School uniform costs in England

Schools in England are not required to have a uniform, although the Department for Education (DfE) strongly recommends that they do so.

School governing bodies decide what a school’s uniform policy should be. The Department for Education expects schools to take account of its published guidance when developing those policies.

In 2021, legislation was passed for statutory guidance to be put in place to ensure school uniform costs do not become excessive. Guidance published by the DfE sets out that no school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice, due to the cost of the uniform.

The statutory guidance on costs published in 2021 sets out the considerations state-funded schools should have in ensuring their uniform policies do not lead to excessive costs for parents. Schools were expected to comply with the new guidance by September 2022, although there may have been particular reasons, such as pre-existing contracts, why some schools will come into line with the new guidance at a later date.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill currently before parliament would set limits on the number of branded items state-funded schools may require as part of their uniform.

Research published by the Department for Education in 2024 found that the cost of school uniform was decreasing, but remained a concern for parents.

This briefing provides an overview of the rules and guidance in place relating to school uniform in England, in particular the recent changes. It addresses some Frequently Asked Questions, discusses previous proposals and reports on uniform costs, and provides information on support with uniform costs across the UK.