Parents of children heading to secondary school in September have revealed their anxieties over uniform prices during the cost of living crisis.
Lab coats, cricket caps and socks carrying a school's initials are just some of the items some parents might find on uniform lists for many state and independent schools across the country... alongside staples such as blazers, shirts and shoes.
Distinctive designs, logos on garments and strict rules on skirts and trousers ensure that parents often can't opt for cheaper alternatives available on the high street.
The average cost of a state school secondary school uniform is currently £337, with one UK uniform charity telling the BBC this week that demand for free uniforms has risen dramatically.
