Some schools are demanding students wear five or even seven items of branded school uniform, driving up costs for families and flying in the face of statutory guidance.
A study involving 2,000 parents and carers found that on average secondary school uniforms are costing families £422 per student and that uniform policies are demanding an average of three branded items.
However, 29% of the respondents in the research said they are expected to buy four or five branded items – while 13% report having to pay-out as many as for six or seven.
Statutory guidance introduced in September 2022 ordered schools to keep branded uniform items “to a minimum”, limiting their use to “low-cost or long-lasting items” (DfE, 2021). Second-hand uniform items must also be made available and high street items must be allowed, while schools should avoid single supplier contracts.
