From Morrisons to Debenhams, we rate all the school uniform ranges available on the high street — but who gets top marks?

OK, the hols haven’t even started yet but now is the time to grab the best deals on school uniforms.  Aldi and Lidl are going head-to-head in their annual price war this Thursday.

And luckily for us, the supermarkets’ battle of the bargains means we can pick up a shirt, jumper, trousers or skirt for a fiver at Aldi and from £4.50 at Lidl.

Doing the scoring this year, with marks out of 10, are Caitlin O’Connor, seven, and her mum Sam Tripp, 31, a beautician from Oxford, plus Connor O’Flynn, six, and his granddad Neil O’Flynn, 63, a plumber from South London.

Debenhams

GIRLS ­ – £61.50

• Puff-sleeve shirt, £9 for pack of two –
• Pinafore, £16 –
• Black tights, £6.50 for pack of two –
• Black patent pumps, £30 –

Caitlin: “These are definitely my favourite shoes. The patent is good as they do not show scuffs as much. I like the pinafore, too.”

Sam: “Straight away you can tell the difference with quality and fit. This pinafore has a lot more shape to it than Aldi’s and the bow on the front is a nice touch.

“The puff-sleeves make the shirt look more expensive and though it is a little pricier, you know it will definitely last.”

BOYS – £52

• Shirt, £6 for pack of two –
• Sleeveless jumper, £5 –
• Trousers, £11 for two –
• Leather lace-up shoes, £30 –

Connor: “This is my favourite jumper. I really like that it doesn’t have sleeves, so I feel more free.”

Neil: “Connor looks very smart in this outfit. Sleeveless jumpers are a great idea for both summer and winter months – they are less restrictive.

“The shoes are a little pricier but they are real leather, so they will be pretty hardwearing. They are also a nice style, which means that Connor could definitely wear them to formal occasions as well as just using them for school.”

Marks: 10/10

Aldi

GIRLS – £19.96

• Shirt, £2.49 for two  –
• Jersey pinafore, £6.99 for two  –
• White socks, £3.49 for five –
• Leather shoes, £6.99 –

Caitlin: “I had these shoes for school and liked them a lot. They lasted ages too.”

Sam: “This looks great. The pinafore has shape, which makes it look like a good fit, and the fabric is really soft. I am surprised at how cheap it is because it looks and feels like it should be a lot more money.

“The shirt is very basic, with no detailing. It feels quite thin too. But as they are so cheap, they are worth buying. School uniform gets grubby quick.”

BOYS – £10.99

• Blue polo top, £1.75 for pack of two  –
• Navy trousers, £2.25  –
• Leather shoes, £6.99  – 
• Red football cones, £12.99 –

Connor: “I prefer polo tops to shirts. They are quicker and easier to get on.”

Neil: “Aldi has upped its game when it comes to school uniforms, making it a great place to go for value.

“I can’t see it lasting the year but the quality is good enough to send your kid to school in. It is basic but practical. The quality of each item is good.”

Marks: 9/10

TU at Sainsburys

GIRLS – £47

• Long sleeve shirt, £8 for two  –
• Jumper, £8 for two –
• Skirt, £8 for two  –
• Grey tights, £9 for five –
• Lace-up shoes, £14 –

Caitlin: “You can just pull the skirt on without having to do up any zips or buttons, which is easy, and it has a butterfly charm on, which I like. The shirt has heart buttons too.”

Sam: “Shirts no longer have to be basic and I like that this one is still affordable yet is fitted with detailing up the centre panel. The skirt is in a nice stretchy fabric which looks like it doesn’t really need ironing.

“Although the shoes are a little bulky-looking and look more like trainers, they seem hard-wearing.”

BOYS – £41

• Shirt, £8 for three –
• Burgundy jumper, £8 for two –
• Shorts, £7 for two –
• Leather shoes, £18 –
• Green Tega chairs, £149 for two –

Connor: “I love the shoes. They have dinosaurs on and fit well.”

Neil: “Cargo shorts with pockets are always convenient for young kids, making these both practical and smart.The fit for the jumper and shirt is spot-on too, with a bit of room for growth yet not drowning him.”

Marks: 7.5/10

George at Asda

GIRLS – £31.50

• Shirt, £3 –
• Cardigan, £6 –
• Skirt, £6 –
• Socks, £3.50 for ten –
• Shoes, £13 –

Caitlin: “The polo top is as soft as a fluffy blanket! I like the frilly details on the buttons.”

Sam: “This skirt came up big on Caitlin’s waist but the adjustable buttons mean you can take it in. I love the frills on the polo top and the cardigan is nice, too, though the cheap fabric means it might shrink after a few washes.”

BOYS – £24.50

• Shirt, £3 –
• Jumper, £4 –
• Trousers, £3.50 – 
• Shoes, £13 –
• World globe, £39.00 –

Connor: “The shoes are cool, I like Velcro as I don’t have to do up my laces.”

Neil: “I never realised how much of a bargain George at Asda was – the whole outfit is easy on the pocket.

“The V-neck jumper feels comfortable and warm, a good option for kids that have to wear ties to school. Although the trousers are a little long, the adjustable waist means they can be worn now and last longer

Marks: 7/10

Lidl

GIRLS – £11.47

• Gingham school dress, £2.49 –
• Socks, £1.99 –
• Lather school shoes, £6.99 –

Caitlin: “Summer dresses are my favourite, I like the lace on this one.”

Sam: “The lace trim and detailing on this dress makes it look a lot more expensive than it actually is. The quality of it is good, too. The material is a lot thicker than it looks, so it shouldn’t rip. It doesn’t look cheap or from Lidl at all.”

BOYS – £14.47

• Shirt, £2.49 –
• Jumper, £1.50 –
• Shorts, £1.50 –
• Socks, £1.99 –
• Shoes, £6.99 –

Connor: “The shirt is a little see-through, I think.”

Neil: “The shirt is quite thin. It would be a better option for being worn under a jumper. But the jumper is soft and comfortable. It’s good you can pick up shorts and not just trousers.”

Marks: 6.5/10

Morrisons

GIRLS – £28.50

• Butterfly polo top, £4 –
• Pinafore, £5 –
• Green cardigan, £5 –
• White knee-high socks  £2.50 –
• Shoes, from £12 –

Caitlin: “I would wear the polo top with butterfly pocket but the dress is nothing special.”

Sam: “Compared to Debenhams’ pinny, this one doesn’t have much shape to it at all. It just goes straight down. You can tell it is a basic style with not much going on. But having said that, it is a good length and the butterfly details are sweet.”

BOYS – £24.50

• Polo top, from £2.50 –
• Blue jumper, £3 –
• Grey trousers, £7 –
• Shoes, from £12 –
• Coloured marker cones, £13.99 –

Connor: “The jumper is bit big on me but the inside is super-soft.”

Neil: “The uniform is a little long on Connor, both the jumper and trousers, but at least he’ll grow into it. A good jumper for winter, as the inside is fleecy and warm, although it doesn’t look as smart as some others. The polo top feels like it is made from a good, long-lasting fabric, so they are definitely worth picking up.”

Marks: 4/10

M & S

GIRLS – £55

• Puff-sleeve shirt, £11 –
• Culottes, £9 –
• Socks, £5 for five –
• Lace-up brogues, £30 –

Caitlin: “I was not sure of the culottes at first, but I guess they would be good for doing hand- stands in. I love the socks, though, as they have hearts on.”

Sam: “The shirt is pretty enough to wear without a cardigan, which is great for warmer days. Culottes are a great idea for girls, they can be more care-free in them. The lace-up brogues are smart and can be worn outside of school, too. A practical outfit.”

BOYS – £67

• Shirt, £9 for three –
• Jumper, £9 –
• Slim leg shorts, £10 –
• Socks, £7 for seven –
• Shoes, £32 –
• Blue foam football, £6.45 –
• Blue exercise books, £14.99 for £25 –

Connor: “I can fasten the top button on this shirt as it is Velcro.”

Neil: “I like that the chino shorts have more of a fitted shape to them – they are a good length, too. M&S is always reliable on quality and a good place to go for shirts. This one feels sturdy and long-lasting. Velco shoes are also handy with kids and these look hard-wearing.”

Marks: 8.5/10

If value for money is what your after here is where you can find uniforms for just £7:50.

One school is considering banning girls from wearing skirts.

Boys at another school have been told they can’t wear shorts this summer.