Planned changes to school uniform policy will affect over four million pupils across England, according to new estimates from the Department for Education (DfE).
The government says seven in 10 secondary schools and 35% of primary schools in England will have to reduce the number of compulsory branded items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary students.
The new rule is part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which still has several parliamentary stages to go through before becoming a law.
The government says families will save money, but school wear manufacturers warn the plans could end up costing them more.
The average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit for a child at secondary school is £442, and is £343 for a primary school pupil, according to the latest DfE data.
Existing statutory guidance, introduced by the previous government, requires schools to consider the cost of their uniform so that it is not a deciding factor for parents when choosing schools.
The current government wants to go further, by limiting the number of items unique to a school that have to be bought from designated suppliers.
The government claims parents will save around £50 per child through the school uniform measures, which it hopes to introduce in September 2026.
But uniform retailers warn that the planned changes might increase costs for families. The Schoolwear Association says the plans could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality generic garments which might not last as long as branded items.
They say branded uniforms also play a role in reducing inequality in schools and improving behaviour.
Many parents rely on uniform exchanges to afford the full list of items required by their children's schools...read more