School change in England will save parents £785 and kicks in this week Parents are having to pay £442 on average to kit a child out for secondary school, and £343 for primary school, putting unnecessary financial pressure on families. Parents are having to pay £442 on average to kit a child out for secondary school, and £343 for primary school, putting unnecessary financial pressure on families. A big school uniform shake-up means parents of over 4 million children are set to benefit from lower costs. Parents are having to pay £442 on average to kit a child out for secondary school, and £343 for primary school, putting unnecessary financial pressure on families. That's a whopping £785 in total. To cut those costs for families and break down barriers as part of the government’s Plan for Change, new proposed laws will limit the number of branded, typically more expensive, items schools can require to 3 - excluding ties. ‌ Labour Party government Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: "Looking smart at school shouldn’t cost the earth, and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie. ‌ READ MORE Exactly how hot each day this week will be as 29C mini-heatwave sizzles UK "Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year, and make sure family finances have no bearing on children’s time at school. Article continues below "This bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our Plan for Change." Data shows parents of an estimated 4.2 million pupils across 8,000 schools will have more flexibility to choose where they purchase their school uniform with the introduction of the cap. Lynn Perry MBE, CEO of Barnardo’s, said: "Barnardo’s welcomes the cap to the number of branded uniform items required by schools. Article continues below "It cannot be right that children are going to school wearing ill-fitted clothes or shoes due to the high cost of uniforms – but, as high prices continue to impact families, it’s yet another essential item that parents are struggling to afford. "We look forward to seeing even bolder action in the upcoming child poverty strategy to tackle the number of children growing up in poverty." This government is determined to deliver on its Plan for Change to break the link between background and success – because a child’s background should not be what shapes their future.