A SECONDARY school has pledged to provide free branded school uniforms for September’s new Year 7 students, to help families facing difficulties in the cost-of-living crisis.
Smith’s Wood Academy, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust (FMAT), has announced that all incoming Year 7 children will receive a blazer, tie and PE top – the school’s only branded uniform items – for free.
Additionally, all new Year 7s will receive a stationery startup kit – complete with scientific calculator, mathematical equipment, highlighters and gluesticks – and parents will be given a discount on any other uniform items at the Clive Marks store supplying the items.
This scheme is being lead by Jenna Butcher, the school’s Primary Liaison and Head of Year 6 Transition, who has already been visiting local primary schools to meet potential new students and help them and their families prepare for ‘big school’.
Jenna said: “The cost of living is a lot for parents, and there’s a big jump in costs from primary to secondary. We want pupils to feel excited to be part of our school, and parents to feel supported.
“We already visit local primary schools to ease the transition for future students, so the free uniform and stationery scheme is another way to support the incoming students and their families.”
The scheme has had an overwhelmingly positive response from parents and the local community.
Principal, Stephen Huntington, said: “Smith’s Wood is a school that is at the heart of the community it serves, and we want to support local families as best as we can.
“We know that when children transition from their primary schools to ‘big’ school the cost of a uniform can be significant for their families, so we’re delighted to be able to support them in this way.”
