Millions of families to benefit from lower school uniform costs

Parents of over four million children are set to benefit from lower school uniform costs, new government analysis has found.

As the government's landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill proceeds in the Lords this week, analysis shows new laws will wipe over £70 million off the cost of uniform for families across the country.

It comes as a new survey shows a third of parents are still worried about uniform costs, with one in five schools said to have actually increased the number of branded items required over the past year.

While currently schools are required to ‘limit' the number of branded items they require, today's survey shows almost half are not doing so.

Parents are having to pay £442 on average to kit a child out for secondary school, and £343 for primary school, putting unnecessary financial pressure on families.

To cut those costs for families and break down barriers as part of the government's Plan for Change, new proposed laws will limit the number of branded, typically more expensive, items schools can require to three - excluding ties.

Lowering uniform costs is just one of the measures in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which will strengthen safeguards for vulnerable children, put more money back in parents' pockets including through free breakfast clubs, and bring every school up to the standard of the best.

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.

“This bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our Plan for Change.”

The new uniform laws will save parents £50 a year in their back-to-school shop, which alongside the measure to introduce free breakfast clubs in all schools, will put £500 back into the pockets of parents. 

Today's analysis shows parents of an estimated 4.2 million pupils across 8,000 schools will have more flexibility to choose where they purchase their school uniform with the introduction of the cap.

Uniform can create a sense of identity and pride for pupils but it can also be a source of anxiety and in some cases even impacts school attendance.

Lynn Perry MBE, CEO of Barnardo's said:

“Barnardo's welcomes the cap to the number of branded uniform items required by schools. It cannot be right that children are going to school wearing ill-fitted clothes or shoes due to the high cost of uniforms – but, as high prices continue to impact families, it's yet another essential item that parents are struggling to afford.

“We look forward to seeing even bolder action in the upcoming child poverty strategy to tackle the number of children growing up in poverty.”

Existing statutory guidance on school uniform means all schools must consider and aim to minimise the cost on parents - but the new cap on branded items will take this even further.

This government is determined to deliver on its Plan for Change to break the link between background and success – because a child's background should not be what shapes their future.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Children's Wellbeing and School bill will enter Second Reading in the house of Lords on Thursday 1^st May
• Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
• Data on the current costs of school uniform Cost of school uniform survey 2023
• Statutory guidance on school uniform costs: Cost of school uniforms - GOV.UK
• The Pupil and Parent survey, carried out in September 2024, included responses from 4167 parents and 3402 secondary pupils.
• The School and Teacher survey, carried out in September 2024, included responses from 2347 school leaders and 2683 teachers

--

Thomas Cave, Public and Policy Affairs Manager at The Children's Society said:

“It's good to see the government taking steps to ease the cost of school uniforms. A maximum limit on the number of branded items a school can require is a welcome move for families under financial pressure.

“We have been campaigning for years for costs to be driven down. With 4.5 million children living in poverty, there's more to do. Striking the right balance between affordability and the sense of belonging and pride school uniforms can bring is crucial to making sure every child feels included.”

Chief Executive of Parentkind, Jason Elsom, said 

“This year's National Parent Survey tells us that almost half of parents are worried about school uniform costs, it's the biggest single school cost parents face.

“Our data shows that the poorest parents are spending up to a quarter of their income on sending children to school with these parents being asked to spend £250 a year on school uniforms and sports kits. Parents on the lowest incomes are often forced to give their children donated used uniforms meaning our poorest children stand out in tired looking jumpers and clothes, even on their first day back at school.

“It's not just the poorest families though, even a third of families with household incomes over £150,000 a year say they are concerned by uniform costs.

“Parents will welcome steps to drive down these costs.”

Joseph Howes, CEO of Buttle UK and Chair of the End Child Poverty Coalition said;

 “For many families living in poverty the cost of uniform can be a huge worry. No parent should have to go without food so that they can afford a branded blazer for their child's school uniform. “Limiting the number of branded items required by pupils should put money back in families' pockets. Alongside this we also need clear guidance for schools from the government to ensure that the impact of poverty is fully considered when uniform policies are produced.

“Ensuring pupils are not punished or isolated for poorly fitting trousers as new ones are too costly, or that expensive blazers can be replaced by cheaper alternatives with badges that could be sewn on at home.”

Ark Director of Education Venessa Willams said:

“The Bill aligns closely with Ark's desire to keep uniform costs down for parents.

“As a network, we have already started reducing the number of required branded items, and we're going further by putting a price cap in place for uniform in all of our 39 schools.”