A MOTHER is campaigning to change a school uniform policy she says discriminates against less well-off families.

Tracy Lean was outraged when she learnt she must buy her son's uniform sweatshirt and polo shirt from West Redcar School.

She says she could buy three polo T-shirts without the school logo for under £10 but must instead pay £31.50 to buy them from the school.

West Redcar Community School copyrighted its logo, designed by one of the pupils, a few years ago. Parents must buy the polo shirts and sweatshirts with logos on directly from the school or from an outfitters in Middlesbrough.

Mrs Lean, whose son Kurtis will join the school in September, said the policy was unfair and she would not buy the school's uniform for her son. She plans to organise a petition against the policy and wants other parents to contact her.

Mrs Lean said: "You should be able to buy the logo and stitch it on yourself. This policy actually goes against the Department for Education's own guidelines which says parents should be given the chance to shop around.

"It's just not fair and my husband and myself will not be buying Kurtis these uniform items. There's no way a school can make parents buy any particular piece of clothing."

Stuart Rees, head of the 1,000-pupil school, could not be contacted earlier this week but board of governors chairman Sheila Cooper vigorously defended the school.

She said: "Our uniform was designed by the children and that is the reason why we patented it.

"Parents need only buy the two items from us and can shop around for everything else. We offer discounted prices for the sweatshirts and polo shirts which parents say are of very good quality and last for years and years.

"The school does make a few coppers from this, but it goes directly into school funds."

Redcar MP Vera Baird said she had concerns and would be investigating. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader David Walsh said he would discuss the matter with education officials to see if a compromise was possible.