‘Rip-off’ school uniform prices look set to end as new bill goes to House of Lords

A bid to lower the prices of school uniforms has become closer to reality, as a new bill has gone to the House of Lords for approval.

Introduced in the House of Commons on 5 February 2020, The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill was introduced by Labour MP Mike Amesbury.

The bill – which has government support – would require the government to issue statutory guidance on the cost aspects of state-funded schools’ uniform policies.

Government guidance says governing bodies should give highest priority to the consideration of cost and value for money for parents: “The school uniform should be easily available for parents to purchase and schools should seek to select items that can be purchased cheaply, for example in a supermarket or other good value shop.”

The guidance also says schools should keep compulsory branded items to a minimum and avoid specifying expensive items of uniform, such as outdoor coats.

If the bill becomes law, this means schools will be told they can specify basic items such as trousers and shirts - but not styles. It will allow parents to buy cheaper supermarket kit instead of branded clothing from a single supplier that can cost hundreds of pounds for both primary and secondary uniforms.

In 2015, The Children’s Commission on Poverty, supported by the Children’s Society, published 'The Wrong Blazer: Time for action on school uniform costs', a report that highlighted concerns about uniform cost as well as recommending that the government should explore a school uniform cost cap.

The report added that one of the key reasons for the high costs are school uniform policies that “make parents buy specific items of clothing and accessories from specialist shops” – rather than allowing them to buyer cheaper clothes from supermarkets and sew on a badge or logo later.

The Children’s Society latest survey, published in March 2020, found that parents with 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. On average, these costs are more than three times what parents think is a reasonable cost for primary (£85) and secondary (£105) uniform.

Last year, Spotland ward councillor Faisal Rana launched a nationwide online petition calling for an end to ‘rip-off uniform prices’ and demanding schools end the practice of forcing parents to shop at specialist retailers where prices can be as much as three times higher. He wrote letters to government ministers calling for action to force schools to have a basic uniform and outlaw the practice of using single, and more expensive, providers.

Rochdale councillors passed a resolution supporting the campaign and the borough's three party leaders wrote to schools asking them to reduce the cost of their uniforms.
 

Read more: Party leaders unite in campaign to end "sky-high uniform costs"Published: 07 September 2020

Councillor Rana said: "I support school uniforms. They are a great social leveller and can work out cheaper as children are less pressured to wear the latest designer clothes.

“However, current school uniform policies are failing young people, who can face isolation and even exclusion for not being able to afford the ‘right’ branded school gear. Some schools even demand the school's logo on gym socks.

"Parents should not be told to use only specialist shops when they can buy clothes just as good at supermarkets and discount retailers at a fraction of the price.

“We must not force parents to choose between putting food on the table and buying their school’s expensive branded uniforms, especially when budgets are so tight due to the impact of the pandemic.

"Mike Amesbury's new law is great news for all parents who are fed up at being ripped-off every year when they kit out their children for school. I'd like to thank him and all the MPs who supported the it and also the Children's Society who have campaigned for so long for this change."

The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill has passed its third reading in the Commons and now goes to the House of Lords to be debated, where government support means it is expected to pass.