schools.
Sign up today for a better way to buy pre-loved school wear.
