Families could be spending over £15,500 on hidden costs including school clubs, uniforms and trips over a child's school career, according to new Nationwide research.
School clubs account for the biggest share of that cost, with parents spending an average of £700 each year on clubs and associated costs, almost twice as much as uniform and sports kit (£381) and more than six times the cost of school trips (£116). Over a child's school career, clubs alone add up to £9,100, making them one of the biggest education-related costs families face.
For many families, clubs are more than an extracurricular activity. Nearly a quarter (22%) of parents and guardians say they use school clubs as a form of childcare, while almost half (45%) say they pay for clubs to help children develop skills beyond the curriculum and 45% to support a child's passion for a particular activity.
Nationwide’s research found 36% of children attend an average of around two different clubs during the academic year, with parents spending £11 per session on average.
The most popular clubs include:
- Football (38%)
- Swimming (17%)
- Creative clubs (13%)
- Dance (12%)
- Academic clubs such as maths, science, board games and languages (11%)
With ballet, hockey, orchestra and rounders at the bottom of the list.
Jordan Banjo, member of Diversity and street dancer said: ““Like a lot of kids, I grew up having lots of hobbies from dancing to karate. So, I know the value of them but that doesn’t mean the cost doesn’t add up - £700 a year on clubs alone according to Nationwide’s research. Then add in uniforms and trips and you have stressed families.
“That’s why Nationwide has teamed up with Finder to create a new back-to-school calculator, giving parents a simple way to see how their own spending compares with other families and understand their back-to-school spending habits and personality – are you a savvy saver or a go-with-the-flow.”
Fred Powell, Head of Current Accounts at Nationwide said: “Our research confirms what many families already know: back-to-school costs can quickly add up. Clubs and trips all play an important role in a child’s school experience, helping them learn new skills, build confidence and make new friends and also help cover childcare gaps. Then of course there is the school uniform! With these costs adding up over the years, it’s encouraging to see we are nation of savvy savers finding practical ways to save money, from shopping around and buying in sales to choosing bigger sized uniform items that last longer. Our new calculator with Finder, alongside the budgeting tools in our app and support from our colleagues, can help families understand and manage the costs of the new school year.
Uniform costs still add up – with 325 replaced items
While clubs account for the largest long-term cost, according to Nationwide’s research parents could still spend an average of £381 a year on uniform and sports kit. Parents shared they had replaced around 25 uniform, and sports kit items every year, equivalent to approximately 325 items during a child's school career which had been lost, damaged or worn out.
The most expensive uniform and PE kit items were identified as:
|
Item |
Average spend |
|
School shoes |
£43 |
|
PE trainers |
£42 |
|
Blazer |
£37 |
|
Tracksuit |
£29 |
In fact, 12% of parents spend more than £76 on PE trainers.
School trips continue to add to costs
But it doesn’t stop there – families also shared school trips are another significant expense.
- 98% of children attend at least one day trip during the year
- Around half attend a residential trip
- Among those taking residential trips, 49% of parents spent more than £100 per child
Understandable then that nearly half (49%) of parents say they are stressed about the cost of going back to school this September.
To afford school-related costs, families are cutting back on:
- Eating out and takeaways (37%)
- Entertainment (22%)
- Holidays and travel (21%)
- Clothing and fashion (20%)
- Home improvements (18%)
- Household spending (18%)
- Savings and investments (18%)
How parents are managing costs
Parents are planning ahead, despite the pressures facing families they are taking practical steps to prepare for the new school year.
- Looking for sales and discounts (43%)
- Setting money aside in advance (35%)
- Reusing items from previous years (34%)
- Comparing prices between retailers (34%)
- Prioritising essential items and delaying non-essential purchases (28%)
- Spreading purchases throughout the year (25%)
When it comes to uniform shopping specifically:
- 33% buy supermarket own-brand uniforms
- 33% only replace items when worn out
- 33% shop around for the best prices
- 30% use promotions and sales
- 23% buy larger sizes so items last longer
Kate Steere, parent and consumer editor at Finder said: “Clubs are vital for building life skills outside the classroom, but we can’t ignore that they’re also becoming an essential part of the working parent juggle, with a quarter of parents using clubs to plug the childcare gap.
Unsurprisingly, the expenses stack up. To manage this, I’m upfront with my kids about how many activities we can afford. With prices rising this year, we had to sit down and make a hard call about dropping one, evaluating each club based on cost versus enjoyment. Involving kids in these conversations is a great way to introduce real-world budgeting, the difference between wants and needs, and how to make tough financial trade-offs.
Beyond subscription fees, kit costs can be brutal. I always encourage parents to tap into their club's community - families with older kids are usually eager to pass down gear. My boys' football team runs a summer sale for second-hand kit, and apps like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace are goldmines. If my kids insist on high-end branded items, I pay for the standard equivalent and let them cover the difference. It’s a great money lesson, plus they take much better care of boots they’ve helped buy!”
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Which money personality are you? Check here - https://www.finder.com/uk/budgeting/cost-of-the-school-year
|
Deal Hunter You sort things out as they come up, but you're sharp about cost when you do - comparing prices on uniform and hunting out the best-value clubs. You're not the type to plan months ahead, you just never overpay in the moment. Try this: A standing reminder two weeks before term or club sign-ups would let your bargain-hunting instincts work before the good discounts and the best-value club spots disappear. |
Savvy Saver You plan ahead and know where every pound goes - reusing kit, picking clubs that double up as childcare, and keeping a buffer for the costs nobody warns you about. Try this: Put your savings from reused kit or dual-purpose clubs straight into a separate pot the moment you make them. It stops the "saving" turning into general spending. |
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Quality Seeker You're organised and plan early, but you don't cut corners on quality - from proper uniform to clubs that build your kids' skills. You'd rather pay once for something that lasts than buy twice for something cheap. Try this: Since you already plan ahead, try setting a spending plan across uniforms, clubs and trips rather than one open-ended budget. It keeps the "buy well" instinct from quietly becoming "buy the most expensive." |
Go-With-The-Flow Parent You deal with costs as they land, and convenience usually wins over comparing prices. You prefer the flexibility of clubs you can cancel or pay for as you go. It works, but the school year sometimes has a way of landing several costs in the same week. Try this: Try one small change: a single "school year" savings pot topped up monthly, even a little, so the surprise costs stop feeling like emergencies. |
Media Information:
Lindsay Price, lindsay.price@nationwide.co.uk
