Labour has announced tougher action to cut the cost of school uniforms, closing loopholes that ministers say have left parents paying unnecessarily high prices for branded clothing and sports kit.
New rules now in force in England limit schools to three compulsory branded uniform or PE items for primary pupils, while secondary and middle schools can require up to four items where one is a tie. The legal limits were introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
Promoting the changes, the Labour Party said:
“No family should be priced out by uniform costs.”
It added:
“That’s why Labour is cracking down on school uniform costs and capping the number of branded items parents have to buy.”
The Government says the latest measures are designed to prevent schools or suppliers from getting around the new limits by describing expensive branded items as “optional” where families have no realistic cheaper alternative. Schools are also expected to avoid unnecessarily restrictive single-supplier arrangements and give greater consideration to affordability when setting their uniform policies.
Under statutory guidance, schools must make second-hand uniform readily accessible and publish information for parents about where it can be obtained. They are also encouraged to allow generic alternatives wherever possible, giving families greater freedom to shop around.
The changes form part of a wider Labour package aimed at reducing the cost of sending children to school. Alongside cheaper uniforms, the Government is expanding free school meals and free breakfast clubs, with ministers estimating that the combined measures could save some families up to £1,200 a year.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Education Secretary Lucy Powell said the tougher rules were part of a broader effort to deliver practical changes that make everyday life more affordable for families.
Uniform costs have long been a concern for parents, particularly where schools require several items carrying bespoke logos or designs that can only be purchased from designated suppliers.
The new rules are intended to preserve the benefits of school uniform while ensuring that cost does not become a barrier to children participating fully in school life.
For Labour, the policy is another example of its focus on household costs — using legislation to give parents greater choice and prevent families being forced to pay a premium simply to meet school uniform requirements.
