P.E. uniform information for parents
28th Feb 2025
Dear parents
Some parents have requested a reopening of the portal to purchase the school P.E. uniforms. This will be the last opportunity to order tops this academic year.
https://playr-fit.com/collections/st-marys-ps-aughlisnafin-castlewellan-students
Regarding P.E. uniforms, this week the education minister brought in a new bill regarding P.E. uniforms. He stated, “Schools will have to consult with parents and pupils, and then publish the rationale and cost of their uniforms, as well as the range of suppliers it can be bought from.”
The school carried out open consultation with parents - firstly by a vote carried out on the school website to decide if they wanted school uniforms. The results were 89.66% in favour of a P.E. uniform, 6.90% against and 3.44% unsure.
Following this positive response the school provided a choice of 3 suppliers where both price and quality were considered. There was then an opportunity for pupils and parents to view the prospective uniforms. Again this was put to vote resulting in Playr-Fit receiving 45.45% of all votes (with McKenny’s —21.21%, O’Neill’s—18.18% and normal uniform with polo shirt—15.15%).
Throughout this process the school has tried to keep costs as low as possible for families -
I hope this information shows the steps we have made to be transparent and our efforts to respond to the viewpoints of pupils and parents in developing St. Mary's.
Many thanks,
Mr. Murphy
Some parents have requested a reopening of the portal to purchase the school P.E. uniforms. This will be the last opportunity to order tops this academic year.
This is now live until 13th March - Order Link below - Collection (Home Delivery Optional).
Regarding P.E. uniforms, this week the education minister brought in a new bill regarding P.E. uniforms. He stated, “Schools will have to consult with parents and pupils, and then publish the rationale and cost of their uniforms, as well as the range of suppliers it can be bought from.”
The school carried out open consultation with parents - firstly by a vote carried out on the school website to decide if they wanted school uniforms. The results were 89.66% in favour of a P.E. uniform, 6.90% against and 3.44% unsure.
Following this positive response the school provided a choice of 3 suppliers where both price and quality were considered. There was then an opportunity for pupils and parents to view the prospective uniforms. Again this was put to vote resulting in Playr-Fit receiving 45.45% of all votes (with McKenny’s —21.21%, O’Neill’s—18.18% and normal uniform with polo shirt—15.15%).
Throughout this process the school has tried to keep costs as low as possible for families -
- Price was a factor in the uniforms chosen for selection.
- The school chose collection as a default option for shipping of uniforms to save on postage costs for parents.
- The school, unlike many other schools, chose not to receive commission on the sale of the P.E. uniforms to ensure that costs were kept as low as possible.
- The staff, seeing the quality of the uniforms, have also chosen to wear the uniforms on selected days. These uniforms were purchased by the staff themselves and not subsided through the school.
- The school has offered, and will continue to offer, uniform swaps and exchanges for our families.
I hope this information shows the steps we have made to be transparent and our efforts to respond to the viewpoints of pupils and parents in developing St. Mary's.
Many thanks,
Mr. Murphy
St Mary's Aughlisnafin Primary School, 5 Aughlisnafin Rd, Castlewellan BT31 9JP | Phone: 028 4377 8460
