School uniform can be a costly expense for parents, so it pays to shop around for the cheapest deals.
From Aldi to Tesco and Sainsbury’s, we look at the cheapest supermarkets as schools reopen after the summer break.
The Schoolwear Association estimates parents and guardians pay £101.19 for school uniform for each of their children in secondary school.
To help with soaring costs, a new law has been passed which will tell schools to keep branded items to a minimum - meaning hard-up families can buy cheaper supermarket kit instead.
But the new The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill guidance won’t be published until autumn, meaning parents won’t benefit from lower prices for the upcoming school year.
Pupils are currently on their summer break and are due back to school next week.
Here we round up the cheapest school uniform deals.
Do keep in mind that stock is likely to be limited now the schools have reopened, but some sizes will still be available:
Aldi - £4.50
Aldi launched what it claimed to be the cheapest school uniform back in July, but its price has since been matched by Lidl.
The Aldi kit includes one sweatshirt (£1), two polo shirts (£1.75)and either a skirt (£1.75) or trousers (£1.75) for just £4.50.
Originally launched as part of a Specialbuys promotion, most of these items are now sadly sold out in stores - but you may still find some bits online.
Some products are still available online here. Keep in mind standard delivery on orders under £30 cost £2.95.
- Navy sweatshirt – £1
- Polo shirts x2 – £1.75
- Pleated skirt – £1.75
- Trousers – £1.75
Lidl - £4.50
Lidl shoppers could get their kids fully kitted out for school from just £4.50.
Its back to school range was available in stores from August 19, as part of the weekly Middle of Lidl promotions.
As it was part of Middle of Lidl, stock was limited and it is highly unlikely stores will still have anything in stock.
We'd recommend calling your local Lidl first to check what availability they have.
Like the Aldi range, you could get one sweatshirt (£1), two polo shirts (£1.75) and either trousers (£1.75), a skirt (£1.75) or shorts (£1.75) for £4.50.
Sadly, you can't buy Lidl school uniform online.
- Red or blue sweatshirt – £1
- Polo shirts x2 – £1.75
- Pleated skirt – £1.75
- Trousers – £1.75
- Shorts – £1.75
Poundland - £5.50
Yes, even Poundland is selling school uniform and its price for a bundle from its PEP&CO range start from £5.50.
For this price, you get one polo shirt (£1), one jersey skirt (£2.50) and one sweatshirt (£2).
Other items in the range include school trousers (£3).
You can only shop PEP&CO in stores, so you'll need to visit your nearest Poundland for these items of clothing.
Again, we suspect stock will be extremely limited - so check first to avoid disappointment.
- Polo shirt - £1
- Sweatshirt - £2
- Jersey skirt - £2.50
Morrisons - £11
At Morrisons, you can get a full school uniform for your little one from £11 - but only if you opt for a skirt over trousers.
Most of its school uniforms also come in packs of two, saving you having to keep washing their clothes if they're prone to getting messy.
The cheapest price of £11 is based on its pack of two coloured polo shirts (£2.50), two sweatshirts (£3.50) and a skirt (£5).
If you go for the trousers (£8) you'd pay £14 for a pack of two.
You can get Morrisons' uniform in stores now or online, but you'll pay £2.97 for delivery if you're an online shopper.
- Coloured polo shirts x2 - £2.50
- White polo shirts x3 - £3.95
- Sweatshirt x2 - £3.50
- Skirt - £5
- Trousers x2 - £8
Should school uniform be free or subsidized? Let us know in the comments below
Asda - from £12.50
Asda prices for its uniform are also based on size, so you'll pay less for younger pupils.
Its entire range also comes largely in packs of two, so again, you'll pay more but end up with more clothing.
We worked out the cheapest price for a full kit is £12.50 if you got the smallest sizes available in its pack of two polo shirts (from £2.50) its two sweatshirts (from £4) and either its two skirts (from £6) or pack of two trousers (from £6).
You can browse the Asda uniform range online now, where you'll pay £2.95 for delivery or free click and collect, or pick the items up in store.
- Polo shirts x2 (white and ten other colours available): £2.50 to £4.00
- Sweatshirts x2 (nine colours available): £4.00 to £8.00
- Skirts x2 (three colours available): £6 to £11
- Trousers x2 (four colours for boys and three for girls): £6.00 to £14.00
Sainsbury's - from £12.50
If you're a Sainsbury's shopper, you'll also be able to pick up a full school uniform kit from £12.50.
Again, this depends on if you pick up the smallest sizes, as bigger clothing will generally cost more.
The price of £12.50 is for the smallest size of its pack of three polo shirts (from £3.50), its two sweatshirts (from £4) and one skirt (from £5).
If you go for its pack of two trousers (from £7) the price would be from £14.50.
Sainsbury's school uniform kit is available in stores now, or you can buy it online but there is a £3.95 delivery charge.
- Polo shirts x3 - £3.50 to £6.50
- Sweatshirts x2 - £4 to £8
- Skirt - £5 to £7
- Trousers x2 - £7 to £11
Tesco - from £12.50
Tesco shoppers will also pay from £12.50 for a full school uniform kit - again, this is dependent on the sizes you pick up.
Again, its school uniform collection also comes in packs of two.
For the price of £12.50, you'll get two polo shirts (from £2.50), two sweatshirts (from £4) and two skirts (from £6) - or if you'd rather two trousers (from £7) the price would be £13.50.
Tesco says its uniform is only available in stores, so you can't buy it online.
- Polo shirts x2 - from £2.50
- Sweatshirts x2 - from £4
- Skirts x2 - from £6
- Trousers x2 - from £7
M&S - from £19
M&S comes in at the pricier end of the table, with it costing £19 for a full school uniform from the posh supermarket.
This price is again dependent on the sizes you pick up, with smaller garments being cheaper.
M&S shoppers can currently get two polo shirts (from £6), one sweatshirt (from £6) and a skirt (from £7) for £19 if you pick up the smallest sizes.
Or if you want trousers (from £9) the price would be £21.
Shop the M&S range in stores now or online. Delivery is £3.50 or you can click and collect to a store for free.
- Polo shirts x2 - £6-£11
- Sweatshirt - £6-£9
- Skirt - £7-£12
- Trousers - £9-£14
