Anja Leander, Peperereao James Kawamura, and Malakai Eade
Cambridge High School’s new uniform rollout has hit snags – and some students are wearing donated clothing as a result of stock shortages.
Malakai Eade has taken off the blazer to profile the Year 12 and 13 shirt. Anja Leander is still wearing the jumper to show the range together.
Tim Connolly
The supplier is blaming “forecasting” errors for the shortfall and is air-freighting stock to speed up delivery. SAS Sports’ chief executive Tim Connolly said the company took full responsibility for the impact it was having.
Some parents say they paid between $200 and $500 during pre-sales. Uniforms did not arrive in time for the new term and some that did were the wrong size. In a notice to families, principal Greg Thornton apologised for the delays and the challenges the school has faced with the uniform rollout.
“We have had members of the community, staff and the Cambridge Community House come forward with donated items of clothing to help bridge the gap between delivery dates for the new items,” Thornton said.
“It has really made a difference to our students and is very much appreciated.”
The new uniform was split into a junior uniform with navy shirts and blouses for students in years 9-11, and a senior uniform with light blue shirts and blouses for year 12 and 13 students.
Parents The News spoke to said compounding the issue, students in years 9, 12 and 13 are not permitted to wear the previous school uniform.
Greg Thornton
One parent said she had disposed of her daughter’s old uniform last year and paid $250 for two shirts, a skirt and a physical education (PE) T-shirt, but was then told the items would not be delivered until the end of March.
SAS Sports told parents in a notice stock was expected to arrive next month. Tim Connolly said the company valued its relationship with Cambridge High School and looked forward to seeing students, leaders and sports teams representing the community in the new uniform.
“Despite our best intentions and planning, we made a forecasting error which led to the current supply shortfall,” Connolly said.
“Our teams are working extra hours, and we have been air-freighting stock where possible to speed up delivery.”
SAS Sports has already provided blazers for school leaders and kits for sports teams.
Connolly said the transition to the new uniform had been a complex process.
“Part of the handover involved careful negotiations to ensure the best outcome for the school and the community, especially in this challenging economic climate,” he said.
“We reached an agreement on timelines and the phasing out of old stock that was designed to have no financial impact on the school and allow us to offer generous support to families.”
- Have you been affected? Email editor@goodlocal.nz and put “uniform” in the subject line.
Left to right are Anja Leander (wearing the new school jumper and the Year 12 & 13 uniform) Peperereao James Kawamura (wearing the Year 9 to 11 shirt with the Tupenu or Ie Faitaga) and Malakai Eade (wearing the Year 12 & 13 uniform with the Head Student blazer).
