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School uniform: New rules signal crackdown on branded items

Legislation and guidance Government policy Poverty Vulnerable children
Schools must keep branded uniform items “to a minimum”, limiting their use to “low-cost or long-lasting items”, new statutory guidance states. Pete Henshaw takes an in-depth look at the new rules


Second-hand uniform items must also be made available and high street items must be allowed. Meanwhile, single supplier contracts should be avoided, and contracts should be retendered at least every five years.

All schools are now required to review their uniform policies in light of the new guidance and schools must be compliant with the bulk of the requirements by September 2022, with full compliance expected by summer 2023.

Importantly, schools are expected to have taken steps to adhere to the new guidance before parents buy uniform for the academic year beginning in September 2022.

The new guidance (DfE, 2021) has come after a Private Members’ Bill by Mike Amesbury MP was given cross-party support in April.

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