Doncaster 28th August 2024 — With less than a week until the new school term begins, Ridgewood School parents face a uniform crisis after the school’s official supplier, SWI, failed to deliver orders on time. Many families are now relying on uniform banks, second-hand donations, and the generosity of fellow parents to ensure their children are properly dressed for the start of the school year.
Parents who placed their orders as early as July have taken to local Facebook groups to express their frustration, reporting that crucial parts of the uniform, including school ties, skirts, and blazers, have yet to be delivered. The SWI website, the sole provider of Ridgewood’s logo-bearing uniforms and specific ties, displayed several items that were out of stock by mid-July and only recently restocked them. However, even these new supplies have yet to reach many families in time.
The situation has left many parents in a difficult position. Some have turned to local uniform banks, but this has sparked feelings of guilt among those who worry they may be depriving others in greater need. “I can afford to buy new uniforms, but now I’m taking from a uniform bank because the supplier didn’t deliver on time. It’s not right,” said one concerned parent.
Others have sought help through local Facebook groups, asking if anyone has spare uniforms to sell or donate. In response, the community has rallied, with many parents offering used uniforms from previous years or directing others to local charity shops. Yet, this stopgap solution comes with its own challenges, as certain items, such as the school’s logoed blazers and ties, can only be obtained through SWI.
This isn’t the first time SWI has been at the centre of a uniform delivery controversy. In 2015, thousands of children across the country faced a similar predicament when the supplier failed to deliver orders placed months in advance. Parents then, as now, expressed outrage, with some demanding an independent investigation into the company’s operations. At the time, SWI’s director attributed the delays to a computer glitch.
Adding to the frustration, many parents worry that when their orders finally arrive, the uniforms may not fit properly, as there is no option to try them on before purchase. This has prompted some parents to urge the school to consider returning to their previous supplier, Cliffs, who they found more reliable and accessible. However, there have also been complaints about the quality of the uniforms received from SWI, with some parents stating that they were inferior to those previously supplied by Cliffs.
In a recent survey conducted within the Ridgewood community’s Facebook groups, numerous parents reported still waiting for essential uniform items. So far, at least 52 parents are missing ties, 6 are missing PE shirts, 14 are without skirts, and 12 are still awaiting blazers, with some parents waiting five weeks from the date they ordered.
As the first day of school rapidly approaches, Ridgewood parents hope their children will only have to walk through the school gates with the correct uniform. This situation could have been avoided with better planning and communication from the supplier.
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