Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (Labour) is calling on schools to reduce the number of branded uniform items they require parents to buy ahead of the new term. The government intervention comes as families face mounting pressure from back-to-school costs. New rules taking effect in September 2026 will legally limit schools to requiring just three branded uniform items, plus an optional branded tie for secondary schools.
Currently, schools can make parents buy an unlimited number of branded uniform items. Phillipson told The Sun she wants schools to implement these changes immediately rather than wait for the legal requirement. The Department for Education estimates families could save £50 per child under the new rules.
"These figures lay bare the stark realities facing hard-working parents, with expensive branded school wear pushing families into debt," Phillipson said. "It's a disgrace that families are being forced to choose between food, heating and the back-to-school shop and it needs to stop." She added: "You don't need a posh blazer to learn your times tables."
Financial hardship data
According to multiple sources, 29% of parents go without heating or eating to afford school uniforms for their children. Research shows 31% of parents are likely to go into debt specifically to buy school uniforms. The Guardian reports that total uniform costs including PE kit can reach £400 per child.
Additional data reveals 45% of parents use credit cards to pay for uniforms, while 34% turn to buy-now-pay-later schemes like Klarna. The Evening Standard reports that 86% of parents believe branded uniforms make no difference to student behaviour.
Current school responses
Some schools are already taking action to reduce costs before the legal requirement comes into force. Several institutions now allow trainers instead of formal shoes as a cost-saving measure for families. The new regulations represent the first legal limits on branded uniform requirements in England.
Phillipson described the uniform cost reduction as part of Labour's broader Plan for Change, which includes free breakfast clubs and extending free school meals to half a million more children. "I'm absolutely determined to make sure where a young person grows up does not determine what they go on to achieve," she said.
Sources used: "The Sun", "Evening Standard", "Mirror", "MyLondon", "Independent", "Express", "The Guardian", "Birminghammail", "Department for Education" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
