But the Schoolwear Association believes this is a case of ‘double standards’ – the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) encourages suppliers to provide more affordable uniforms, while the government charges more for uniforms in larger sizes.

Its campaign will focus on all items of school specific uniform as well as sports kits that carry the school badge or emblem and are only worn at school. Members and schools will be encouraged to lobby their local MPs to abolish the tax.

Last month it emerged that the National Schoolwear Centres had decided to expand its range of larger uniforms.

The schoolwear retailer said it would stock its stores with 52-inch chest blazers, 42-inch waist trousers and shirts with 17.5-inch collars in response to demands from parents struggling to find uniforms for their outsize children.

These sizes were previously only available by special mail order, but the retailer said the sizes were no longer ‘specials’ and demand for them was growing.

“The concept of sizing by age is often irrelevant today,” said the Association. “The reality is that parents with younger secondary school children, and many with older primary school age children, face paying this tax earlier than the Government deems they should.”

The DfES recently issued guidelines for school uniforms to prevent excessively high prices being charged.

But the Association said the government was penalising parents by issuing this surcharge for those with older or bigger children. And with the age of compulsory schooling set to be raised to 18, it was likely that lower income families will again be the worst hit, it added.

Donald Moore, Schoolwear Association Chairman, said: “We feel strongly that the benefits of dedicated, school-specific uniform – including a greater sense of belonging, improved behaviour and better security – should not be diminished by punitive taxation. The government has voiced its support for school uniforms but it is now time for them to turn these words into actions.”

To join the Association visit www.schoolwearassociation.co.uk or call 0161 272 7474.

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