Smith’s Wood Academy free uniforms: A caring secondary school is to provide free branded school uniforms for September’s new Year 7 students, to help families facing difficulties in the cost-of-living crisis.
Smith’s Wood Academy, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust (FMAT), has announced that all incoming Year 7 children will receive a blazer, tie and PE top – the school’s only branded uniform items – for free.
Additionally, all new Year 7s will receive a stationery startup kit, and parents will be given a 15% discount on any other uniform items they wish to buy at the Clive Marks store supplying the items.
This scheme is being lead by Jenna Butcher, the school’s Primary Liaison and Head of Year 6 Transition, who has already been visiting local primary schools to meet potential new students and help them and their families prepare for ‘big school’.
Miss Butcher said: “The cost of living is a lot for parents, and there’s a big jump in costs from primary to secondary. We want pupils to feel excited to be part of our school, and parents to feel supported.
“Smith’s Wood is a school that is at the heart of the community it serves, and we want to support local families as best as we can,”
– Principal Stephen Huntington
“We already visit local primary schools to ease the transition for future students, so the free uniform and stationery scheme is another way to support the incoming students and their families.”
Clive Marks are even offering free personal uniform fittings, to ensure every new student is looking and feeling sharp in September.
Miss Butcher explained: “Clive Marks are going to come to our New Intake Evening on 2nd July, where families can book appointments for individual fittings and try on uniforms.
“The shop in Sheldon will then be open on two Sundays over summer for our new Year 7s to collect their blazer, tie and PE top.
“It’s great to not only be providing the uniforms, but to be able to take an individual approach – we really value our students, and we want them to know this right from when they first join!”
The free stationery kit will not only include the basics of pens, pencils and a ruler, but more specialist equipment including a scientific calculator, mathematical equipment, highlighters and gluesticks.
Miss Butcher said: “The kit isn’t just the bare bones – we want students to be fully prepared for their new classroom environment.”
The scheme has had an overwhelmingly positive response from parents and the local community.
Miss Butcher said: “I’ve been at Smith’s Wood Academy for nearly 20 years, so I’m a recognisable friendly face for children and their families.
“Parents have said how much of a relief the scheme has been. We already do a food bank here for local families, so providing these uniforms felt like the right next step for us to help them.
“The spirit of giving is strong here at Smith’s Wood, and throughout FMAT as a whole.”
Principal Stephen Huntington said: “Smith’s Wood is a school that is at the heart of the community it serves, and we want to support local families as best as we can.
“We know that when children transition from their primary schools to ‘big’ school the cost of a uniform can be significant for their families, so we’re delighted to be able to support them in this way.”