School uniform prices could go up despite new government plan to cap costs

A quick look at why a plan to cut uniform costs might mean higher bills for parents.

Transcript

00:00The average cost of compulsory secondary school uniform and sportswear is just over £92,

00:08according to the Schoolwear Association. Since 2021, when the government introduced new guidance,

00:14costs have dropped by around a quarter. But under fresh proposals, schools would be told

00:19to limit branded uniform items to three plus a tie, so parents can shop around for the rest.

00:26Retailers warn this could lead to higher prices overall, with 60% saying they would need to raise

00:31prices to cover lost income. More than half say they would have to cut discounts or support schemes

00:36for families on low incomes, and a third claim they might not survive at all. The Children's

00:42Society supports the new cap, saying thousands of children are unfairly punished or excluded

00:46because families cannot afford expensive uniforms. As the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill moves

00:52through the House of Lords, campaigners and parents alike are watching to see what difference

00:56it might really make.