Buy back-to-school bargains

NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at school uniform costs across the supermarkets and the high street so parents can cash in on the best back-to-school bargains. Researchers analysed the costs of uniforms from supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco’s, Morrison’s, and Aldi. They then compared them to high street shops like Next, Matalan and M&S. They found that the cost of buying a typical uniform from a supermarket can be a whopping 43 per cent cheaper than from a High Street store –£44.30 against £78.51.

Blazers and shoes are, unsurprisingly, the most costly buys. At supermarkets the average price of boy’s primary school shoes is £9.88, and for girls it’s £8.38. Head for specialist shoe shops and you can expect to pay double or almost triple the price, with the average price of shoes ranging between £21 to £29.

Coats from supermarkets can be picked up for around £10, but at high street shops they’re almost double the price at between £16 and £20.

On average, shirts are also double the price across the board for both boys and girls when comparing supermarket prices to high street ones. Interestingly, the average price of a girl’s skirt from a high street store is less (at £6.33) than one from a supermarket (£7.25). This is not the case for trousers which average at £8.67 in supermarkets, against £10.67 in High Street stores.

. . . AND SAVE THE PLANET

Looking for school gear that’s both inexpensive and sustainable? Personalised clothing company, Banana Moon, has researched what can be found on the High Street:

Polo shirt

H&M – 100 per cent organic and sustainably sourced cotton, £3.99.

Shirt

ASDA – contains Better Cotton Initiative sustainably sourced cotton and recycled polyester, £2.25 (£4.50 multipack price).

Dress

M&S – 65 per cent recycled polyester and 35 per cent sustainable viscose, £9.60.

Skirt

Aldi – 65 per cent recycled polyester, £1.75.

Trousers

M&S – 85 per cent sustainably sourced cotton, £6.40.

Socks

ASDA – 77 per cent Better Cotton Initiative cotton, £0.30/pair (£3 multipack price).

Blazer

M&S – 65 per cent recycled polyester and 35 per cent sustainable viscose, £18.40.

No less than 69 per cent of parents would buy sustainable school uniform if it became more affordable, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Banana Moon. However, currently parents would have to spend £8.40 more to purchase the cheapest sustainable blazer, and £6.61 more to buy the cheapest sustainable dress. New guidelines from the Government require schools to keep uniform prices down.