The cost of buying uniforms, books and other equipment for children now exceeds £700 annually in some secondary schools and makes the notion of free education a myth, a survey from the Labour Party has claimed.
In the survey the costs of attending one second-level school came to £707 and the party claimed this represented an "intolerable burden" on any family. High charges for uniforms were now almost equalled by the cost of schoolbooks, the party said.
The £707 included £295 for a uniform, £233 for books, about £84 for sports gear and a £95 "local contribution", which many schools now insist on.
While this was one of the highest bills, the party claimed many parents faced similar charges for children at second level.
The main cost of returning to school are uniforms, the party's education spokeswoman, Ms Roisin Shortall, said. The survey found ordinary uniforms (including sportswear) at primary level cost £100 and special uniforms, which normally include crested jumper and blazer, £180.
At second level, ordinary uniforms cost £242 and a special uniform £379. She said uniforms should be simplified to keep within family budgets and the Department of Education should play a role in advising schools on uniform standards.
Parents could not "shop around" for uniforms because many schools required them to purchase from a specific retailer, she said. The Government's Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance should be revised upwards to assist parents with the costs.
The survey found the cost of books varied widely between primary and second-level schools. At primary, books cost £35 for junior classes and £75 for senior classes. However, at second level, books for first year cost £233 and for fifth year £160. The survey pointed out transition year was also extremely costly because of the extra travel normally involved.
One of the ways to cut these costs, Ms Shortall said, was for the Department of Education to promote a book rental scheme in schools. It should also form a review group to look at ways to reduce the cost of schoolbooks.
The survey identified the practice of many schools of charging a "local contribution" to make up for shortfalls in funding. "This contribution is normally used to supplement school budgets, and to provide extra facilities and equipment such as computers," she said.
The charge varied, but the majority of parents are asked to pay a voluntary contribution of £95 a year per secondary school student. At primary level a contribution was requested only occasion ally, with parents expected to pay on average £40 a year. Ms Shortall said this indicated "education is far from free" and she called on the State to "pick up the full tab" in relation to funding schools.
Ms Roisin Shortall: urged the State to "pick up the full tab"