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SCHOOL'S OUT
M&S axes key school uniform item leaving parents fuming – where you can buy it instead
Families are worried about where they will buy their school uniforms after a number of retailers do not stock the crucial item
PARENTS have complained to M&S for withdrawing brown school trousers from their uniform range this year.
The decision has left some families stuck for where to buy their kids’ clothes for school after the summer.
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M&S said it has stopped stocking the item due to a lack of demand, even though some schools insist on kids wearing them.
One angry parent said on X: “Why do you no longer make brown school trousers? Lots of us school mums really struggling to find any! Please help!!
“Let’s hope your team can help! You would be helping a LOT of stressed parents!”
Another responded to her: “Completely agree… Marks and Spencer’s was the go to for the parents in our school.
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“Very difficult to find brown school clothing anywhere now. Particularly girls, skirts, tights and socks. Also brown active wear….boys joggers, shorts for PE days would really help.”
Another said on Facebook: “Looks like not much brown at all this yr bit of a disappointment when you’ve been buying from them for yrs.”
M&S offers jumpers, cardigans and pinafores in brown, but not trousers or skirts.
Asda’s George range offers two types of brown school trousers, including a two-pack with an elasticated waist although this is currently only available in sizes 3-4 and 12-13.
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Another two-pack is on sale from £8, but not all sizes are in-stock, with virtually none available for secondary school children.
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl do not stock brown school wear.
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Another option is to try a specialist local uniform stockist although this will be more expensive.
M&S said: “As the UK’s largest retailer for back-to-school-wear, we have a broad range of great value and quality uniform options - from skirts and trousers to polo shirts and pinafores - across a number of different colourways to ensure we have an offer that caters to different school uniform requirements.
“While we haven’t seen demand for brown school trousers, we’re always listening to customers and will pass this feedback along to our Kidswear team.”
What retailers are doing back-to-school offers?
Retailers are ramping up their back-to-school offerings in preparation for term starting in September, or August in Scotland.
Marks and Spencer has brought back its early bird saving deal, which offers 20% uniforms in July.
The British retailer has held prices on its school uniform items since 2021.
The range includes everything from a two pack of school trousers starting from £8.80 and a three pack of school shirts with prices starting at £7.20.
M&S also offers a 100-day return on school uniforms, if you are not satisfied with the quality of such items with your proof of purchase you can exchange or refund.
The food and clothing retailers 20% off deal does not include footwear, hosiery, underwear, outerwear, accessories, school bags and lunch boxes.
Last week we reported shoppers are racing to Aldi to pick up their new range of school uniforms, with dirt cheap prices including a pleated skirt for just £1.75 and a sweatshirt for just £1.50.
Sainsbury’s has announced it is locking the prices of its school uniform range for the second year in a row, meaning customers can shop the latest uniform at 2022’s prices.
Its new uniform range starts from £3 and features staples such as two-packs of polo shirts from £3, reinforced knee trousers from £7 and two-packs of pinafores from £8.
Sizing starts from two years old up to sixteen years.
Fellow German discounter Lidl also launched a £5 uniform deal to rival Aldi.
The German supermarket has over 900 stores across the UK, but you can find your nearest site by visiting Lidl's webiste.
Parents looking for extra school uniform pieces, can bag a pack of two polo shirts for £1.75, and a set of two pinafores for 6.99.
The age range is from 4-12 years old.
It is important to shop around to find to find the best deals which suit your family and household budget.
Tesco also have a range of school uniforms in stores and online.
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Prices for blue sweatshirts start from £5, while shoppers can pick up a two pack of pleated dresses for £10.
If you are keen to shop in stores it is always worth calling up ahead of time to enquire about stock levels to avoid disappointment.
How to find the cheapest deals
FOLLOW our tips and tricks to cut the costs of your shopping:
- Find the cheapest online prices: Google Shopping is a good tool for finding the cheapest price - it searches a wide range of retailers of various sizes
- Abandon online shopping baskets: Don't go straight to check-out after putting the items in your basket - it may tease retailers into giving you discount codes
- Ask a site to negotiate a fee for you: If you're struggling to find a deal, Flubit is a free site that aims to negotiate discounts for you
- Sign up to retailers' newsletters for big discounts: It sometimes means a percentage discount code, or a straight discount off your first shop
- Check when stores discount groceries: Check with your local store when they discount food items that are about to expire - this is the perfect time to nab bargains
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