Parents across Oxfordshire have had their say on whether school uniforms are needed amid fears over the cost and bullying.

We asked our readers if they thought uniforms should be banned and there was a large response from more than 100 people.

The overall majority of parents who responded agreed that uniform is a vital part of the education system as it "promotes unity, equality and a conducive learning environment".

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But others argue that school uniform is "unnecessary and extremely overpriced".

One parent Meggy Robertson said: “It would be great if schools could adopt a system for handing in donated outgrown clothes for free to kids who need them, rather than making a profit by selling them.”

Another Oxfordshire parent, Sam Masterman, said that uniform “should be made available to buy in all supermarkets cheaper” and patches should be made “so we can buy cheaper blazers/suit jackets and stick them on there".

This is because uniforms are pricier if the logo is already on the clothes. 

In March 2020, The Children’s Society estimated that the average cost of a school uniform is now £340, as stated in The Guardian.

In comparison, the shoe wear brand Wynsors, carried out a survey to find out what the average price of school uniform is today.

The brand found that 78 per cent of parents are spending over £100 per school year on school uniform, with more than half of these (57 per cent) admitting to forking out up to £249.

Altogether parents could be spending anywhere between £1,100 and £2,739 on new school uniform per child over the entire period they attend school.

The Education Hub said the price of school uniform will “inevitably vary, but fundamentally no school uniform should be so expensive that it leave pupils and their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice due to the cost of the uniform”.

Another issue which raises concern among Oxfordshire parents is the rise of bullying, racial discrimination and socio-economic divisions if uniform was to be eradicated.

One parent Carol Robinson said: “Uniform is the best. That way, everyone looks the same and there no discrimination.”

It comes as Ruby Williams won a pay-out of £8,500 in the Hackney area of London in February 2020 after her parents sued her school for racial discrimination after she was sent home for having an afro.

The basic idea of a uniform dates back to the 16th century where it was used to emphasise "identity, equality and a sense of belonging and comradeship" within schools.