School uniforms don’t escape the ‘pink tax’

Buying a school uniform for girls is more expensive than for boys, research has revealed.

A study by Income Tax UK looked at the prices of items for a basic school uniform list across the websites of Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Marks and Spencer.

The study found clothing for girls is on average 12% more expensive than for boys.

This price difference is commonly known as the “pink tax”.

The price difference continues into secondary school, with girl’s uniforms costing 11.16% more.

For older pupils, tights and shoes often have to be bought from the more expensive adult section, which means secondary school uniforms are 29% more expensive than those for primary schools.

The study also showed that at £110.75, Tesco is the cheapest supermarket for school uniform.

Asda is next at £128, followed by Sainsbury’s at £139.38.

Marks & Spencer, which offers more premium uniform choices, is the most expensive at £229 – more than twice the price of Tesco.

The study pointed to girls having more clothing options, such as skirts and dresses, as a reason why the prices are more expensive.

It also highlighted that girls’ items tend to be more structured and embellished, using more materials and techniques to construct pieces.

A spokesperson for Income Tax UK said: “This study highlights the issue of gendered products having a price disparity.

“However, it does provide the opportunity for supermarkets to not only challenge this, but also provide more unisex options for school uniforms.”