With the ongoing cost of living crisis, and the high price of school uniforms, there have been calls in some quarters to introduce a price cap and to increase uniform grant aid.

With this in mind, we have been asking the public their thoughts – your thoughts – about school uniforms and whether they should be scrapped.

While most people were against scrapping school uniforms, they also called for them to be made more affordable, as well as scrapping blazers.

Kathy Teague believes a more modern uniform should be made available: “Keep the uniform but modernise it, [with] golf shirts and sweatshirts, with the school emblem for both genders, and eliminate the cost of blazers, ties and shirts.”

“No way [to scrapping uniforms] – but scrap the blazers. They are costly, heavy and uncomfortable. A jumper would be better; also, scrap the expensive PE kit. Absolutely no need,” said Róisín Mhic Uaid.

Lisa Hetherington felt scrapping uniforms would cost more in the long run and would be unfair on families who could not afford to buy branded clothing.

Catherine McCraig agreed: “That will put even more pressure on families financially, [and possibly cause] competition for clothes and outfits, the right trainers, etc. Whatever uniforms cost, they are still the most affordable option.”

For Olivia Moore, she took a broader look at education in general, saying: “Keep the uniform, modernise it – in fact, modernise the education system and let our unique, individual children be themselves. An octagon will never fit into a square.”

Nigel Moore just asked for a bit of common sense, saying: “[Keep the] uniforms, but [with] a bit of common sense applied. Just like in lots of office workplaces, get rid of ties and instead of a blazer, [have] a jacket that keeps out rain – reasonably priced one – and maybe a sweatshirt for summer. Ties and blazers are of no benefit.”

However, some of those who responded also pointed out that letting children wear their own clothes could lead to bullying, and pressure for people to try and keep up with the latest fashion trends.

“Parents would be out even more money, buying new clothes all the time, plus not every family can afford the new trends,” said Deirdre White.

Dee Lunny said kids would be trying to outdo each other if they had no school uniforms, and it would also lead to a mountain of washing clothes.

“A uniform is good so everyone is the same, and kids are not picking on the one who doesn’t have the best-named clothes,” said Sharri Birney.

Maria Boyd was firmly against wearing ordinary clothes, saying: “Absolutely not – imagine the pressure the kids would be under to wear the ‘right’ thing.”

So, with many agreeing that uniforms should be kept, there were some who did offer alternatives to keep the prices down, just like Fiona Ferris, who called on “expensive PE kits” to be dropped, the use of generic uniforms, and sew-on badges to keep costs down.

The one thing that most people both for or against school uniforms shared in common was agreement that they’d be happy to see blazers banished.