Education Minister has welcomed the School Uniforms
(Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 coming
into operation, having received Royal Assent.
This means that families across Northern Ireland will pay less
for school uniforms as new statutory Guidelines come into force.
The School Uniforms Guidelines, which have now been laid in the
Assembly and issued to schools, become statutory for schools to
adhere to with immediate effect. This means that school uniform
policies for the 2026/27 school year must follow all the
requirements set out in the Guidelines.
Education Minister, said: “School uniforms play an
important part in promoting a sense of identity, pride and unity
for pupils and supporting the ethos of the school.
“However, the cost of school uniforms is consistently cited as a
key concern for parents.
“I sought to address this issue as a priority when taking up
office and I am delighted that parents will now be assured that
schools must comply with the statutory School Uniforms Guidelines
and will see the benefits of lower uniform costs in time for the
next academic year.”
continued: “This Act compels all
grant-aided and independent primary and post-primary schools to
adhere to the School Uniforms Guidelines, which also set out how
schools should consult with parents and pupils on their school
uniform policies, review these policies regularly and publish
information on their rationale for uniform choices, including the
cost of items and where they can be purchased.
“These robust Guidelines also state that branded items must be
minimised, and generic PE kit must be prioritised.
Additionally, they ensure uniform requirements will not prevent
pupil participation or penalise pupils who are unable to afford
items.”
The Minister concluded: “The aim of this Act is to ensure that
school governing bodies put affordability, comfort, practicality
and sustainability at the centre of their decision-making when
they set their school uniform requirements.
“The cost of a school uniform should not be a significant burden
for parents, nor should it deter them from applying for a
particular school for their child. This Act has the power to make
those principles a reality.”
The statutory Uniforms Guidelines can be found on the DE website
at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-uniforms-guidelines
