When headteacher David Scales was asked what he wanted to prioritise in his budget for the improvement journey of his school, he was clear about one item that had to be near the top of the list: uniform. 

School uniform has come under some criticism recently, but for our Trust, it is a priority. So much so that at David’s school - Astrea Academy Woodfields in Doncaster - we have spent £70,000 giving it to Year 7 students for free and to cover the costs of additional branded items for students across other year groups. We also have a thriving uniform exchange for all ages - a full new uniform at Astrea Academy Woodfields costs around £80, and can be bought for far less through the exchange. 

We are not alone in this: nine in 10 schools have provided some form of uniform to pupils, according to a National Foundation for Educational Research report out today. 

I strongly believe that we have a responsibility to level the playing field for all children through all aspects of school life, including those differences that may look minor to adults but which can really reinforce the point of difference between those who can afford to have expensive school uniform items and those who cannot. 

I know this better than anyone as a child who spent their entire secondary years in a second-hand uniform but a uniform nonetheless that made me the equal of those around me.

By providing uniforms for free at Woodfields, we have made it possible for students to be appropriately dressed to come to school to learn. We do not want school to be a fashion parade, we do not want students competing on the latest brands (the thought of that makes my heart sink as I relive those school trips and own-clothes days of my childhood).

Providing school uniforms for free

The sad reality is that if a student does not feel they fit in from the perspective of the clothes they wear, this may be another factor on the list of reasons for not coming into school. We want children to come to school in appropriate clothing in line with the school’s rules. But if we are going to set this expectation, we have to do everything we can to remove economic barriers for children and their families by making uniform affordable and accessible for all. 

We also know that uniform helps to create a sense of belonging, a sense of community. 

My university professor once said to me that organisational culture is made up of three key factors: what you say, what you do, and what you see around you (the symbols of the culture you are trying to create). 

If you say that you have high standards, but appearances say otherwise, those standards will much harder to win and will slip quickly. 

Whenever branded school uniforms are discussed, the issue of cost is always raised - as it should be during a cost-of-living crisis. According to new research by The Children’s Society, parents and carers of secondary school children are paying an average of £422 for a school uniform. That is far beyond what we would expect in any of our schools. 

The way that we have funded this initiative at Woodfields is a good example of a trust harnessing efficiencies, and being able to release funds as a result, to meet the distinctive needs of one of its schools. All of our schools are at different development stages and serve different communities; our school leaders are best placed to know what they need to prioritise to address their school’s development needs. 

But in all our schools, we commit to affordable uniform. A full new uniform at Astrea Academy Woodfields costs about £80 - and can be bought for far less through our uniform exchange. Our branded school bag costs just £12.50, half of what many parents feel the pressure of pester-power to pay for a sportswear-branded equivalent. We also limit the amount of branded clothing: for instance, parents can buy a pack of five school shirts from the local supermarket for £10. When we say that a branded school uniform costs less than a non-branded uniform, we are confident that this is correct. 

Ultimately, as trust leaders, it is up to us to improve outcomes for every child irrespective of the circumstances they find themselves in - and personally, I am incredibly proud of the progress Astrea has made in the past academic year. Policies such as this leave a legacy, create belonging and make a tangible difference to those in real need. 

Rowena Hackwood is chief executive of Astrea Academy Trust