School uniform instead of electricity

Barnardos Back to School Survey reveals 54% of school parents are worried about costs as families turn to savings, loans and cutbacks

Over one quarter of secondary (27%) and 14% primary school parents said they have to use savings in order to meet back to school costs. Parents discussed having to go without or cut back on other essentials to meet the costs, while others said they would simply have to forego paying certain other bills.

The children’s charity Barnados has launched their annual report “The Real Costs of School 2025” based on a survey conducted in July 2025. The survey received 830 responses, covering costs for 497 primary and 333 secondary school students.

The report reveals parents remain concerned about several back to school costs, in particular in relation to uniforms, voluntary contributions and for secondary school parents; the increasing cost of digital devices.

One secondary parent stated: "I will not pay gas and electric bill in August, I will borrow a loan and use instalments to get as much as I can for back to school items. I will go into debt until March the following year until it's all paid back, then it repeats again in August. My worries are if I can keep this up year after year."

For over 20 years the children’s charity has been campaigning to reduce back to school costs, to help reduce financial pressure facing parents across the country. For the past four years Barnardos has been monitoring the impact of cost of living increases on families and children detailing the number of families who are cutting back and going without essentials, the impact it is having on their day to day lives, general quality of life and the worries they have for the future.

The survey found:

Half of primary (50%) and 60% secondary school of parents stated they are worried about meeting costs this year. Only one third (34%) of secondary school parents said that costs were manageable.

Over one quarter of secondary (27%) and 14% primary school parents said they have to use savings in order to meet back to school costs. 15% of secondary and one in ten (8%) of primary school parents said they had to take a loan out or borrow from family and friends to meet school costs.

Parents discussed having to go without or cut back on other essentials to meet the costs, while others said they would simply have to forego paying certain other bills.

Parents said:

“Everything has gone so expensive, I’m going to have to skip paying some bills to be able to afford everything.” (primary school parent)

“I juggle finances all of the time. I worry that I will not be able to afford utility bills in Sept/Oct to cover school costs.” (secondary school parent)

“We won't have enough money for all of it. I can't afford the costs for my kids.” (primary school parent)

Uniforms the big concern: Parents are still spending large sums on expensive uniforms, said one of the survey takers: “Being able to afford all the uniform bits for her. She grew so quickly over the last year I ran out of uniforms that fit and couldn’t get them towards the end of the school year (from Feb they were too small). I need to buy sizes for now and sizes bigger but the cost is crippling.”

Digital Tools weighing heavy: 50% of secondary school parents said their child’s school required them to pay for digital devices with the average cost being €430. One parent said: “My son is going into 5th year, this was the first time we were entitled to Free school books, but then we were called to a meeting in the school where they advised that we would have to buy a chrome book for our child which cost €500..."

Above everything, schools are expecting so-called voluntary contributions. More than three quarters (78%) of primary and 84% of secondary school parents said that their schools requested a voluntary contribution. The average amount asked for by schools was €87 for primary school parents and €133 for secondary school parents. 73% of primary and 78% of secondary school parents said the payment did not feel voluntary: “We have four school age children, cost is a lot. And pressure to pay voluntary contributions on top of it all is a lot,” said another secondary school parent.

Barnardos thus calls on the Government to:

Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly said: “No parent should face additional stress and financial pressure to ensure their child has all they need to start back to school. The Government has reduced some expenses but there is an opportunity for them and schools individually to do more to reduce costs for parents. Because childhood lasts a lifetime.”