Parents continue to be concerned about meeting back to school costs this year, with primary school parents particularly worried about the cost of uniforms and many secondary school parents concerned about how to meet the cost of digital devices.
Barnardos launched it ‘Back to School Survey 2026’ results on Wednesday and the children’s charity is calling on the Government to prioritise the review of digital devices and reduce their cost, make affordable uniform options mandatory across all schools, expand eligibility for the back to school allowance and introduce a voluntary contributions code of practice.
Conducting an online survey of parents to find out the costs they will incur for their child returning to education in September, the Barnardos’ survey was live from July 7th to 31st inclusive, with 704 responses received. More than half of all parents stated they are worried about meeting these costs, with almost one in five (18%) saying they were very concerned.
Just over one quarter of secondary (27%) and 21% of primary school parents said they have to use savings in order to meet back to school costs. 15% of secondary and one in ten (9%) of primary school parents said they had to take a loan out or borrow from family and friends to meet school costs.
HOUSE BILLS OR SCHOOL COSTS?
One secondary school parent said that they were ‘deciding between paying household bills or covering school costs’. Some parents detailed having to cut back or go without, most likely essentials for themselves, in order to meet the costs. Others raised the problem of all the costs coming at once and not being in a good position to meet them.
On top of some resorting to borrowing in order to meet costs, others spoke of the financial struggles they will have to endure for a few months after these costs. This is particularly an issue for families on lower incomes who have not been able to put away money for these costs earlier in the year, due to insufficient income and general problems with cost of living increases.
UNIFORMS
Over two thirds (70%) of parents said they were somewhat or very worried about meeting the cost of uniforms this year. Less than one third (30%) of primary and 9% of secondary school parents said their school offered an affordable uniform option. This is despite nine in ten (90%) parents believing that their school should provide an affordable uniform option.
In recent years, more and more parents have raised their frustration of receiving little to no support when meeting back to school costs. The most frequent complaint is not being beneficiaries of the back to school allowance because they don’t quite meet thresholds.
DIGITAL DEVICES
57% of secondary school parents said they had to pay for digital devices, at an average cost of €447. Parents suggested that some schools were out of touch with reality and the general cost of living issue within the country.
‘Being asked to pay €850 for a tablet is disgraceful when people are struggling to pay their electricity bill and put food on the table. School has no understanding of current cost of living crisis and how families are struggling. Tablet was compulsory!! Absolutely disgraceful’, one secondary school parent remarked.
There are many instances across the country of parents being compelled to buy specific devices from specific suppliers at set costs, they are not allowed to shop around to get better value, use similar cheaper items, or even use identical devices that they already own.
Barnardos is calling on the government to prioritise these following actions: a) Review the use of digital devices and reduce costs for low income families; b) Make affordable uniform options mandatory across all schools; c) Expand eligibility to back to school allowance; and d) Introduce voluntary contributions code of practice.
