Parents of millions of children will be able to buy cheaper school uniforms because of a law reform currently going through parliament, the government has claimed.
Analysis by the Department for Education (DfE) said the Schools Bill – whose full title is the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill – will reduce uniform costs for families by £70 million across England, saving parents £50 a year.
The bill is currently being scrutinised by the House of Lords, but the government has insisted it will help reduce the costs of school uniform by limiting the number of branded items schools can require children to have.
As the House of Lords continues scrutiny of the bill, Yahoo News looks at what the bill could mean for school uniform costs.
What does the bill aim to do?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposes a raft of reforms including free breakfast clubs, the creation of a new register of all home-schooled children in England, and reforms to academies.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has said the bill, which was approved at third reading by 382 votes to 104, will ensure the “biggest reform of children’s social care in a generation”.
MPs have previously raised concerns about the high costs parents face in buying branded items of clothing for uniform.
The government has insisted it will help to reduce the costs of school uniform by placing limits on the number of branded items schools can require children to have.
This limit will be three items, excluding school ties.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Looking smart at school shouldn’t cost the earth and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.
“Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year and make sure family finances have no bearing on children’s time at school.”
Surveys suggest parents are finding school uniforms unaffordable. (Stock image: Getty)
How expensive is school uniform?
Research suggests that parents believe school uniform is increasingly becoming unaffordable.
While schools are required to limit the amount of branded uniform items, DfE research suggests they are not doing so, with parents having to pay on average £442 for secondary school uniforms, and £343 for primary school uniforms.
Last year research for the Children’s Society charity suggested that more than two thirds of secondary school parents believe the cost of school uniform is not affordable.
About half of parents of secondary school pupils said they have to buy at least three school logo branded items for their child.
A poll, of 2,000 parents of school age children across the UK, found that 56% felt the cost of uniform is not affordable – and the figure was even higher among parents of secondary pupils (67%).
Statutory government guidance, which came into effect in autumn 2022, already tells state schools in England to keep branded uniform items to “a minimum” and to limit their use to “low-cost or long-lasting items”.
But the survey, carried out by Censuswide in June, suggests 63% of parents said their school has not changed its uniform policy in the past two years.
What else will the bill do?
Alongside the uniform limits, the Bill proposes to introduce free breakfast clubs, create a new register of all home-schooled children in England and reform academies.
A new register of all home-schooled children in England will be created if the legislation becomes law, while free breakfast clubs will be introduced to ensure children are “ready to learn at the start of the school day”.
The bill would also require all state schools, including academies, to teach the national curriculum.
It would also allow councils to open new schools which are not academies, and would end the forced academisation of schools run by local authorities which are identified as a concern by Ofsted.
The bill is currently being scrutinised by the House of Lords. (Stock image: Getty)
What is the reaction to the bill?
Mark Russell, chief executive at the Children’s Society, has previously said the organisation welcomed the government’s proposals to limit branded items and tighten up the legislation on uniform.
He said: “We believe school uniform can have real benefits for children and, if any parents are struggling with the affordability of uniforms, we urge them to contact their school and the school governors.”
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), also said previously: “Schools are acutely aware of the need to keep the costs of school uniforms as low as possible. Teachers and leaders witness the impact of poverty every day and many schools help discreetly provide items of clothing to families that are unable to afford the cost.
“All schools have to follow statutory guidance which states that the use of branded items should be kept to a minimum.”
James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders’ union the NAHT, said: “Schools work extremely hard to ensure that their uniform is affordable and have schemes to support families who may be struggling with the cost.
“These schemes include offering parents access to good-quality, second-hand uniforms. Many schools also already have the option of non-branded items as part of their uniform requirements.
“Most schools will feel fairly comfortable with the restriction on branded items, but it will be important that the Government engages on the finer detail, simply to avoid any unintended consequences.”
The Schoolwear Association has argued that the plan would “cost parents more”, saying that capping branded items of uniform could create “inequality in school” and drive up costs as young people put pressure on their parents to buy alternative clothing from brands such as Nike or Adidas.
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