Do school uniforms ‘build morale’ like a sports team or burn a hole in parents’ pockets? 

A new survey from Barnardos found primary school parents spent €119 on clothes this year, while secondary school parents spent €211. 

A big reason for the high costs is the personalised school crests on uniforms. 

As parents get their kids ready for school in September, some are calling for schools to loosen the rules on uniforms – if not abandon them completely. 

Irish Times columnist Jen Hogan said she is against unforms “in their current form” - overly formal and over-priced. 

“Buying jumpers and ties and polo shirts and tracksuits and shorts and jackets – and if they’re crested, that really adds up,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“We still have small children going around in shirts, ties, slacks. 

“This [formal dress] went out with the pandemic and as adults, we’re not going around like that – but we are still making young children dress like that.” 

Aontú education spokesperson and assistant principal Eric Nelligan said the costs of school uniforms are often exaggerated. 

He noted that a uniform for his own children’s primary school is €41, while in secondary school it’s €72. 

“If your child is in school for 200 days of the school year and you have two sets of uniforms, that comes to 80 or 90 quid for primary and 150 or so for secondary,” he said. 

He also noted children can simply be “lazy” or uncooperative - and uniforms help with that. 

“My middle child is a bit of a drama queen – we had plenty of arguments in pre-school over what clothes to wear,” he said. 

“At least now in primary school, here's a uniform, here’s a tracksuit.” 

School uniforms and 'sensory needs'

Ms Hogan said even if you have strict school uniforms, there will still be a “fashion parade” and children stressed about how to accessorise and style themselves.

“We’re not going to remove that completely,” she said. “Children are going to be still in their own clothes outside of school.” 

She also noted these uniforms can be detrimental to children’s “sensory needs”. 

“If you're a child with sensory needs, there’s no escape if a tie is bothering you or that stiff material in the clothes.” 

A group of school children walking in their uniforms. Image: PjrTravel / Alamy Stock Photo

She said removing school uniforms – or making them more casual – will help far more children be comfortable in their environment. 

Mr Nelligan said uniforms also help students “buy into the sense of school community”. 

“Like any team, they try and build morale and a sense of belonging around a colour or a badge or a uniform,” he said. 

“It’s the same as any club or team you support.” 

Ms Hogan said as a child, her “snot green” uniform never boosted her morale. 

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