Creating Value In Schools
Please enjoy this free content - for more Need To Know articles please consider a subscription
The DfE has updated its statutory uniform guidance in preparation for a proposed cap on compulsory branded uniform items in school. This is part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and the proposed cap should come into force in September 2026.
Schools and trusts need to make sure that uniform is affordable, requirements are made clear to parents, and second hand options are available. It’s also an opportunity to consider the sustainability of supplier arrangements.
The Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill proposed a limit on compulsory branded items of school uniform. This measure will apply to all items listed as compulsory in a school’s uniform policy and includes any bags required.
The limit applies to all state schools. From September 2026:
The purpose of this cap is to reduce the cost of school uniform for parents by increasing the number of items which parents can buy from a range of retailers. Expensive uniform can put parents off applying to schools or act as a barrier to participation in school activities.
Schools can continue to include optional branded clothing items in their policy, so long as generic alternatives are also acceptable.
The government’s impact assessment on this measure estimated that 35% of primary schools will be affected, and 71% of secondary schools. It also estimated savings for parents with children in primary school of around £21m per year, and for those with children in secondary school around £52m per year.
Research such as the Priced out of school report highlights how school uniform can act as a barrier to school attendance. Their survey found that 47% of all young people who missed school because they didn’t have what they needed, said they did so because they did not have the correct uniform or kit.
The updated statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform makes it clear that schools should prepare now for these limits, as well as reviewing other aspects of uniform policy. Expensive uniform policies can have a negative impact on attendance, access and participation.
There is a useful list of actions for schools, which includes:
When considering supply arrangements, schools and trust should consider cost and value for money, including an item’s:
Listen to this two minute clip where Paul Edmond, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer at Heart Academies Trust, explains how investigating the life cycle and sustainability of school uniform can reduce costs and benefit the planet.
| Note: This Need to Know was first published in February 2025 and was updated in November 2025. |
