A research study looking at the minimum families need to spend for their child to attend and participate in school has revealed just how much costs have risen in the last two to three years.
Analysis carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Centre for Research in Social Policy has identified key drivers for this rise in costs including higher costs for materials such as books and stationery and the rising cost of food.
The calculation covers the basics that parents believe is required to “meet children’s minimum educational needs” in order for a child to attend and participate in school.
The calculation at primary level include fundraising days and one residential trip. It does not include things like the cost of wraparound childcare, additional school trips, learning a musical instrument, or taking part in after-school clubs.
The study finds that the annual costs for primary school come to £1,003 per-pupil (while attending secondary school costs £2,274 a year). The primary costs break-down as follows:
- Learning materials: £64,66
- Uniform, PE kit, shoes & bags: £311,24
- Packed lunches/snacks: £486,30
- Enrichment: One residential trip/charity days/celebrations: £141,43
These costs have risen by 16% since 2022, outstripping the report says both inflation (8%) and earnings growth (12%).
And the report emphasises that these are just the minimum costs: “On top of these minimum costs, the school year often includes many more trips, activities and celebrations, for example, trips to museums, local monuments, book fairs. Without access to these, children miss out on opportunities to develop their knowledge, skills and interests.”
The report notes that school uniform costs have come down notably since updated guidance was introduced in 2021 instructing schools to limit the number of branded items and to make second-hand options available. This is especially the case for primary schools.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is expected to fo further and introduce a statutory maximum of three branded items for primary uniforms. The Department for Education said in April that 24% of primary schools still require five or more branded items – this compared to 70% of secondaries (DfE, 2025).
The CPAG report warns that with 4.5 million children in the UK now living in poverty, the “growing gap between costs and income is making it harder for children from lower income families to make the most of their time at school”.
It calls on the government to expand free school meals to more families living in poverty, to scrap the two-child limit on benefits, and to provide “cash support” for families in England to help with the cost of school uniform and sports kits (as happens in all other UK nations).
It adds: “Across the UK, governments must make a concerted effort to reduce the cost of sending children to school and ensure that the hidden costs of education are not preventing children from attending, taking part and achieving at school.”
Kate Anstey, head of education policy at CPAG, said: “Parents are struggling to cover household bills while also forking out for pencils and PE gear at school. And still their children get priced out of school activities.
“The government’s forthcoming child poverty strategy must improve living standards for families. Help with the cost of the school day – including an expansion of free school meals and cash support with uniform costs in England – would make a huge difference to parents and kids alike.
“And unless the strategy scraps the two-child limit, more and more children across the UK will see their potential – in and outside the school gates – stunted by poverty.”
- CPAG: The minimum cost of education in the UK, May 2025: https://cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/Cost_of_education_UK.pdf
- DfE: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Saving parents money on school uniform costs, Education Hub Blog, April 2025: https://buff.ly/sFE8woZ