This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyqyzpp0rvo
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| NI education: Sports kits push prices 'up and up and up' | NI education: Sports kits push prices 'up and up and up' |
| (1 day later) | |
| Kerri Denvir has two children aged five and nine | Kerri Denvir has two children aged five and nine |
| Branded school sports kits have driven up the cost of school uniform and "ruined the reputation" of sellers, a retailer has said. | Branded school sports kits have driven up the cost of school uniform and "ruined the reputation" of sellers, a retailer has said. |
| Jan Buchanan told MLAs in Stormont's Education Committee that many parents were now paying more for their child's physical education (PE) kit than for their uniform. | Jan Buchanan told MLAs in Stormont's Education Committee that many parents were now paying more for their child's physical education (PE) kit than for their uniform. |
| She was one of a number of retailers who gave evidence to the committee about proposed laws to limit the price of school uniforms. | She was one of a number of retailers who gave evidence to the committee about proposed laws to limit the price of school uniforms. |
| One parent told BBC News NI that items often had to be replaced throughout the year, and that costs were "going up, and up, and up". | |
| Kerri Denvir has two children in primary school in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. | Kerri Denvir has two children in primary school in Newtownabbey, County Antrim. |
| "They just don't last and they're growing out of them very quickly," Ms Denvir said. | "They just don't last and they're growing out of them very quickly," Ms Denvir said. |
| "They fall in the playground and get a hole in the joggers, and that's another £20. You're constantly having to replace things," she said. | "They fall in the playground and get a hole in the joggers, and that's another £20. You're constantly having to replace things," she said. |
| "Sometimes there will be a deal in August, but when you go in during the winter to replace it the price has gone up. | "Sometimes there will be a deal in August, but when you go in during the winter to replace it the price has gone up. |
| "It's not two or three pounds, it's a significant amount of money, and the cost goes up maybe £20 or £30 a year." | "It's not two or three pounds, it's a significant amount of money, and the cost goes up maybe £20 or £30 a year." |
| As well as a maximum price limit, Education Minister Paul Givan also said that there could be a limit on the number of branded items, such as PE kits, a school could ask parents to buy. | As well as a maximum price limit, Education Minister Paul Givan also said that there could be a limit on the number of branded items, such as PE kits, a school could ask parents to buy. |
| The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill is currently being scrutinised by the education committee. | The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill is currently being scrutinised by the education committee. |
| 'Exceptionally difficult' | 'Exceptionally difficult' |
| Tina Mellon says branded PE kits make it "exceptionally difficult" for parents | Tina Mellon says branded PE kits make it "exceptionally difficult" for parents |
| Tina Mellon, a single mother-of-three, said the rising cost of uniforms was "exceptionally difficult to manage". | Tina Mellon, a single mother-of-three, said the rising cost of uniforms was "exceptionally difficult to manage". |
| She told BBC News NI that her son, who is in primary school, requires a branded PE kit as well as his main school uniform. | She told BBC News NI that her son, who is in primary school, requires a branded PE kit as well as his main school uniform. |
| "I feel many unbranded items would be just as acceptable, particularly for primary school children and most certainly for physical activity," she said. | "I feel many unbranded items would be just as acceptable, particularly for primary school children and most certainly for physical activity," she said. |
| Liam Charlton-Killen is the founder of Ethical Schoolwear in County Down | Liam Charlton-Killen is the founder of Ethical Schoolwear in County Down |
| Liam Charlton-Killen is the founder of Ethical Schoolwear, an online school uniform shop based in County Down. | Liam Charlton-Killen is the founder of Ethical Schoolwear, an online school uniform shop based in County Down. |
| He said he has a "foot in both camps" because he also has a child in secondary school. | He said he has a "foot in both camps" because he also has a child in secondary school. |
| He told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that the uniform his son wears for "95% of the time" cost £150 in total while his PE kit was nearly £200 and "only available from a single supplier". | He told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme that the uniform his son wears for "95% of the time" cost £150 in total while his PE kit was nearly £200 and "only available from a single supplier". |
| "I think having a monopoly definitely benefits some retailers," he said. | |
| He said suppliers and schools both had a role to play in bringing prices down. | |
| "I think we can show that people have a choice of supplier so that there is competition and those suppliers have to fight for parents' hard earned money," he said. | |
| "They should be competing against each other to win business and that will help to keep prices down." | "They should be competing against each other to win business and that will help to keep prices down." |
| Sinn Féin MLA and education spokesperson Pat Sheehan said parties must work together to ensure legislation to make school uniforms affordable is fit for purpose. | Sinn Féin MLA and education spokesperson Pat Sheehan said parties must work together to ensure legislation to make school uniforms affordable is fit for purpose. |
| In a statement he described future legislation as "game changing" and that "urgent action" was needed to cut costs for families. | In a statement he described future legislation as "game changing" and that "urgent action" was needed to cut costs for families. |
| 'Northern Ireland falls short' | 'Northern Ireland falls short' |
| During the committee hearing on Wednesday, the retailers called for a three-year "window" before any new law took effect. | During the committee hearing on Wednesday, the retailers called for a three-year "window" before any new law took effect. |
| Alastair McCall from McCalls of Lisburn told MLAs that, otherwise, the new law could make "bankruptcies and mass redundancies a very real possibility". | Alastair McCall from McCalls of Lisburn told MLAs that, otherwise, the new law could make "bankruptcies and mass redundancies a very real possibility". |
| Francesca Cahillin from Truly Fare in Belfast told MLAs that the current school uniform grant for low-income families in Northern Ireland was much lower than in Wales or Scotland. | Francesca Cahillin from Truly Fare in Belfast told MLAs that the current school uniform grant for low-income families in Northern Ireland was much lower than in Wales or Scotland. |
| "By comparison Northern Ireland falls short," she said. | "By comparison Northern Ireland falls short," she said. |
| Ms Buchanan from Warnock's in Belfast said "school uniforms themselves haven't actually changed, what has changed is the introduction of compulsory branded sports kits". | Ms Buchanan from Warnock's in Belfast said "school uniforms themselves haven't actually changed, what has changed is the introduction of compulsory branded sports kits". |
| "As you know these are provided exclusively by sports companies who've negotiated a monopoly on the supply of these items," she said. | "As you know these are provided exclusively by sports companies who've negotiated a monopoly on the supply of these items," she said. |
| "Consequently, this has raised the price of uniforms as a whole, ruined the reputation and negatively impacted the small family businesses." | "Consequently, this has raised the price of uniforms as a whole, ruined the reputation and negatively impacted the small family businesses." |
| Ms Buchanan gave an example of an unnamed school where she said the uniform cost £86.90 in total while the compulsory PE kit came to £198.70. | Ms Buchanan gave an example of an unnamed school where she said the uniform cost £86.90 in total while the compulsory PE kit came to £198.70. |
| A consultation on the proposed new law attracted 7,500 responses, and many parents expressed opposition to schools requiring pupils to wear PE kit made by a particular brand. | A consultation on the proposed new law attracted 7,500 responses, and many parents expressed opposition to schools requiring pupils to wear PE kit made by a particular brand. |