The Winston Churchill School in Woking has established its own uniform shop to offer clothing at cost price, a move designed to alleviate financial pressure on families. Parents can purchase items, including skirts, ties, and physical education kits, without any markup.
Head teacher Zoe Johnson-Walker stated that this initiative has already resulted in a £20 reduction for school blazers compared to the previous year. The school has been working for a couple of years to lower uniform expenses. This effort coincides with updated government guidelines mandating that secondary schools limit branded uniform items to three, plus a branded tie, for the 2026-27 academic year. The Department for Education estimates these new rules could save parents up to £50.
A spokesperson for the Department for Education commented that the changes address parental feedback for fewer expensive branded items, emphasizing that "School uniform matters, but it shouldn't break the bank."
Initially, the school considered removing branded blazers due to their cost, but a significant demand from parents led to a negotiation with the supplier. This negotiation allowed the school to offer blazers with the school badge at no additional cost to parents. Branded PE tops have been discontinued, with the school now offering plain black PE shirts in its shop following parent requests. Johnson-Walker noted that the school aims to maintain standards, viewing uniform as a "levelling" factor.
The school's approach focuses on providing essential uniform items directly to families at the price it costs the institution, aiming to make uniforms more accessible and affordable. The shop operates both online and on-site, facilitating ease of access for parents.