Schools could be named and shamed over unaffordable uniforms

The cost of school uniforms should not be more than 5% of a family's monthly income, according to new uniform guidance from the Department of Education (DE).

The guidance does not set a limit on how much a uniform can cost.

But primary schools have been told not to ask pupils to wear any branded PE kit, and schools which are found not to have followed the DE guidance will be issued a published warning that includes their name.

In October, MLAs passed a law aimed at limiting the cost of school uniforms in Northern Ireland.

Why has the uniform guidance been issued to schools?

The bill has yet to get royal assent but that is expected before the start of the 2026/27 school year.

The guidelines from the department are to accompany the new law.

In a statement, the Education Minister Paul Givan said that the law and guidelines "will ensure affordability becomes a key consideration for school uniforms policies".

But some MLAs were critical of the bill and said it would not deliver for parents.

Others said it did not give girls the right to wear trousers to school.

What does the school uniform guidance say?

There are 16 separate guidelines for schools.

Overall, schools have to ensure that uniforms are affordable for families and "do not impose unfair costs".

Schools are encouraged to get views from parents and pupils on their uniform policies.

Some of the main features of the guidance includes:

• To use plain colours like black trousers or white shirts for as many uniform items as possible, "that can be easily bought from supermarkets or high street retailers"

• To avoid separate summer and winter uniforms

• To use acrylic rather than wool blazers and limit branded or school-specific items

• For primary schools to avoid any branded PE kits and for post-primary schools to limit the amount of branded PE or sports kits

• To run or support uniform banks or exchanges

• Not to send pupils home or stop them taking part in activities for a single breach of the uniform policy

In a consultation on the proposed law many parents identified branded sports kit and other branded uniform items as a particular concern.

Schools have also been told that they should supply kits for their sports teams rather than expect pupils or families to buy kit.

Will schools be punished if they don't make uniforms affordable?

Parents or pupils can report a school to the department if they feel it is using expensive uniform items "without justification".

It DE decides a school is not obeying the guidance it can be named and shamed.

"In cases where the manager of a school is found not to be adhering to the guidelines, the department is required to issue a formal direction to the school, which will be published and include the school's name," the guidance said.

"To avoid this, schools should always aim to identify and use the lowest-cost version of each uniform item."