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Are school logos on uniform necessary? That’s the question being put to schools as part of a Welsh Government consultation launched this week.

The main aim of the consultation, which is running until November 28, is to look into ways to make school uniforms more affordable amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Options being considered to ease the cost on parents include scrapping logos on uniform or the use of ‘iron on logos’ being made available free of charge – giving families the option to buy uniform for cheaper from a retailer of their choice.

Wales’ Education Minister Jeremy Miles, who launched the consultation, said the Welsh Government is “doing everything we can to support families during the cost-of-living crisis”.

He said: “I know that a lot of schools work hard to keep the cost of their uniforms to a minimum. However, there are still too many instances where families are being expected to spend eye-watering amounts just to send their children to school.

“We are launching this consultation so that we can take further action in order to support families.”

Parents, headteachers, school staff, governing bodies and uniform suppliers are being urged to take part in the consultation.

It will also seek opinions on whether schools should enter into single supplier contracts, as wells as views on recycling and exchange schemes.

Mother-of-two Lisa Watkins, from Caerphilly, runs her own uniform exchange scheme to help bring costs down for families. She welcomed the consultation and said: “It’s very positive – people should be having a say on this.

“I hope parents affected will fill out the forms and have their say.”

Caerphilly Uniform Exchange

Caerphilly Uniform Exchange is a community interest company (CIC) set up and run by Lisa Watkins.

The scheme gives parents the chance to swap used school uniform for larger sizes, as well as buy uniform and PE kits for just 10% of the original cost all year round.

Lisa has a range of branded and non-branded uniform and PE kits, as well as trainers, shoes and even sports equipment such as boots.

Donated uniform can be bought for a voluntary donation of around 10% of the original cost of the items, with the funds going towards keeping the scheme running.

Currently based in her living room, Lisa is set to move the exchange into a unit in Lansbury Park in the coming weeks, having had a “phenomenal response” to her scheme.

Lisa, who is originally from Caerphilly, was inspired to start the scheme while working for a charity across the border in Hereford.

“I could see people were struggling with Universal Credit. I noticed a lot of people would be coming to the charity I worked with for school uniforms too.

“I originally wrote the project for Herefordshire, but moved back to Caerphilly again in 2020. There was no demand for uniform at the time because of Covid.”

Having moved her children from Caerphilly to Ludlow in Worcestershire, then over to Hereford and back to Caerphilly, Lisa said her children had been through “loads” of uniform and was well aware of how expensive official school uniform suppliers can be.

She contacted Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Caerphilly Cares team, who she said were interested in her project. She has also been working with local schools to identify who is most in need of uniform.

“People can swap their uniform for the next size up for free, or buy uniform for a voluntary donation, which is a 90% discount – meaning a £35 blazer can be bought for £3.50.

“I’m looking to bring comprehensive school starter prices down from around £300 to £30. These are huge savings for families.”

The scheme covers primary and secondary schools across the Caerphilly basin, Aber Valley and up as far as Llanbradach, as well as over to Nantgarw.

“People are already losing items of uniform or PE kits. There’s also Ukrainian families coming over who might need uniform.

“There’s also sports equipment such as boots because some kids miss out on sport because of the costs involved.”

Lisa is also looking to rent out promwear for around £20 or £30 through her scheme, as well as fancy dress costumes, Christmas jumpers and more – and highlighted the positive environmental impact second-hand clothing schemes can have.