A NEW fund has been created at a secondary school to help low-income families pay for school uniform.

John Usher, Conservative councillor for Potter's Bar West and Shenley wards, has donated £2,000 to help less well off families with children at Hertswood School, Cowley Hill.

The new fund is to help families on low incomes meet the cost of buying school uniforms – which can cost up to £200 when a pupil starts at a state secondary school.

The money will be converted into vouchers which parents can then redeem at a school uniform outfitters.

Cllr Usher used money from his locality budget of £10,000, funds which were launched in July by Hertfordshire County Council to help social, economic or environmental causes.

Jan Palmer Sayer, headteacher at Hertswood, said: "We are delighted to receive this money. It will enable the school to help families who find the move to secondary school a very expensive one.

"We want to ensure that students start in Year 7 at Hertswood with the necessary confidence to embark on their all-important secondary education."

Councillor Usher said: "It is vital that youngsters all start secondary school on an equal footing with their peers and a smart school uniform really contributes to making the students feel they belong and gives them a sense of pride in their school."

Some councillors are still inviting bids for this funding year. For more information on how to apply, visit www.hertsdirect.org and type 'locality budgets' into the search box