Please see latest correspondence in respect of the cost of Sir Harry Smith – School Uniforms, as sent in by correspondent BC – Go to Stories Page, or
click on link.
©SHS
https://roygerstner.co.uk/2016/02/09/sir-harry-smith-cost-of-school-uniforms/
Please see correspondence below (09th February 2016) as received from BC…Is there any other parents/grandparents who have similar issues, if so I can put you in contact with BC.
©SHS
Hi Roy,
I just thought you might be interested in the following.
My grandson needed a new school sweatshirt as the ones he has have shrunk. I thought I would help mum and dad out by buying him a couple. I was astonished to find out there are only two retailers where the school sweat shirts can be purchased as they have to have the school logo on them. I thought that’s a bit restrictive but I went ahead and started to place my order until I saw the price.
For two school sweatshirts with the school logo £24 in his size I thought that was expensive in comparison to what I’ve seen in supermarkets, I have often commented to my wife that I wish uniforms at that price were available to our children.
So I did a little research both companies mentioned sell the same item for the same price so being able to shop around wasn’t an option.
I then checked the other retailers in the area supermarkets big stores etc. I was amazed at the price variations . Below is a short list of just some price comparisons.
Sir Harry smith with logo £ 24.00
John Lewis £ 16.00
Next. £ 18.00
Matalan. £ 10.00
M&S £ 16.00
Tesco. £ 10.00
Asda £ 8.00
I won’t bore you with any more but the list is countless , the above prices are for two sweat shirts of the same colour and size. The only difference is that sir Harry smith sweat shirts have the school logo . Tesco do have uniforms with logo but sir Harry smith isn’t listed even so a Tesco sweat shirt with logo is only one pound fifty dearer. So I dug a little deeper polo shirts are just as expensive in fact in some cases you can get five for less than the cost of one from the school suppliers.
I have contacted the school they have so far just informed me that I have two retailers I can buy from and that my grandson has to have the school logo on his tops.
I asked do they get any remuneration from the companies I am forced to buy from no reply as yet.
I asked for the price of sweat shirt with and without the logo no reply as yet.
I contacted both suppliers and asked the same questions only one would give me any information and that was we supply good quality uniform at a fair price. They also stated they can’t compete with the larger retailers as they cant buy in such large quantities.
Since doing a little more research I found the following .
The CMA has cautioned schools about this practice because of the monopoly laws etc look it up it’s interesting. Another interesting document is the department of educations guide lines on school uniforms. Basically what Sir Harry smith school is doing with this policy , in my opinion is not really following government guide lines on uniform read it as I did and come to your own conclusion.
As for the CMA I have sent them the details of what I think might be against competition law and am waiting for a reply as you know with gov departments that could take some time..To sum up parents and grandparents are being forced to buy school uniform because of the logo rule with only two suppliers both of which charge the same.
The most expensive retailers of school uniform available in the area are still six pounds cheaper all be it without a logo. And the most affordable sixteen pounds cheaper.
I don’t know as neither the school or the companies will tell me if the school has any kick backs either financial or in kind equipment stationary text books etc. But seeing as I’m forced to pay into this scheme I think I have aright to know.
So that’s about it Roy I just thought it might be of interest to you as a local campaigner ,I think that the parents who are less well off are being forced into an impossible situation where they have to purchase expensive school uniform just for a logo. The school did inform me that if I was having difficulty in purchasing uniform because of cost , that there are grants available, my feelings are that if the school had a sensible fair policy on uniforms as per department guidelines and didn’t have to have these expensive logos parents wouldn’t need grants saving embarrassment and cost to the tax payer.
Why not have sew on badges that would reduce costs greatly or even better pin on badges or iron on badges. I could go on, I would be interested in your views on this subject.
I find your blog very interesting and informative keep up the good work.
B C.
SHS Uniform Costings Uniform Policy September 2013
Uniform Policy September 2013
Hopefully KC will be able to cover the meeting tomorrow evening, I was somewhat disappointed but not surprised that NO one from the StreetLife forum wished to help out!
How quiet all is on the increases in ‘local tax/rates’, WTC announcing last month of an increase of a ‘whooping’ 6.7%, since I was not there I don’t know how the justification was ‘sold’, however the ‘usual limp excuse is – well its ‘only’ £4 a year to the average household.
There is nothing wrong with my Maths, in fact it is a ‘hobby’ of mine, over the last 10 years all I have had is less income (interest rates – I am not yet old enough to get my OAP) and that’s another sore subject. My ‘stealth taxes’ have gone up quite considerably more than any reliefs we have had. Yes the Government have ‘capped’ increases but councils excuses being that their income has been reduced by Govn subsidies.
So in some respects WTC are in ‘poor’ condition, they don’t have reserves or assets like some of our neighbouring councils, but that is no excuse for the ‘Whooping 6.7%.
But it looks like I am on my own – again, for even daring to bring the subject up – I am sorry to do so!
We wait for FDC and CCC to announce their planned increase.
My apologies we are still in sunshine far far away, and am unable to attend the WTC full council meeting on Wednesday night, our correspondent DL is off to see POSH play – why not, who wants to sit and fall asleep at a 3+ hour council meet. Maybe someone else will be kind enough to take some notes so the rest of the 200+ hits a day community can be informed, I hope to be at the March meeting contact me @ roy.gerstner@ntlworld.com
I always like to get involved with ‘locals’ where ever we are, today I met a ‘poor’ Thai gentleman, who made his living from picking plastic, bottles and cans from rubbish bins and anywhere he could find them. I got someone to translate for me and explained I did much of the same in Whittlesey UK, except there was no money in it for me, anyway I treated him to a lunch and he was so ‘happy’, I didn’t quite find out much he made, but later on I saw he had completion.
So we now celebrating Chinese New Year, in Ao Nang Thailand this year. Tonights dinner with Mr Chompon, General Manager of the Deevana/Mercure Plaza.
Earlier on enjoyed a Sunday G&T (or 2) on the beach front area of Ao Nang.
FC-agenda-10th-February-2016
Click on Link (Has been virus checked)
I reprint my article from January 2013 – It does take a long time to get things done.
But when it happens it is very worthwhile and rewarding.
January 15, 2013
Article from Peterborough ET 1978…..
I have lost most of my hair! maybe caused by the stress of a great deal of inactivity from various council officialdom over the past 35 years….
Perhaps some of our ‘younger’ councillors and there are not many of them…. would have been in their ‘nappies’ or shorts, when campaigners like myself have always been passionate about our Town and Villages.
Yes there maybe some small success, but as a Fenland Town – Whittlesey has been left behind similar Towns through the lack of funding……
There maybe social networking, modern education and engagement…..but I ask – were ‘they’ listening to our issues of 35+ years ago, or are the same ‘they’ still a little hard of hearing what ‘we’ the Tax and Rate payers are trying to get across…..
There have been so many ‘lost’ opportunities for either a By-Pass or the elusive bridge over Kings Dyke….. lets be practical…. its not going to happen anytime soon….
I ask again Mr. Barclay and our County Councillors need to be none stop vocal about these issues.
So 3 years after this posting we maybe just a little closer to our ‘Bridge’
I am very grateful to Mr Yorkie on SL© for expanding his ‘encounter’ with an unknown – ‘lurking’ around town.
My encounter was by the Bricklayers Arms, I had noticed this car pass me as I walked down Station Road and as I made to go across the end of the green triangle he emerged from Scaldgate. He called me over waving an AA road atlas saying he was trying to get to Dover and had spent 3 days trying to get out of Whittlesey (which banana boat did he think I came off !!). He said he had been working on an Italian Building site here and had been laid off and had been paid a lot of money but also made out he didn’t have a lot of English about him but he understood what I was saying just like when we speak.
All the while he was asking questions like are you retired, are you married and the final straw was what is your chest size !! To which I said to him i’ve had people like you approach me in Whittlesey before but trying to sell me watches, with that he decided it was time to move on after I had told him which way to get out of Whittlesey and basically how to get to Dover. If I get someone else approach me I won’t let them give me the spiel but will tell them that there are 5 ways to leave Whittlesey they being the 4 points on a compass and in the back of a police vehicle !!
So beware, and if you are approached use the ‘Yorkie’ method….and if possible get the registration/make/colour of vehicle it might help the Police.
Dear Customer,
Your account safety is our top priority.
We detect unusual activities related to your account, we are upgrading security to our terms and conditions regarding the protection of your account.
Please ………… to verify your account to avoid closure.
Virgin Media Account Team.
(I have done the survey it is pretty easy and straightforward -RG).
Practices to offer and promote online services to patients, including access to records, online appointment booking and online repeat prescriptions.
As most of our members are aware, N.A.P.P. has been supporting the Patient Online programme for almost two years. We have been asked to distribute two surveys – one for those who DO NOT use online services and the other for those who do.. These are intended to be complete by individuals, so we would be grateful if you would forward them to as many of your members as possible.
The closing date for the surveys is Thursday 18th February 2016.
Patient Online have created 2 surveys, for those aged 18 years and older, to collect information so that NHS England can get a better view about how patients feels about booking and cancelling appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing their medical records online. This is a follow up survey to the one that took place during Dec 2014-Jan 2015. The information will be used to shape and improve future online services.
The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous and will remain confidential.
Please complete Survey A if you DO NOT use any online services (access to records/appointment booking/online repeat prescriptions) currently at your GP Surgery.
Survey A – https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/975b1718
Please complete Survey B if you DO use any online services (access to records/appointment booking/online repeat prescriptions) currently at your GP Surgery.
Survey B – https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/7a02aa19
Thank you
Kind regards,
Edith.
Edith Todd
Trustee and Administrator, N.A.P.P.
19 Harvey Road, Walton on Thames, Surrey, KT12 2PZ
Whilst I appreciate that 8,000 households receive Discovering Whittlesea©, there are many who do not, I am pleased with one of our correspondence sending me this latest.
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Planned Tour of Cambridgeshire Cycle Race Survey….Are you in favour or not..
http://www.whittleseytc.com/have-your-say/tour-of-cambridgeshire-cycle-race/
Market Street All of Whittlesey, Coates & Eastrea
Eastrea Road @ Larkfleet Roundabout! Bellmans Road !
© Pictures ‘The Poke & Daily Mirror.
As always click on picture to enlarge…..
