PARENTS are furious with rising school uniform prices as they prepare to send their children back to school amid a cost-of-living crisis.

On average, parents with children in state schools spent £337 per year on school uniform for each secondary school child, and £315 per year for each primary school child, according to research by The Children's Society in 2020

And more than half of parents in the UK are buying second-hand items to bring down the cost of clothes, accessories and supplies, according to a new study by research platform quantilope.

Echo readers say they too are feeling the pinch over the cost of school uniform as the first day back in class approached.

“My granddaughter school will only except brand name uniform so the cost has been much higher plus they give u a huge list of things to buy that they never use,” Lisa Bunch said.

“It's about time the secondary schools stopped this crap.”

Kelly Tower said: “I have one starting secondary and two in primary and I’ve spent just over £650.

“The blazers are £40 each and the PE kit, football boots trainers and shoes all cost a bloody fortune!”

“Maybe parents need to get together and form a Parents Association then refuse to buy it,” Sue Cooper suggested.

Reader Linda Blake added: “It does depend on what the school’s rules are on having to use certain outfitters.

“Hopefully these minority of schools are changing their rules. Everyone should be allowed to use high street brands.”

However, reader Jayne Louise agrees the cost of uniform is “expensive” but added “we had the children, so it is what it is…

“We don’t think twice about giving them an iPhone or a pair of trainers that cost £100 or more.”

Southend Council is considering setting up school uniform hubs offer parents cheaper alternatives as councillors move to to help struggling households with soaring bills.

The proposal was discussed at an emergency cost-of-living crisis meeting last week.

There was cross party support for a working party to be set up to work with the voluntary sector to help people struggling financially.

"The return to school this year for many parents and children will be very different as people struggle to meet the cost of what is often an expensive time of year," Alex Hall, associate director of research consulting at quantilope, said.

"The new term means new uniform, shoes, PE kit, and other equipment, often at inflated prices. While supermarkets do offer cheaper plain versions of school uniforms, it's clear from our research that more parents will be using charity shops, free sharing platforms and even so-called 'uniform banks' to buy what they need."