Statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms

On Friday 19 November the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. The new guidance is available on GOV.UK.  

School uniform should never be a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education. This guidance means that schools will have a legal duty to take steps to keep uniform costs down.  

The guidance requires schools to think holistically about the cost of their school uniform and so covers a range of issues including branded items, supplier arrangements, and second-hand uniform. The guidance also sets out when schools are expected to implement the changes required.  

The Department has also updated the wider non-statutory advice on developing and implementing a school uniform policy. 

The Department has also produced a resource aimed at parents to help explain some of the key changes. Schools are invited to share this with their parents.