School uniforms: New guidance tells schools to keep costs low
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School uniform is going to be made more affordable for those of you in England.
New rules are set to be announced by the government on Friday, which will tell schools to keep uniform costs down.
From autumn term in 2022, schools will need to remove unnecessary branded items and allow cheaper options, from high-street shops or supermarkets, to be worn.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said school uniforms "should be a real source of pride" and not "a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education".
Some schools already allow students to wear non-branded items, but uniforms can cost hundreds of pounds and lots of families struggle to find the money to afford them.
The news has been welcomed by many - but child poverty campaigners say more action is needed.
Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham said the guidance was "just the first step" and the government in England should provide more help for parents with less money.
"We know that parents struggle with the cost of school uniform and that kids are excluded from activities for not having the right kit," Ms Garnham said.
"No child should be priced out of participation at school."
WATCH: Nine-year-old Lydia has set up a school uniform bank with her mum - 'I feel happy that I'm helping other children have a school uniform'
Children in state maintained schools spent on average £337 per year on school uniform for each secondary school child and £315 per year for each primary school child.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of parents said that the cost of school uniform had meant their child had worn ill-fitting, unclean or incorrect uniform.
SOURCE: The Children's Society - The Wrong Blazer Report 2020
What does the guidance say?
At the moment, some schools ask that parents or guardians buy their children's uniforms from a specific supplier which can be very expensive, particularly for families with more than one child at school.
The new guidance says that having just one uniform supplier should be avoided, branded items should be kept to a minimum and schools are encouraged to allow more high-street options.
It says school uniform should be affordable so parents should not have to think about the cost of a school uniform when choosing which school(s) to apply for.
What about the rest of the UK?
In Scotland, parents can apply for school-clothing grants of £150 for secondary-school pupils and £120 for primary
In Northern Ireland, these grants are £50 and £30, respectively
In Wales, parents of children eligible for free school meals can apply for grants of £125 per pupil and £200 for new Year 7 pupils
Schools will also have to make sure second-hand uniforms are available for parents to buy and information about how to get second-hand uniforms should be clearly shown on the school's website.
Uniform banks and exchanges are already very popular in the UK for people wanting to save money and avoid waste.
Second-hand uniforms, not only save money but also help the environment.
The Department for Education will publish the new guidance on Friday as part of the Education (Guidance About Costs of School Uniform) Bill.
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