CASH-STRAPPED parents are still having to spend exorbitant amounts on school uniforms despite changes introduced last year aimed at keeping costs down, a major charity has warned. 

Parents and carers of primary pupils are forced to fork out about £287 a year on uniforms, while those with secondary kids face an average annual bill of a whopping £422, according to research by the Children’s Society.

The charity, which polled 2,000 parents across Britain and Northern Ireland last month, said the high costs are partly due to the requirement from some schools for branded items bought from specialist shops rather than supermarkets or high-street chains.