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Parents across England have admitted skipping meals or turning to credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services to afford costly school uniform items, prompting the government to take action.
A recent survey by the parenting charity Parentkind revealed that nearly a third of parents had forgone food or heating to buy uniforms, while almost half expressed concern about the rising costs.
Why uniform costs got out of control
Several factors allowed school uniform prices to escalate:
-
Decentralized decision-making: Schools have historically had full control over uniform policies, including which items must be branded and which suppliers to use, often without any cost limits.
-
Commercial influence: Specialist uniform suppliers benefited from captive markets, charging premium prices for “official” items.
-
Perceived prestige and control: Branded items were seen as reinforcing school identity and discipline, even though evidence suggests they have little impact on behaviour.
-
Lack of government regulation: Until now, no national rules capped the number of branded items or allowed cheaper alternatives.
-
Social pressures: Parents often felt compelled to buy exact branded items to prevent their children from feeling left out, driving up costs further.
Government action and expert observations
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged schools to reduce the number of required branded items immediately, ahead of a law taking effect in September 2026 that will limit schools to three branded items plus a tie for secondary and middle schools.
The legislation will explicitly allow parents to buy cheaper uniform staples—like shirts and trousers—from general retailers such as Aldi or Marks & Spencer.
Parentkind’s chief executive, Jason Elsom, highlighted that parents overwhelmingly believe branded uniforms make little difference to behaviour, a sentiment echoed by This Writer’s own mother, a former teacher. She also pointed out that a simple, cost-effective solution would be to provide patches for logos on generic clothing—retaining school identity without forcing families to spend hundreds of pounds.
Here’s how much families could save
Under the new system, the potential savings are significant. A typical uniform list currently requiring multiple branded items—blazers, jumpers, polo shirts, PE kit—can cost up to £400 per child. By limiting branded items to three plus a tie, and allowing generic alternatives for the rest – well, see for yourself:
-
Blazers: £60–£100 reduced to £40–£50 for a generic alternative
-
Jumpers or cardigans: £25–£40 reduced to £10–£15
-
Shirts and trousers: £50–£70 reduced to £20–£30
-
PE kit: £60 reduced to £25–£30
-
Total potential savings per child: £150–£200
For families with more than one child, the cumulative savings could be substantial, allowing parents to keep money in their pockets without compromising school pride.
The reforms mark a rare instance of government intervention directly alleviating financial pressure on families, while addressing the longstanding inequities of England’s school uniform system.
As Phillipson (rightly) put it: “School uniform matters, but it shouldn’t break the bank.
“No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying a new blazer.”
Share this post:
Parents shouldn’t have to skip meals to afford school uniforms says government
Share this post:
Parents across England have admitted skipping meals or turning to credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services to afford costly school uniform items, prompting the government to take action.
A recent survey by the parenting charity Parentkind revealed that nearly a third of parents had forgone food or heating to buy uniforms, while almost half expressed concern about the rising costs.
Why uniform costs got out of control
Several factors allowed school uniform prices to escalate:
Decentralized decision-making: Schools have historically had full control over uniform policies, including which items must be branded and which suppliers to use, often without any cost limits.
Commercial influence: Specialist uniform suppliers benefited from captive markets, charging premium prices for “official” items.
Perceived prestige and control: Branded items were seen as reinforcing school identity and discipline, even though evidence suggests they have little impact on behaviour.
Lack of government regulation: Until now, no national rules capped the number of branded items or allowed cheaper alternatives.
Social pressures: Parents often felt compelled to buy exact branded items to prevent their children from feeling left out, driving up costs further.
Government action and expert observations
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has urged schools to reduce the number of required branded items immediately, ahead of a law taking effect in September 2026 that will limit schools to three branded items plus a tie for secondary and middle schools.
The legislation will explicitly allow parents to buy cheaper uniform staples—like shirts and trousers—from general retailers such as Aldi or Marks & Spencer.
Parentkind’s chief executive, Jason Elsom, highlighted that parents overwhelmingly believe branded uniforms make little difference to behaviour, a sentiment echoed by This Writer’s own mother, a former teacher. She also pointed out that a simple, cost-effective solution would be to provide patches for logos on generic clothing—retaining school identity without forcing families to spend hundreds of pounds.
Here’s how much families could save
Under the new system, the potential savings are significant. A typical uniform list currently requiring multiple branded items—blazers, jumpers, polo shirts, PE kit—can cost up to £400 per child. By limiting branded items to three plus a tie, and allowing generic alternatives for the rest – well, see for yourself:
Blazers: £60–£100 reduced to £40–£50 for a generic alternative
Jumpers or cardigans: £25–£40 reduced to £10–£15
Shirts and trousers: £50–£70 reduced to £20–£30
PE kit: £60 reduced to £25–£30
Total potential savings per child: £150–£200
For families with more than one child, the cumulative savings could be substantial, allowing parents to keep money in their pockets without compromising school pride.
The reforms mark a rare instance of government intervention directly alleviating financial pressure on families, while addressing the longstanding inequities of England’s school uniform system.
As Phillipson (rightly) put it: “School uniform matters, but it shouldn’t break the bank.
“No family should have to choose between putting food on the table and buying a new blazer.”
Share this post:
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