A guide for parents
School uniform costs: what schools must do, and how to spend less
The rules schools have to follow, the second-hand provision they're required to offer, and where the money actually goes.
What's in here
- What schools are required to do
- Where the money goes
- How to spend less
- Help with school uniform costs
School uniform is the children's clothing problem in its purest form. Expensive, worn to death for a year, grown out of rather than worn out, and bought all over again every September.
The rules changed on 1 September 2026, and a survey this summer found nearly half of parents did not know.
There are rules about it, and nobody ever tells parents what they are.
What schools are required to do
The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 made the government's uniform guidance legally binding on state schools in England. Schools must have regard to it, and the main points are these.
| Schools must | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Make second-hand uniform available | Either run it themselves or point you at an established scheme, and publish the details on their website |
| Keep branded items to a minimum | Most of the uniform should be buyable from a supermarket or high street shop |
| Consider the total cost | Including PE kit, bags and anything needed only at certain times of year |
| Prioritise value in supplier deals | Sole-supplier arrangements have to be justified on cost and quality |
| Publish the uniform policy | On the school website, where you can read it before you apply |
That first one is the one nobody tells you. If your school doesn't appear to offer anything, that's not simply how it's. The guidance requires them to, and you can ask the school office or raise it with the governing body.
New from 1 September 2026
Section 35 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 comes into force on 1 September 2026. From then, a state school in England can't require more than three branded items at primary, or four at secondary where one is a tie.
It covers more than the jumper. The limit includes PE kit and any school bag, not just everyday uniform.
And "branded" is broader than a logo. An item counts as branded if it carries the school name or crest, or if its colour, fabric or design means it can only be bought from one particular supplier. Distinctive trousers from a single shop count even without a badge on them.
A survey of a thousand parents this summer found 48% had no idea the change was coming. If your school's list still runs to five or six branded items, that's worth a polite question to the office.
Where the money goes
Branding is the whole cost, and the gap is larger than most people expect.
| Item | School branded | Supermarket |
|---|---|---|
| Blazer or jumper | £65 | £18 to £25 |
| Polo shirts, two-pack | £16 | £4 |
| Trousers or skirt | £20 | £7 |
| Second-hand from a school sale | £1 to £5 an item | |
Indicative prices. Department for Education research found parents save almost £50 on average where uniform can be bought from any store rather than a designated supplier.
How to spend less
Read the uniform policy before you buy anything. It's on the school website and it will tell you which items genuinely need a logo. Most parents buy branded versions of things that never needed to be.
Go to the second-hand sale. Most schools run one, often through the PTA, often in the summer term or the week before term starts. Items are typically a pound or two and much of it has been worn for a few months by a child who then grew.
Search for your school by name on Vinted and in local Facebook groups. School-specific groups exist for most schools and branded items turn up constantly, because the alternative for the seller is a jumper nobody else can use.
Buy the branded items secondhand and the plain ones new. That's the split that saves the most: a logo jumper for two pounds instead of thirty, and fresh polo shirts for four.
Don't buy the whole year in August. Children grow through reception faster than anyone plans for. Two of everything to start, then top up.
Help with school uniform costs
Ask the school directly. Most hold stock and are used to being asked. Schools also often have a hardship fund and won't discuss it with anyone else.
Check your local council. Some run school uniform grants, particularly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where schemes are more consistent. English councils vary considerably.
Baby banks and local charities increasingly cover uniform alongside younger children's clothing. Our guide to free children's clothes covers how to find your nearest.
Read the uniform policy before you buy anything. Half the things people buy branded never needed to be.
🌱 The same problem, all year round
Uniform is the version of this problem schools have been forced to address. Everything else your children wear has exactly the same shape: expensive, outgrown rather than worn out, and bought again every few months with no obligation on anyone to help.
Swapaboo is a swap for the rest of it. You photograph what your children have outgrown, we check and value each piece, and that value becomes credits you spend on the next size from another family. The clothes cost nothing, and the only money that changes hands is the delivery or collection, from £1.99.
We're opening in small batches and it's invitation only for now.
Common questions
Do schools have to provide second-hand uniform?
Schools in England must ensure second-hand uniform is available to parents, either by running provision themselves or by pointing to an established scheme, and information about it should be published on the school website. If your school appears to offer nothing, you can ask the office or raise it with the governing body.
How many branded uniform items can a school require?
From 1 September 2026, no more than three at primary, or four at secondary where one is a tie. That comes from section 35 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. The limit covers PE kit and school bags as well as everyday uniform, and an item counts as branded if it carries the school name or crest or if its colour, fabric or design means it can only be bought from one supplier.
What counts as a branded uniform item?
Anything carrying the school name or logo, and also anything whose colour, design or fabric means it is only available from particular suppliers. A distinctive jumper sold by one shop counts even without a badge on it. The definition is in section 35 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
How much does school uniform cost in the UK?
It varies enormously with how much must be branded. A school-branded blazer can be around £65 against £18 to £25 for a supermarket equivalent, and Department for Education research found parents save almost £50 on average where uniform can be bought from any shop rather than a designated supplier.
Where can I buy second-hand school uniform?
Start with the school's own sale, usually run by the PTA and often selling items for a pound or two. Beyond that, search your school by name on Vinted and in local Facebook groups, since school-specific groups exist for most schools and branded items appear regularly.
Can I get help with school uniform costs?
Ask the school first, since most hold stock and many have a hardship fund they will not discuss with anyone else. Some councils run uniform grants, more consistently in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than in England, and local charities and baby banks increasingly cover uniform too.