, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
… young people and the issue of racism in schools. As Children in Wales stated in a briefing note: 'School uniforms can help create a sense of community, belonging and identity.' But, for many children and young people living … poverty, school uniforms cause stress and can also lead to bullying, particularly when the cost of school uniforms that have a badge on them can be much higher than the cost of uniforms without a badge. I know …
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language
Thank you, Minister. We've been hearing more about projects to reuse school uniforms recently. Four pupils from Maesteg School met the King after winning an award by the Prince's Trust for their project recycling and exchanging … school uniforms for free. But the review commissioned by My Nametags found that 1.4 million of items of wearable school uniform are thrown away every year, and that 81 per cent of parents always buy new school uniforms …
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Attendance Guidance
… update on the situation in terms of the review of the Learner Travel Measure (Wales) 2008? Turning to school uniform, the Children in Wales report also noted that 79 per cent of children and young people are required … wear at least one item of branded school uniform, despite the Welsh Government’s school uniform guidance. On average, unbranded school uniforms cost around £73 per secondary school pupil, compared to around £150 for branded school uniform—over …
, Equality and Social Justice Committee
Inquiry into the Welsh Government’s Draft Child Poverty Strategy: evidence session 2
… resources. It's about implementing existing legislation and guidance that we've already got, and our focus on school uniforms, because that's a major issue that's again come up in our report, which we're reporting … got the guidance, we've renewed the guidance, which came out last year, yet the cost of school uniforms is a continuous barrier for children and families. Children are growing; they need clothes to be changed. This …
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Anti-bullying Week: The mental health and well-being of learners
… You referred to the impact of poverty, which is very, very pertinent, and in particular the issues around school uniform. I've got a very long-standing bugbear about school uniform; it's something that has worried … greatly. Whenever I've posted something as a constituency MS about school uniform, it's had lots and lots of engagement, which tells me that it's something that really worries my constituents. You'll be aware that …
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: Child poverty and educational attainment
… free, we're aware that families are constantly asked for money towards the cost of trips, transport, school uniforms, equipment and so forth. In addition to this, when children and young people cannot take part in opportunities because … welcomed, but more needs to be done to ensure that all governing bodies, for example, implement a school uniform policy that eliminates inequality rather than creating it. Feeling ashamed of one's school uniform contributes to absenteeism levels …
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
… for asking this question, but we all just know—. I'm sure we can all appreciate how expensive school uniforms can be, placing a huge financial strain on many families. Anything the Welsh Government can do to help … parents with the cost of school uniforms and other essentials, especially in this current climate, is very, very welcome. Back in 2018, the then education Minister suggested scrapping logos in a bid to cut costs. Fast forward five …
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
Minister, there's been significant interest in the reported consultation on school uniforms, and the First Minister spoke about this yesterday. The Welsh Government, of course, has extended the pupil development grant to support more families with the … kit to the extent of £200, but the Children's Society have said that the average cost of school uniform is still over £300 per child per year, and that is completely unnecessary and unfair. It's three …
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Improving educational standards in Wales
… that I'm really very keen on. I know, too, that you've got a strong interest in school uniform policy. You'll be aware that we reviewed our policy and issued new statutory guidance just over … the moment. I'm very happy to look at the issue that you've raised around active school uniforms, despite the fact that, obviously, it's a matter for schools and governing bodies. I think the issue …
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
… obligation for governors to implement the policy. This means that some schools are still insisting on a school uniform that disregards the guidance, such as by demanding logos on everything, having an expensive blazer as part of the … school uniform, or insisting on a coat of a specific colour. This all contravenes the guidance. This creates great financial pressure for families, especially those who may have two or three children in school, and the school uniform …
, Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language: Tackling the impact of poverty on attainment
… affordable to their parents, so they are regularly missing school. And I still hear that the cost of school uniform can often be a barrier too. So, there are a number of things that relate to the child … entitled to. You mentioned ensuring that school attendance should be cost neutral. Now, clearly, there is guidance on school uniforms, but it does vary a great deal across Wales in terms of what governors and schools believe …
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
… thank Joyce Watson for that supplementary question. She's right to say, of course, that the costs of school uniform are a considerable concern for many families. I wrote to schools over the summer recess, towards the end … schools should be required to provide iron-on logos free of charge, so that the merits of the school uniform can be maintained without the costs being borne by those who are struggling most. The PDG access grant …
, Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Our national mission—delivering on Wales’s education priorities
… the academic ways in which we're trying to tackle that attainment gap. Thank you for raising the school uniform guidance. This is an issue that I feel very strongly about and always have. I know that Children … the uniform on household budgets. And if other children are anything like my son—. I was keeping the school uniform shop in business, because he lost things practically every week …
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
… parent, and obliged for other reasons to move from place to place, she found having to replace school uniform every time her children were at a new school a real issue to deal with. And that personal experience … community interest company that now trades as Caerphilly Uniform Exchange. And the fact that it focuses on recycling school uniforms, both for the cost involved and also because we know that, environmentally, it is far better …
, Plenary
Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language
… truth is that a number of families still find difficulty funding the essentials related to the school day. You referred to uniform, but although you … changed the guidance on the matter, a number of schools are continuing to demand a logo on school uniforms, and such things as a blazer, which add significantly to the cost of a school uniform. With costs increasing …
, Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
Llywydd, the Welsh Government is clear that the cost of school uniform should not be a barrier to learning. Our updated uniform guidance requires schools to prioritise affordability. Funding of £13.6 million has been made available for the … school essentials grant for 2023-24 to help reduce concerns around purchase of school uniform and equipment for lower income families …
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: The cost-of-living crisis—The effect on schools and children
… how schools are run that compound that isolation and that lead to bullying. Let's talk again about school uniforms. As we've heard, too many schools have an exclusive supplier, which restricts choice and means that the … example. That can embarrass children, which is why we're calling for a review into statutory guidance on school uniform policies. There is something horrid in the thought that children are walking around wearing their embarrassment, so that …
, Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education
Following the publication of the revised statutory guidance on school uniform and appearance policies, governing bodies were asked to review their existing school uniform policies. I am continuing to raise awareness of the statutory guidance with schools …
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: The cost-of-living crisis—The effect on schools and children
… will hear, it bears a daily cost. Families are routinely asked to contribute towards the costs of school uniform, trips, charity fundraising, school meals and snacks, and to provide equipment and resources for different subjects. This can expose … Members Luke Fletcher, Delyth Jewell and Heledd Fychan will focus on specific measures, such as the affordability of school uniform, trips and activities, and the take-up of entitlements. The introduction of free school meals for all pupils …
, Plenary
Plaid Cymru Debate: The cost-of-living crisis—The effect on schools and children
… help them attain the best they can. I support reviewing the effectiveness of the statutory guidance on school uniform policy to ensure consistent affordability across Wales. A number of parents have contacted me regarding school uniform, and the … the law, and why the Welsh Government is not using PLASC to cut funding to schools who exclude pupils on grounds of uniform is something I would like to see addressed. Children are being penalised. The child doesn …