If £316 looks like a lot of money, you may be shocked by the next statement.

This is the average amount parents are having to fork out PER CHILD each year just to buy school uniform.

The true cost of clothing kids for their education can be revealed today after a study by the Children’s Society.

It found that on average families with school-age children spend £316 a year on average on items for a child at a state secondary and £251 annually on average for a youngster at a state primary.

The graphic below shows the breakdown of the costs:

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Research also found many poor families are getting into debt or cutting back on basic essentials just to pay for school uniform.

Nearly 800,000 pupils go to school in poorly-fitting uniform because their parents cannot afford to keep buying new items, while a further 400,000 have been sent home for wearing "incorrect" clothes.

Forcing parents to buy specific items from specialist shops is pushing costs up by £48 on average for secondary school children and £93 for primary school pupils.

Families are paying around £2.1 billion a year on school clothes in total, with 95 per cent of parents thinking uniform costs are "unreasonable".

The charity’s report says: “More than one million children live in families that have cut back spending on food or other basic essentials as a result of the cost of school uniforms.

“More than half a million are living in families that have got into debt as a result of uniform costs."

Lily Caprani, of the Children's Society, said: "We know that children whose parents cannot afford the cost of specialist uniforms face punishment and bullying for not having exactly the right clothes or kit.

“It's time for the government to introduce legally binding rules to stop schools from making parents pay over the odds for items available only at specialist shops."

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Hitting back, Matthew Easter, chairman of The Schoolwear Association said: "Research shows that school uniform is good for schools, families and students. It is linked to better learning and good behaviour, and most parents and teachers are in favour of it.

"High quality uniform, as typically provided by independent suppliers, lasts longer than cheap off-the-shelf garments."

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: "We have made clear to schools that they should keep uniform costs to a minimum and prioritise value for money for parents. This includes making it clear that schools should avoid frequent changes to uniform.

"We are aware that the cost of school uniform is a worry for some parents and we continue to discuss the issue with the sector so that no child is disadvantaged because of this."

Do you think parents are being ripped off by the high cost of uniforms or is it fair schools have strict clothing policies and demand items be bought from particular retailers? Have you struggled to afford all the things your kids need for school or have you ever fallen foul of schools’ rules? Add your comments below.