The Department for Education is clear in their mission for the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill – “families shouldn’t have to be out of pocket when it comes to setting their child up for school.”.
And yet, school uniform costs are still putting children from poor backgrounds at a disadvantage – and girls even more so.
At first glance, the most recent Department of Education statistics for school uniform costs are a positive thing. The average price of school uniform has, on the whole, dropped, from £279.51 (adjusted for inflation) to £249.58, a 12% decrease.
But look in closer detail, and it’s not all good news. The average total expenditure on PE kit has increased by £24.50, now sitting at £139.70 compared with £115.11 in 2015 (adjusted for inflation). But the stat we’re finding hard to swallow? The price of girls uniform.
A recent article in The Times explored disparities in the cost for school uniforms between girls and boys, showcasing an 8.6% higher price for girls’ uniforms. Cost inequality between girls and boys school uniform puts girls at a disadvantage – and it gets even worse as children reach secondary school age, where the price of girls’ uniform hits an average of £289.04, compared to £266.14 for boys’ uniform. This is despite the Department for Education’s specific guidelines that the costs should be equal.
So, why is girls’ uniform more expensive?
Shirts and trousers are more expensive than those made for their male counterparts, and girls often have to buy extra pieces – such as skirts – which add additional costs. We’re used to seeing higher costs for women’s products in general with research from the Co-operative Bank revealing that, across seven commonly purchased toiletry products, women paid nearly 40% extra for their lower-cost essentials on average. But for school children who will outgrow their clothing on a yearly basis regardless of gender, this bias feels particularly unfair.
To add insult to injury, schools that specify a compulsory shop to buy uniform from are passing on prices that are x3 what parents would pay at a high street retailer. Considering some schools require families to purchase 10+ compulsory items, it’s little wonder that 12% of families say they have been in financial hardship as a result of having to buy school uniform.
What can the education sector do about this?
The UK government have already set an expectation for schools to provide access to second hand and pre-loved school uniforms and P.E. kits, allowing access to more affordable options for those families who need it most. Sending a child to school shouldn’t be a financial hardship for parents; it’s why we, as an organisation, exist – facilitating an easy-to-use online store for schools, PTAs and organisations to sell second-hand school uniforms, with all funds raised going back into the schools themselves.
Why not just eradicate school uniform altogether?
There are solid financial arguments for removing school uniform altogether – and the government doesn’t actively stipulate that schools MUST have a school uniform. However, there are many benefits to school uniforms, when approached in a thoughtful, fair way, and studies even show that wearing school uniform can have a positive impact on children’s mental health [Article].
What is the UK government doing about school uniform costs, and what is the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will introduce measures to help with school uniform costs and introduce free breakfast clubs in all state-funded primary schools in England. Schools will be banned from requiring parents to buy more than three branded items as part of the school uniform, and Secondary / Middle schools will be able to require an additional branded item if one of those items is a branded tie.
By stopping schools from forcing parents and carers to buy large numbers of branded items, the bill will reduce the cost burden on all families – something we’re pleased to support.
When is the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill coming into force?
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill was introduced in Parliament on 17 December 2024, and had it’s second reading in parliament in January 2025, with hearings bringing in key voices from the sector, from anti-bullying charities to anti-poverty campaigners. The bill has just completed the Commons Committee Stage on 11th February 2025 and is awaiting the report stage and third reading, for which a date has not yet been set. As of now, there is no set date for when the bill will pass.
