🎓 Ask Art
How Many School Shirts Does My Child Really Need?
Real advice from Grays Schoolwear
One of the questions we’re asked every summer is:
“Art, how many school shirts should I actually buy?”
It’s a great question, and the honest answer depends on your child’s age, how often you do the washing, and whether they’re likely to come home covered in paint, grass or lunch!
After helping families with school uniform for over 100 years, here’s our advice.
Reception and Primary School
Younger children are usually more active and accidents happen.
Whether it’s paint, muddy football matches or a spilled yoghurt at lunchtime, it’s surprising how quickly a clean shirt can become dirty.
We recommend:
- 5 school shirts or polo shirts
- 2 jumpers or cardigans
- 2 pairs of trousers, skirts or pinafores
- Plenty of socks
Having enough uniform means you’re not constantly rushing to do the washing.
Secondary School
Secondary school pupils often take a little more care of their uniform, but they still need enough to last the week.
Our recommendation is:
- 5 shirts or blouses
- 1 or 2 blazers
- 2 pairs of trousers or skirts
- 2 PE kits if they have more than one PE lesson each week
Having a spare blazer or jumper is particularly useful during the winter months.
Why Five Shirts?
Parents often ask why we recommend five.
It’s simple.
One clean shirt for each school day means:
âś” Less washing during the week
âś” No panic if one gets stained
âś” Less wear and tear on each shirt
âś” Your child always starts the day looking smart
Although you can manage with fewer, most parents tell us they’re glad they bought enough from the start.
Don’t Forget the PE Kit
One of the biggest mistakes we see is buying only one PE kit.
If your child has PE on consecutive days or forgets to unpack their kit, life becomes much easier with a spare set.
Check Everything Before August Ends
Children often have a growth spurt over the summer holidays.
Before the new term starts, try on:
- Shirts
- Blazers
- Jumpers
- Trousers
- Skirts
- PE kit
- School shoes
Buying early gives you the best choice of sizes and avoids the last-minute rush.
Our Advice
School uniform is an investment, and buying the right number of items from the beginning usually saves both time and stress throughout the school year.
If you’re ever unsure, we’d much rather help you choose the right size than have you buy something that doesn’t fit.
That’s exactly what we’re here for.
đź’¬ Ask Art
Got a question about school uniform?
Whether you’re unsure about sizing, PE kit, school shoes or what your child’s school requires, I’m always happy to help.
At Grays Schoolwear, we’ve been helping families prepare for school for over 100 years, and we’ve answered thousands of questions along the way.
If you’ve got a question, pop into our Blackburn or Clitheroe store, give us a call or send us a message.
Your question might even feature in a future Ask Art blog!
“No question is too small. If it matters to your family, it matters to us.”
— Art & the Grays Schoolwear Team