How to save on school uniform - The VoucherCodes Blog

Your mind may be on summer holidays, but when it comes to saving money on school uniforms, now is the best time to bag a bargain.

A new survey reveals that a third of parents are worried about the costs of school uniforms, with 1 in 5 schools reportedly increasing the number of branded items required over the past year.

With parents having to pay an average of £442 to kit a child out for secondary school and £343 for primary school, there is a government plan to cut costs for families and limit the number of branded school items.

Until then, the good news is that the high street is on our side. Take time now to shop around, and you can save a significant amount on school uniforms, school shoes and more.

As a mum of two ever-growing children, I've spent many years buying uniforms and learning the hard way what wastes money and what doesn't.

Here are 10 things I know about back to school shopping:

Buy early, as all the best bargains typically occur in July. School uniform prices rapidly increase in August.
Buy early if you have kids who want a specific fit to their trousers and shirts. Slim styles, skinny trousers and elasticated waists all sell out fast.
Buy early if you have a tall, plus or small child, as the desired fit may also sell out quickly.
White shirts and grey trousers always sell out quickly, as do navy or black joggers.
If you notice your child having a puberty growth spurt, rest assured that other parents in their year will do too. This means that uniform sizes for boys often sell out quickly in the 11-14 range, and for girls, in the 8-13 range.
Don't listen to your child when they tell you they 100% do not need X for their uniform, as the chances are they do. Check with the school.
Also, don't trust your child if they tell you their trousers, shirt, or PE kit still fit. Even if they do it, they won't by the end of summer.
Be sure to check with parents of children in older grades to determine if you need to purchase all items listed on the school uniform lists. I guarantee you, kids going to secondary school won't ever wear PE sweatshirts or raincoats!
You will always need name tags, regardless of age, especially for PE Kits, coats, and jackets.
No matter how much planning you put into shopping for a school uniform, two weeks into term, you will be out shopping for an item you missed.

When it comes to where to head on the high street, it pays to shop around. Not only do prices differ, but so do fits and sizes. This is especially true for school trousers, which vary significantly from store to store for some reason.

School uniform comparison table:

*Prices vary by age and whether you use a loyalty card. Prices above are for children aged 10 and 11

Shop the high street uniform deals:

July is a fantastic time to buy school uniforms, as they are often cheaper, all sizes and fits are available, and you can complete everything before heading off on your summer holiday (one less thing to worry about for busy parents).

First, the bad news: usually around this point in the year, Marks and Spencer offers a 20 per cent discount in the 'Back to school sale', but this year, this isn't happening - although they have frozen prices on all school uniforms for the fifth consecutive year.

A huge plus with Marks and Spencer is that compared to all the other high street stores it offers the best range of fits (regular, skinny, slim, plus, and longer length), sizes (primary to teen and sixth form) and school colours (five different shades for PE shirts, cardigans, jumpers and sweatshirts).

My best buys here are:

Girls' Slim Fit pleats school skirt from £7
Two-pack stain-resistant school polo shirts from £4.50
Two-pack jersey school cardigan from £5
Two-pack sweatshirts from £6

Sadly, Tu at Sainsbury's, George at Asda and F&F at Tesco reached their peak early this year with their 20% off uniform offer, which ended in June. However, there are still multiple bargains at all stores:

At Sainsburys:

Hoodies from £4
A three-pack of white short-sleeve shirts for £4
Two-pack of knitted cardigans from £8
Two-pack of V-neck jumpers from £7

At Asda:

Two-pack short-sleeved polo shirts from £3
Two pack elasticated grey trousers from £7
Two-pack skater-style skirts from £7
School shoes from £10

At Tesco:

Two-pack sports shorts from £3
Two-pack sweatshirts from £4
Three-pack polo shirts from £4.50
Two-pack cardigans from £5

Also, the £5 bundles of uniform are now available at Aldi and Lidl. These sell out every year, but are worth buying if you can find any, as they consist of two polo shirts, a sweatshirt of your choice, and regular-fit trousers, skirts, or shorts.

Matalan offers very price-friendly teen school uniforms, with a current offer of 20% off orders over £40, making it a good place to head if, like me, you are shopping for more than one child. Good buys here include two-packs of shirts from £5 and two-packs of trousers from £11 (in a longer length).

Meanwhile, Primark, as always, remains the price-friendly go-to with a vast range of uniforms on offer this year. Uniform aside, they are perfect for bargain items such as PE kits, socks, tights, underwear, school bags, and lunchboxes.

Think about marketplaces and uniform swaps to save cash:

My biggest uniform money-saving tip is not to buy too many school clothes at the start of the year. Aside from the fact that it's a huge outlay, the chances are your child will grow, meaning it pays to shop smartly.

If you're buying a new uniform for transition to secondary school or reception, you'll likely only need 3-5 shirts, depending on your child's age (older children typically require more); two skirts or trousers; one blazer; and two jumpers.
Don't be afraid to ask parents in the year above what they feel is necessary uniform and what isn't. School uniform lists are robust, and you rarely need every item the school suggests.
With this in mind, look for second-hand expensive items, such as blazers, branded jumpers, and PE kits, on local Facebook groups, and also contact your school directly to see if they have any on sale.
It's also worth checking out your local charity shops for branded school items, as well as generic items like grey trousers, white shirts, and skirts. You'll be surprised at how much good uniform you'll find for bargain prices.

Vinted also have a huge uniform section where you'll find new items, many with tags for as little as:

Marks and Spencer trousers x 2 for £5
School skirts for £2
Pinafore sets for £4
Summer dresses for £1.50

It's also worth considering that approximately 12.5 million school uniforms are discarded into landfills every year. Much of this is due to kids growing out of them, wear and tear, and parents not knowing where to donate items.

If your school doesn't have a school uniform donation box or a second-hand uniform process, consider asking your school to set one up for the benefit of parental budgets and the environment.

Additionally, consider exploring the award-winning Uniformerly. This is an award-winning online school uniform marketplace where parents and PTAs can buy, sell, give away, and recycle outgrown school uniforms.

Swoperz is another option for those looking for uniforms. It's a pre-loved marketplace that helps children aged 6 to 16 swap clothes. It's the ideal place for school uniform swaps, as its Community of Kindness pledge enables free swaps of all school uniforms and sports kits.

Olio is a local sharing app that also serves as an excellent platform for recycling and finding free uniforms for schools in your area, as well as school accessories such as sports equipment, instruments, bags, and more.

Savvy savings on school shoes:

School shoe shopping has always been expensive, and that was before the cost-of-living crisis. Part of the problem is that growing feet require correctly fitted shoes that take into account size differences and widths, and branded shoes can be expensive.

Additionally, children's feet continue to grow throughout their development. According to Clarks, during their first three or four years, they can grow as much as two whole shoe sizes each year. By school age, this slows to about one full size yearly, but wear and tear becomes an issue by then.

Foot experts warn against self-fittings and online purchases, as they have seen an increase in ill-fitting and unfit-for-purpose shoes. You can avoid this by measuring your child's feet in any Clarks store. If you can't get to a store to be measured, Start-Rite sells a Plastic Measuring Gauge for £8.

The gauge measures the length and width of your child's feet to determine their Start-Rite shoe size. However, be aware that Start-Rite shoes measure half a size differently from Clarks. Also, always measure both feet (they can differ in size).

Start-Rite shoes tend to run half a size larger. If you use a Clarks measure but want to buy Start-Rite shoes, try selecting a size that is half a size smaller than your Clarks measurement.

Marks and Spencer also offers a kids' shoe-fitting service in many M&S stores. Their expertly trained fitters will measure the length and width of both feet and then help select a choice of shoes for your child to try. Book an appointment online.

The good news is that, while the emphasis is on branded shoes, it's not about where you buy them from, but rather knowing what makes an excellent, healthy shoe for kids' feet.

My top tips for buying cost-effective shoes include:

Shop closer to the start of the term (kids' feet grow significantly over the summer).
Take school socks along when you go to buy and try on shoes.
Go shopping in the afternoon, as your child's feet can swell.
Always check the shoe fitting when your child is standing.
Get them to walk in the shoes they are trying on.
Check their heels don't lift out of the shoes when they walk.
Ensure there is a moderate amount of growing space around all toes, but not too much, as excessive space can be bad for their feet. Kids' feet grow fast. Leave about 1 cm (0.4 inches) of space for growth.
Look for discounts. Many shoe shops are offering buy-one-get-one-half-price deals or discounts on trainers.
Scuff-resistant and water-repellent finishes help shoes withstand wear and tear.
If you know your kids tend to wreck their school shoes (like mine do), check parent reviews for brands known for their longevity (e.g., Clarks, Geox, Start-Rite).

If you're buying from a shop that doesn't do fittings, such as a supermarket, make the most of ASDA's 100-day satisfaction guarantee.

School shoes are covered, and the guarantee states that if you're not satisfied with your George clothing product, you can return it within 100 days with proof of purchase for an exchange or refund. If you've bought a pair of George school shoes and they're falling to bits within this time frame, take them back.

If you're buying from a place that doesn't offer fittings, ensure there's a return policy in place. Asda offers a 100-day satisfaction guarantee, and school shoes are covered as long as you have a valid proof of purchase.

Better still, try an outlet store such as Clarks Outlet, where you can currently find shoes at 70% off. Here, you can also find school shoes starting from £8.

MandMDirect has 65% off school shoes with prices starting from £11.99, Start-Rite outlet has shoes starting from £10, and Sports Direct has up to 70% off school shoes.

For teens, try the Office outlet Offcuts, and Deichmann, where shoes and trainers start from £15.

Half the price of PE Kits:

School PE kits are not only the most expensive school uniform items but also, annoyingly, the uniform most likely to be lost during the school year!

The problem is that nearly all secondary schools use branded PE items, asking parents to purchase items such as polo shirts, track pants, shorts, socks, football socks, trainers, and often sweatshirts. These six to seven items alone can add up to over £100 per child.

Add to these specialist items throughout the year, such as football boots, trainers your child outgrows, and a kit for when it gets wet. The price of PE kits is eye-watering.

My biggest money-saving tips here are:

Avoid branded items whenever possible, especially with trainers (though persuading your kids that this is the case can be challenging).
Label everything, including socks. PE kits get lost because they all look the same when kids are in the changing room.
Buy the kit only when necessary. Buying everything on the PE uniform list can be a waste of money, as not all kids will wear sweatshirts or shorts.
If your child isn't a football fan, buy football boots in charity shops, where there is always an abundance of barely used boots.
Look for sports equipment on Olio and Facebook. Inevitably, every year, someone's child gives up a sport, and the equipment is given away for free.
Size up with PE kits. These clothes are only worn for a few hours each week, so having them slightly bigger won't matter to kids.
If your child is not discouraged from buying branded items, consider shopping at Sports Direct, where you'll find bargains on everything from trainers to track pants.
Look out for discount codes at sports stores such as Adidas. At Adidas Outlet, you can get up to 50% off.
Nike Outlet offers 30% off trainers, as does the Soletrader Outlet.
If you know from experience (as I do) that one of your kids always loses their belongings, then consider doubling up on items like inexpensive joggers and trainers to avoid last-minute replacement purchases.

Be smart about school extras:

When budgeting for uniforms, remember to factor in all the school extras that can eat into your budget, such as school coats, multiple pairs of socks, school bags, lunch boxes, calculator sets, and stationery.

Some of my favourite buys can be found at:

TEMU, an excellent place for school essentials, is currently offering 90% off back-to-school supplies.
Another great find for back-to-school sales is Rymans, WHSmith and Argos. Look for multipacks of pens, cheaper maths sets, notebooks, rulers, pencils, rucksacks and lunch boxes.
Don't forget Amazon for their Prime Day bargains (8-11 July), many of which are 20% off. Shop here for back-to-school essentials, including tech, stationery, lunch boxes, and bags.
Apple has also launched its annual Back to School promotion, offering free accessories with qualifying purchases of Macs and iPads.
The Next sale and absolute treasure find for kids' clothing.
B&M stores also have a massive range of back-to-school essentials from £1, including ballpoint pens, notebooks, and pencil cases.
eBay - fantastic for socks and tights, as well as school bags and generic school uniforms.

For more significant expenses, such as school coats, many come on sale around mid-September. However, before this, you can still grab a bargain with last year's stock at MandMDirect. Here, you'll find raincoats starting at £7.99 and puffer coats and jackets starting at £17.99.

Decathlon is another excellent place to head for puffers (from £19.99), and also offers some fantastic deals on sportswear and items that you may need for school trips, such as waterproof trousers and warm winter layers.

Finally, my best tips on how to keep uniforms wearable for longer (and so save you money):

Name tags!!! Sewn-in name tags on clothes, PE kits, and name stickers in trainers and shoes can save you a bucket of money. Items get mixed up all the time when kids are in a rush and search through any lost property piles, and you'll see 90% of the uniform isn't tagged.
Invest in durable fabrics, such as reinforced knees and cotton shirts. These also withstand daily wear and frequent washing.
Repair instead of replace. Sew loose buttons, patch small holes, or reinforce seams before they worsen
Give your kids a uniform checklist every day - so you know right away what's been lost, left behind and ripped.
Buy bags, water bottles and lunch boxes that are a bit different from what's in vogue to avoid other kids accidentally taking the wrong item., Also, steer clear (if possible) of buying items that are branded with their favourite TV character. What they love in September, they won't love in January.
And finally, make sure your kids of all sizes change out of their clothes when they get home from school, to avoid the inevitable spills and stains that come with daily life.

For more deals on how to save money this summer, check out our posts on: The best student tech for all budgets , Amazon Prime Day 2025 | Savings expert reveals the smartest way to save big, Railcard discounts and how to save big and how to find the best bargains on eBay.