One mum has said that the move is ‘unfair’

Parents have hit back at a school over a decision to change the uniform for girls from September.

Blackrod High School will introduce a new £30 tartan skirt option for girls which will replace the current black option with a logo.

The price of the skirt is twice the amount of the current one, leaving parents feeling upset at the extra expense.

Girls will have the option of wearing trousers as well as the skirt, Manchester Evening News reports.

Sarah, whose daughter attends the school in Bolton, said: “This is such a waste of money for no good reason.

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“We’ll be wasting the skirts we already have and having to spend £30 on one you can only buy from the school and not other uniform shops.

“It also means people won’t be able to rely on second hand uniforms or hand me downs as so many do.

“Having a unique material and pattern is just nonsense and this goes against government guidance which says schools should have fewer branded items.

“Also, why just target the girls with this? It’s very unfair.”

The girls will also have the option to wear trousers from September, but Sarah says a petition has been launched against the new skirt.

One person said on social media: “I think it’s appalling. 30 quid for a skirt!”

A second added: “My daughter is due to start in September and the cost is going to be over a week’s wage.”

One person wrote: “Girls have to have their skirt which costs £30, but boys can wear plain black pants from a supermarket, it’s a joke, kids had no choice in it.”

The change was announced to parents in a letter from head of school Victoria Walmsley which said: “We recognise the financial challenges many families face and are committed to making this uniform change as affordable as possible.

“For the initial year, the school will purchase the skirts directly and sell them to parents at the cost price of £29.95.

“The skirt will not be available at our uniform suppliers during the first year of launch, however the uniform suppliers will continue to stock all other uniform items.”

She says that input from the students has ‘been invaluable’ and that ‘the new skirt has been designed based on their feedback to ensure it is both practical and comfortable’.

The letter continued: “We are confident that it will not only offer comfort and quality but also provide a unique design that sets our school apart.

“The fabric is unique to Rivington and Blackrod High School, giving our students a signature skirt that reflects our sense of community and pride.

“It is made from high-quality, durable material, manufactured in the UK and features an elasticated, adjustable waist to comfortably accommodate students as they grow.”

Mrs Walmsley adds that there will be a buy-back scheme for families with students entering Year 11 in September and says the school is ‘actively exploring the possibility of uniform recycling for future years, ensuring that our uniform remains accessible to all’.

A spokesperson for Leverhulme Academy Trust, which runs the school, said: “This update is part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a consistent and professional standard of uniform that reflects the pride and identity of our school community.

“We understand the concerns raised regarding the cost of the skirt and changes to our uniform policy and we are actively listening to feedback from parents and students.

“The new skirt has been designed based on student feedback to ensure it is comfortable, durable, high quality and UK-manufactured.

“To support families, we are offering the skirt at cost price for the first year, along with a ‘buy now, pay later’ option to help spread the cost. Additionally, we are planning to introduce a uniform recycling scheme to further assist with affordability.

“We are committed to ensuring that the overall uniform remains affordable. Students will still have the option to wear plain black tailored trousers, available from local suppliers and supermarkets, in line with our uniform policy.

“We appreciate the ongoing dialogue and are happy to address any further questions or concerns.”

Under changes to the Education Act in 2022, schools in England were told to lower uniform costs for families by removing unnecessary branded items and making cheaper second-hand uniforms available.

A report from The Children’s Society said parents and carers were still being forced to spend hundreds of pounds, an average of £422 on secondary pupils and £287 on primary uniforms.