Another controversial change in the uniform at Nailsea School has been proposed this week.

In September 2011 the school banned girls wearing skirts but now it is proposing to bring them back along with expensive blazers.

Parents of the 1,200+ pupils at the Mizzymead Road school have been invited this week to take part in a uniform consultation to see if they would support a move towards a school blazer, which would be worn as a compulsory item of uniform.

The proposal is to introduce the blazer to the different year groups over two years from 2016.

This would mean that students in the current Year 9 and above would not need to buy the new blazer.

As the blazer is introduced it would replace the jumper as essential uniform, however this will continue to be an optional extra, to be worn under the blazer.

Head teacher Chris Wade said: “I am also asking for your opinion on the introduction of a pleated skirt for girls, also as an optional extra.

“These would only be available from our uniform supplier – School Togs.”

Clevedon School and Gordano School have already introduced blazers which are only available from one approved supplier and cost between £34-40 plus.

Journalist Amy Packham writing in the The Huffington Post UK only last month reported that: “Some parents are spending a lot more than they need to on their children's school uniform due to exclusive deals between schools and suppliers according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

“The Government's competition watchdog has issued an open letter to all head teachers urging them to recognise that these exclusive deals are ‘not giving parents value for money’.

“The CMA found in some cases parents were paying up to £10 extra per item because they were buying from the schools' appointed suppliers.

“Anne Pope, the CMA's senior director of enforcement, states in the letter 'schools should make sure that there is competition for the supply of school uniforms to parents. Customers benefit from lower prices, better quality goods and services, new and innovative products and greater choice'."

Parent Karen Weeks who set up a Facebook page to discuss the proposals said: “When Nailsea School governors where asked why they would not allow other suppliers of school uniform they told us in a statement: ‘The governors agreed unanimously with the current school policy for the particular items of school jumper and tie to be supplied through School Togs in order to maintain consistency across all students in these two key items. These are the only items of the normal school uniform required to be purchased in this way and the school supplies guidance on where to purchase approved shirts, trousers and shoes from a variety of suppliers at a variety of cost’.

“Consistancy? Surely this will mean children will look different if some wear the blazer, and some don't?

“Also, this is to be rolled out over two years, so there will be a lot of different uniforms during that time.

“Why can't we be allowed to have logoed jumpers from somewhere else - Tesco supermarket sell blazers from £12 and a jumper with logo for £7.50?

“I will be taking part in the consultation especially when they are considering skirts, which they have already banned once, and will probably do again.

“This will be the third uniform change since my daughter started that school.

“Let’s hope enough of us kick up that they will actually listen.”

Governors backed former head teacher David New five years ago when he said: “After a vigorous debate it was decided by an overwhelming majority that in order to enable all students to participate fully in learning activities