Statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform

Be clear what the DfE's statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform means for your school and what you need to do to comply.

Last reviewed on 4 November 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 43629
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
  7. Is there a limit to what my school's uniform can cost?
  8. Is there a limit to the number of branded items we can ask pupils to have?
  9. What counts as a branded item?
  10. I'm in a long-term contract with my uniform supplier. What should I do?

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

What you need to do, and when

Your school was expected to comply with most of this guidance by September 2022 (see below for exceptions).

By the end of the summer term 2022, you should have:

  • Reviewed your uniform policy, and made changes where necessary (unless the exceptions set out below apply)
  • Published your uniform policy on your website
  • Made sure second-hand uniforms are available

If you haven't already completed the steps above, do so as soon as possible.

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

If you need to run a competitive tender process, you should aim to have your new contract in

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