UK parents starving themselves to buy school uniforms that could poison their kids
New research shows families skip meals and freeze in their homes to pay for pricey school kits—only to discover uniforms laced with toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer
Back-to-school cash crunch
A survey of 2,000 parents carried out by the parenting charity Parentkind paints a bleak picture of families struggling to cope with the soaring costs of kitting their children out for the autumn term.
Almost half admitted they are worried about the spiralling expense of uniforms, while more than a quarter confessed they had gone without food or heating to cover the bill. Many parents are being forced into debt, with almost a half relying on credit cards and a third turning to Klarna-style delayed payment services.
For some, the bill for blazers, jumpers and PE kits can run to as much as £400, with many schools insisting on multiple branded items that can only be bought from specialist suppliers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has now issued an urgent plea for schools to act before a new law comes into effect in 2026, limiting the number of compulsory branded items to just three, plus a tie.
“School uniform matters but it shouldn’t break the bank. No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying a new blazer,” she said.
At present, some schools demand more than five, and in extreme cases up to ten, branded items—from blazers to sports tops—leaving parents with eyewatering costs.
Poisoned by forever chemicals
But while parents struggle to pay for these overpriced garments, another scandal has exploded: the uniforms themselves may be laced with toxic “forever chemicals” that could be poisoning our children.
Health campaigners have sounded the alarm over the use of Pfas—or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—used to make uniforms stain- and water-resistant. These super-durable chemicals don’t just cling to fabrics—they accumulate inside our bodies. Scientists warn they are linked to cancer, infertility, kidney disease, immune disorders and even birth defects.
Green peer Natalie Bennett issued a chilling warning: “We’re on a poisoned planet, and we’re poisoning our own bodies.”
One amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would see Pfas banned in uniforms altogether, along with a requirement for manufacturers to disclose every chemical they use via a digital product passport.
Another proposal would force action within a year against synthetic fibres that threaten children’s health or the environment.
And the threat goes far beyond chemicals. Studies reveal that synthetic uniforms made of polyester and nylon shed billions of microplastic fibres, not just in the wash but while being worn.
Just 20 minutes of wear can release up to 400 plastic fibres per gram of fabric—meaning children are quite literally breathing in plastic as they walk to class. These fibres have already been found in lungs, blood, breast milk and even the brain.
A double insult to mums and dads
Meanwhile, Jason Elsom of Parentkind blasted the “crushing cost” of sending children to school, saying the bills often soar into the thousands when uniforms, books, trips and laptops are included.
And yet, with all this hardship, families are being sold blazers laced with poison.
Parents are right to ask: how can it be that in Britain in 2025, ordinary mums and dads are being forced to choose between food and uniforms—only to discover those uniforms may be slowly killing their children?