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FOR money-savvy mums and dads hoping to buy a school uniform on a shoestring budget there could be one major obstacle in the way - their son or daughter's school.

While there are plenty of High Street bargains to be snapped up, such as Tesco's much heralded £3.50 budget uniform, they are out of the grasp of thousands of potential consumers.

This is because dozens of Hampshire's 540 schools and 82 Southampton schools continue to charge over the odds for uniforms that have to be purchased from an approved supplier.

It means that, for example parents of children at St Mark's Junior School in Southampton, must buy a sweater with a school logo for £8 from John Lewis - a mark up of 357 per cent on the £1.75 Tesco or Asda version.

Elsewhere parents at Halterworth Primary in Romsey, Hardley School and Sixth Form in Holbury, North Baddesley Junior and Infants, Priestlands School in Lymington, and Regents Park and St Anne's in Southampton all have to go to John Lewis for branded items.

While some schools give parents no option at all but to pay out for more expensive logo tops, others offer a choice.

It leaves potential consumers frustrated at a situation that remains despite new government guidelines introduced last year.

Under the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) regulations schools can face enforcement action for breaking the law if they continue to have exclusive deals with shops.

The aim of the reforms was to strike a balance between developing a smart and comfortable uniform with needless expense incurred on bespoke designs.

However OFT spokesman John Fearn said that no enforcement action had been taken against a single school - despite the problem persisting.

He said: "Schools or retailers that have exclusive agreements for the supply of school uniforms may, in principle, be subject to enforcement action under the Competition Act 1998 if these agreements are found to appreciably restrict competition between retailers in the supply of uniforms.

"The supply of school uniforms is an area that we will continue to take account of in our decisions on prioritising future work, in the light of the OFT's limited resources."

He said that parents who were unhappy about buying school uniforms from approved suppliers should write to the Office of Fair Trading.

Meanwhile South Coast Money line - a not for profit organisation - that lends cash to hard-up families across Hampshire said that it had received requests for £100 loans to help out with school uniforms.

Kim Higgs, who helps deal with loan applications said: "We have had a few enquiries. We always get them at this time of year."

To save the pennies it's always worth seeing whether there's any chance of buying second hand uniform from your son or daughter's school.

Mary Diaper, pictured below, scheme manager at the charity Home-Start Eastleigh often sees families struggling to cope with the demands of expensive school uniforms.

She said: "Parents have so many responsibilities to juggle in family life and providing for school life can be a mind blowing expensive experience."

The charity has its own Home- Start Uniform Swap Shop where parents can get good quality unwanted school clothing.

Another option is to apply for a school uniform grant, via your child's school, says Mary.

TESCO
Polo shirt - 75p
Skirt/trousers - £1.75
Jumper/ cardigan - £1.75

ASDA (uniforms pictured)
Polo shirt - 50p
Skirt/trousers - £1.75
Jumper/Cardigan - £1.75

SAINSBURY'S
Two pack of polo shirts - £2.50
Two pack of grey skirts - £6
Trousers - £4
Cardigan - £6

10:40am Tuesday 2nd September 2008

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