Parents in England will face smaller school uniform bills from September as a new law limits branded items to three pieces plus a tie for secondary schools. Co-op Academy Belle Vue in Manchester is already changing its uniform policy before the rule takes effect.
At the school, Linda Ubawike, who has three children there, said her bill has dropped by £70 this year. “It has honestly saved me so much,” she said. “I can now get more of the uniform in the local supermarket, and my son who is starting in September is getting the whole uniform for free – it works so much better.”
Co-op Academy Belle Vue
Co-op Academy Belle Vue said it will cut its compulsory branded items from seven to three, plus a tie. It has also dropped the branded blazer, branded pinafore, branded shorts and PE jogging bottoms, and changed its striped branded jumper to a plain one so parents do not have to buy a new jumper every year.
The school said the average cost of the branded parts of the uniform was £101.94 with a pinafore and £83.95 without last year. This year, it said, the branded parts will cost families an average of £53.97, with the price due to fall further next year when it switches to a new supplier.
Parents in England
The government says the changes will save some families up to £50 per child, and about a quarter of schools will need to change their policies by the time the law comes into effect. Many schools already keep branded items to a minimum, but the rule still leaves families facing different requirements depending on the school their child attends.
Lorraine, who has two children in secondary schools, said her school has not changed its policy this year. She said several items are still compulsory, including the branded blazer, tie, branded polo shirt, branded shorts and two-toned PE socks, and even the plain grey trousers or skirt must be bought from one of the school's suppliers. For parents at schools that have not yet changed, the task now is simple: check whether the school already fits the three-item limit before September does it for them.
