Speaking after the release of the government-backed Cost of Schooling 2007 report, Balls told schools not to neglect their legal responsibility to keep the cost of schooling down.
The report found that it costs £683.79 to put a child through primary school and £1,195.47 to put child through secondary school annually. These figures include uniform, school meal and travel costs as well as contributions for school trips.
Almost 40 per cent of parents and carers surveyed found it either very or quite difficult to meet these costs.
Balls claimed there is a particular issue with schools using specialist retailers to supply uniforms, despite government guidance that asks schools to avoid this practice because it disadvantages low-income families.
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