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Expensive school uniforms are set to be be the target of a new policy published before the end of the year, amid concerns that some parents are having to shell out for up to 17 branded items per child.
This is the result of a government survey conducted earlier this academic term.
The survey was launched some months after the Island's competition watchdog had already made a set of recommendations on school uniforms.
Asked by Deputy Andy Howell for the results of the most recent consultation, Children and Education Minister Inna Gardiner said she had received responses from 588 parents across primary and secondary school, including JCG and Victoria College Prep.
She said: "55% of parents were either very dissatisfied or dissatisfied with the current cost of uniforms.
"The majority of parents are spending between £100 to £200 on school uniforms per year and the majority of parents advised they felt there were too may branded items and compulsory items.
"They believed that it should be between one and two items of branded clothes for the main uniform, and one or two branded or compulsory items for PE uniform."
Pictured: Children and Education Minister Inna Gardiner commissioned the most recent consultation in autumn term this year
She added that the issue had asked headteachers to follow up on the survey after the end of their strike.
Deputy Gardiner added: "It was a very clear public outcry over the last two years at least."
A JCRA report, as well as media reports, had highlighted the high number of branded items that parents have to buy for their children.
Deputy Gardiner said: "Some schools don't have any, some schools have one or two, and some schools have 17.
"The gaps are very, very big and this is the reason that a new policy will be finalised by the end of this year and published."
A three-year implementation period will form part of the policy, she said, allowing parents, schools and retailers to adapt to the new law.
In April this year, an extensive study by the island's competition regulator, the JCRA, found that it was "not uncommon" for branded or compulsory items to make up more than 40% of listed school uniform items.
It recommended that the government consider policy development and practices adopted in other jurisdictions, that schools regularly review their contracts with suppliers, and for the JCRA to work with authorities to improve guidance on the tender process for uniforms.
The market for school uniforms in Jersey is worth £1.6 million, the watchdog found.
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