More children to arrive at school with ‘dirty uniforms and unclean hair’ this term, poll says

More children are likely to arrive at school this term with unclean clothes and unbrushed teeth, a poll of teachers has suggested.

Nearly three in four (72%) school staff believe there has been an increase in “hygiene poverty” issues in their school in the last year.

Dirty uniforms and PE kits, unwashed hair and unclean teeth were the most cited indicators of hygiene poverty by the school staff who were questioned in June.

A separate survey found that of the 500 staff who had said they were aware of pupils experiencing hygiene poverty, 71% expect the levels to have increased by the start of the new school term in September.

Some even reported personally washing uniforms and PE kits for children at home, and handing out laundry detergent for families in need.

Pupils isolated by others

Charity The Hygiene Bank, and cleaning brand smol, defines hygiene poverty as those who are “caught between being able to heat their home, pay their bills, buy food or keep clean”.

Sarah Smith, executive headteacher of St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, a primary school in Blackpool, said hygiene poverty will have an effect on the mental and overall wellbeing of the children, which in turn will negatively impact their education.

The survey, which was conducted by market research platform Attest, suggested that 72% of school staff said they had seen pupils affected by hygiene poverty experience low self-esteem.

Meanwhile, 53% said these pupils were isolated or “left out” by other pupils in class, and 50% said they had seen a negative impact on mental health.

More than a quarter (26%) said they had seen pupils stay off school as a result of hygiene poverty.

The Suds in Schools initiative – run by smol, in collaboration with The Hygiene Bank – is hoping to expand its initiative which provides mini laundrettes to schools, so more families in need are provided with clean clothes.

It wants to raise £25,000 to establish an additional 25 laundrettes in UK schools.

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“We believe that everyone should have access to clean clothes, in order to live their life to the fullest, and our research shows just how much this can impact young people at a crucial stage in their academic and social lives,” Lucy Wishart, of smol, said.

Julie McCulloch, director of policy at the Association of School and College Leaders called on the government to do more to tackle the level of child poverty in the UK.

She said the problem is “utterly unacceptable” and has worsened due to the COVID pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will appear on the Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge starting tonight at 7pm on Sky News.