THE cost of sending children to state school in Britain has increased by more than £500 in three years, research suggested today. 

A report by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) found that it costs around £2,275 a year to send a child to secondary school, while the cost for primary school exceeds £1,000.

Costs have soared since 2022, when the charity conducted similar research which found that annual costs were £1,755 for secondary schoolers and nearly £865 for primary school students.  

The report cited rising food costs, an increased need for technology, textbooks, stationery and higher subject costs such as art materials as some of the key drivers of the rise.

Parents told researchers increased costs can significantly affect a child’s school experience.

One said her son does not always complete his homework and is “always getting detentions for missing equipment.”

CPAG head of education policy Kate Anstey said: “Government’s forthcoming child poverty strategy must improve living standards for families.

“Help with the cost of the school day – including an expansion of free school meals and cash support with uniform costs in England – would make a huge difference to parents and kids alike.

“And unless the strategy scraps the two-child limit, more and more children across the UK will see their potential – in and outside the school gates – stunted by poverty.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said the government is taking “decisive action” through its upcoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

She added: “As part of our plan for change we have also tripled investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, with delivery of free breakfast clubs beginning in 750 schools from the start of the summer term.”