Parents angry over school uniform rules
Angry parents of pupils at a Shropshire school which has changed its uniform are complaining that the price of the new clothes is too high and they have to travel 30 miles to buy some of them.
But the head teacher at Grove School, in Market Drayton, has insisted the school searched for the best deal and parents should be able to buy the uniform online if they can't get to Ashton-under-Lyme.
The blazer and skirt for girls must be bought from Smart School Uniform, in Newcastle.
Trousers can only be bought from Asda, Marks and Spencer, Smart School Uniform or Sport United in Market Drayton; the correct tie can be bought at the school and the PE kit is at Sport United in Shropshire Street.
The uniform is compulsory for all Year 7 and 10 students and from next September it will be rolled out to all pupils.
It has lead to complaints from parents that buying the uniform was too complicated.
Writing on the Drayton Crier Facebook page, Emma Loftus wrote: "The blazer and skirt are available in Newcastle, the ties at school and the sports kit in Sports United. The supplier should supply all and not bits and bobs."
Samantha Jefferies added: "Just buying the compulsory bits cost £91, without trousers and shirts."
Kristina Blundell said she struggled to get the correct blazer and Paul Brown described it as a 'silly situation.'
But head teacher Jane Radbourne said the process of changing to the new uniform was carefully considered.
She said: "Parents do not have to travel to Newcastle as they can order online or over the phone and purchases will be delivered to school for collection."
