Industry News
School bags 'worth £265'
Posted on 21st August 2007
An insurance firm has published figures suggesting the average school bag of a child aged between 11 and 16 years old contains £265-worth of equipment.
The report by esure claims 60 per cent of parents say their children never go to school without their mobile phone and 17 per cent take a games console such as a Nintendo DS.
It also found nine per cent of pupils use electronic personal organisers instead of a paper diary or timetable.
The insurer compiled a list of must-have possessions some children take to school and claims it is not impossible for a school bag to be worth more than £1,100, once designer sports equipment and electronic gadgets are taken into account.
Head of home insurance at esure Nikki Sellers said: "Gone are the days of arming your kids with a fountain pen, exercise book and a pair of plimsolls on the first day of school."
She added parents should consider extending insurance to cover belongings but said the best place for valuable items was at home, not in the classroom.
The research comes as the government promises clearer guidelines on school uniforms is to be published this autumn. It is expected instructions will include school clothes being cheap and readily available.