Uniform woes for parents as children head back to school

● Two-thirds will lose or damage kit in their first term, survey reveals

Nearly two-thirds of schoolchildren will lose or damage their school uniform or equipment within the first term of the new academic year, according to research.

As families stock up on “back to school” items over the summer holidays, a survey of parents of children aged four to 16 years old found 61 per cent of youngsters have previously lost or damaged their kit within the first school term.

School jumpers, shoes and PE kits are the items most likely to be damaged or disappear, the research found, while musical instruments and laptops are less common but more costly items to be battered or lost.

Lunch money, house keys, pencil cases, textbooks and school ties were also found to be items likely to go missing.

Half of parents surveyed worry about their child breaking or losing an item they need for school due to the expense of replacing it.

The survey, from technology firm Dell, found 54 per cent of parents said they would be unlikely to be able to afford replacement items if needed.

More than 2,000 parents across the UK with children at school took part in the survey.

School pupils across Scotland will begin returning to class from next week when the summer holidays come to an end.

Before that, however, thousands of senior pupils will receive their exams results tomorrrow

Last year, more pupils from Scotland got a university place on exams results day than in any previous year.

Around 28,300 students successfully secured places.

0 A class of their own ... but they might lose their shoes and PE kit there too