Parents spend hundreds of pounds every year on their children’s schooling, according to research by the Department for Education and Skills.
The average amount spent was £736 per child, varying from an average of £563 for primary school pupils and £948 for secondary school pupils.
Meals during the school day took up a significant proportion of these costs. On average parents spent £1.66 per day on school meals, with the annual average amounting to £316. School uniform and PE kit cost an average of £225, while travel to school cost just over £7 a week.
The Child Poverty Action Group said that the costs were a “day to day pressure” for parents from low income households.
“Many low income families will not be able to afford to spend over £200 on school uniforms let alone £180 for residential trips or £78 for a new PE kit. We would encourage schools and local education authorities to reduce the costs where possible for visits and extras,” said chief executive Kate Green.
The Cost of Schooling from http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RB588.pdf