This affects so many families with the rising cost of living and some having to choose between food and gas/electric already. Forcing parents into doubling their expenditure on one piece of uniform per child is unnecessary and forcing them further into poverty, and the children into social/emotional crisis knowing their parents can not afford to clothe them for school. The newly enforced school uniform policy at Tupton Hall School, requiring trousers and skirts to have a school logo, places an undue financial burden on families in Tupton, New Tupton, Chesterfield, UK. With the cost of living crisis impacting households severely, this policy exacerbates financial strain by necessitating additional spending on branded clothing items.

The students are being fitted for their free trouser/skirt on 13th June with them being supplied on 8th July. The biggest issue here is that any students who then have a growth spurt from the end of the school year on 24th July up until the beginning of September will then need a new pair at the cost of £15-£25 depending on the Supplier for the new school year  

We urge the administration at Tupton Hall School to consider the economic hardships faced by its community members and revoke this policy immediately. Please sign this petition to support local families and promote a more inclusive approach to school uniforms.

 

***UPDATE FROM MR KNOWLES 13/06/24***

Uniform Update 13 June 2024

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing with a further update on planned uniform changes for September 2024.

At Tupton Hall School we care passionately about our students, families and our communities where they live. We are committed to providing a high quality education for them all, and set high expectations and high standards that we believe will support our students to achieve. In addition, when we receive feedback from our communities, we will listen.

School conducted a uniform consultation with parents and carers in April 2024, and the feedback provided confirmed that a school uniform is important to you (Scored 4.14/5) and that standardised uniform items could promote equality across all of our children (Scored 3.53/5).

Following sharing the news about the introduction of a standard trouser and skirt for September 2024 there has been significant concern raised by families about the costs of these items compared to cheaper high street items.

This was recognised when planning the changes, and therefore the first item was offered free of charge. Feedback from our communities has focussed on the cost of additional trousers and skirts to equip their children for the school week. In light of this feedback, it has been decided that additional trousers or skirts (up to 2 more) that are required by families, can be purchased for a cost of £10 each, irrespective of size or fit. Therefore, if parents and carers decide that 2 trousers or skirts are required, each one will have cost £5 and if 3 are required each one will have cost £6.66. When sourcing costs of school trousers from supermarkets this would be a highly competitive price against any of these retailers. School will cover the cost of any shortfalls with our suppliers.

By doing this during the next academic year this will provide an opportunity for us to build up our ‘pre-loved’ stock and organise routines to distribute out to those that need it the most. We will review this next year in readiness for the 2025-6 academic year.

I hope that this feedback demonstrates to you that school has listened to your feedback and offered a workable solution that ensures that we can secure high standards of uniform for September 2024, whilst not creating additional financial pressures for our families.

A copy of our uniform guide is on the school website as confirmation of expectations for September 2024.

Yours faithfully

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Whilst this is a generous offer - where is the subsidised money coming from?