PREPARING for the new school year has always been an expensive task for parents, not least with the ongoing financial struggles associated with the cost of living crisis. 

On social media, we asked whether we should scrap school uniforms and let children wear their own clothes instead.

But our readers, overwhelmingly, were against the idea.

Barbara Ward Markham said: "No, uniform is what it is. It's to make the children all wear the same so there is none of the bullying that goes on with normal clothes."

She added: "It's the price that's the problem!"

Niki Foster agreed, and said school is the "one place where they are all dressed equal without labels and designer tags".

Su Harrison added: "Wearing a uniform teaches children to dress smartly and take pride in themselves."

Some readers said while they don't believe uniforms should be scrapped, they should be relaxed.

Tracey Ronan Galbraith said: "They should wear uniform but instead of having a logo on they should be able to wear plain jumpers etc."

However, a few readers disagreed and said uniforms should be axed completely.

Keren Gudmunsen said: "They should do away with them, barely any other country in the world wears them and their social issues are no different to ours - and there is certainly no stigma.

"In fact, many of the school children literally throw on leggings/joggers and t-shirts and scruffy trainers and have zero interest in what other kids wear as it’s always been that way. Poverty/wealth is all around us, and a uniform really does not stop bullying or equality issues."

Raymond Harrison said: "We didn’t have school uniforms at our school 70 years ago and we survived."

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