The UK government has announced plans to introduce new regulations on school uniforms aimed at reducing costs for parents, with projected savings of approximately £50 per child. These changes are set to take effect from September 2026, according to the Department for Education (DfE).
The proposed measures will cap the number of compulsory branded items that schools require parents to purchase from designated suppliers. The DfE estimates that this policy will impact more than four million pupils across England. Specifically, 35 per cent of primary schools and 70 per cent of secondary schools will need to limit the number of school-specific uniform items to three. Additionally, secondary school students will be required to replace previously branded ties with neutral alternatives.
Recent data from the DfE reveals that the average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit currently stands at £442 for secondary pupils and £343 for those in primary education. While existing guidance already instructs schools to consider affordability to prevent uniform costs from influencing parental school choice, the new regulations represent a significant advancement in addressing the financial burden on families.
These changes form part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is undergoing various stages of parliamentary approval. The bill is expected to have its second reading in the House of Lords later this week.
The government’s vision behind the policy is to alleviate costs for parents, many of whom currently rely on uniform exchange schemes to manage expenses. However, some uniform retailers have expressed concerns that the restrictions on branded items may lead parents to purchase lower-quality items, potentially increasing overall expenditure in the longer term.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Schoolwear Association for comment but has not yet received a response.
Source: Noah Wire Services