Statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform

Last reviewed on 29 November 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 43629

The DfE has published new statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform. Find out what this guidance means for your school and what you need to do to comply.

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Contents

  1. What you need to do, and when
  2. You must take cost into account when you develop your uniform policy
  3. Uniform policy requirements
  4. Make sure second-hand uniform is available
  5. Manage costs through effective procurement
  6. FAQs

This article summarises the DfE's statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. 

What you need to do, and when

You should comply with as much of the guidance as possible by September 2022.

This means that by the end of the summer term 2022, you need to:

  • Review your uniform policy, and make changes where necessary (unless the exceptions set out below apply)
  • Publish your uniform policy on your website
  • Make sure second-hand uniforms are available

You have until summer term 2023 to comply with the guidance if:

  • Changing your uniform would require you to breach a pre-existing contract or informal agreement with a uniform supplier
  • You need to run a competitive tender process to set up a new contract

If you're tied into a long-term contract with a

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