A survey has found mums and dads are even turning to
buy-now-pay-later services such as Klarna to afford clothing for their children.
07:17, 19 Aug 2025Updated 07:18, 19 Aug 2025
A survey has found mums and dads are even turning to buy-now-pay-later services such as Klarna to afford clothing for their children.
Millions of UK parents are being warned mums and dads are skipping meals to afford school uniforms. A survey has found mums and dads are even turning to buy-now-pay-later services such as Klarna to afford clothing for their children.
As many as 47 per cent of 2,000 parents surveyed by Parentkind said they were worried about uniform costs. 29 per cent said they had forgone food or heating to pay for uniforms.
45 per cent of those polled planned to use credit cards to pay for their children’s school uniform and one in three said they would rely on Klarna-style delayed payment services.
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Labour Party education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has spoken out. “School uniform matters but it shouldn’t break the bank. No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying a new blazer,” she said.
“Parents have told us they want fewer costly branded items – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering. Schools can help ease the pressure on families right now by reducing the number of branded items they require.”
Parentkind’s chief executive, Jason Elsom, said: “Parents have faced the crushing cost of sending their children to school for far too long. For many families the bills soar into the thousands every year, covering uniforms, books, stationery, trips, laptops and travel. These reforms are the first real step towards ending that injustice.
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“Limiting branded school uniform items will make a difference straight away. Our research shows 85% of parents believe this will cut costs, 71% prefer to buy plain items and add the logo later, and 83% say unbranded uniform is just as good quality. This is about keeping money in parents’ pockets without sacrificing school pride.”
Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Many families face wider financial pressures and cannot afford basic amenities.
“The rate of child poverty in the UK is simply appalling. We hope to see the government publish a meaningful strategy to tackle this issue in the near future.”
The minister for social security and disability, Stephen Timms, said: “This is especially important ahead of the new school year – no family should have to choose between buying school supplies and putting food on the table.”