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WQ.384/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER 2020
Question
Will the Minister advise what support, if any, is available for families who are struggling financially to afford school uniform, including wider school equipment such as P.E. kit, given that this can total at least £250 in secondary schools, and is it the Minister's assessment that any measures currently in effect are meeting the needs of those families?
Answer
Families with a low income may be able to get help with uniform costs and information on this is available on gov.je
https://www.gov.je/Education/Schools/SchoolLife/Pages/SchoolUniform.aspx
Primary Schools
Variety - the Children's Charity of Jersey, who are totally funded by donations, provide very generous and welcome support for families who apply to them for financial assistance with school uniform purchases. In 2019 they spent a total of £14,697 supporting school clothes and shoes purchases. In 2020 they have spent £8,314 and although they received a similar number of requests, they have had to limit their support in this area due to other factors.
Secondary Schools
For families with secondary school aged children attending Government of Jersey provided 11-16 schools, application forms can be obtained from the school requesting support for essential items of secondary school uniform and school shoes, including essential P.E. kit. However, funding for training shoes and tracksuits is not given. For students attending other GoJ secondary schools the application can be made to the Education Welfare Team.
Each secondary school receives an amount of funding annually from the Education Department's budget of £6,000 based on the number of students attending the school and the percentage of students requiring uniform.
School | Annual Sum |
Grainville | £1,024 |
Haute Vallee | £1,448 |
Le Rocquier | £1,840 |
Les Quennevais | £1,088 |
An additional £600 is held centrally by the Education Welfare Team for requests made in relation to unform for other schools.
Minister's Assessment
Schools have autonomy to make decisions about uniform requirements for their students and the allocation of any funds they use to provide support. The Minister is not aware that the current support from charity or Government funding is not meeting the needs of families.