New school uniform rules for North East schools from September

From September 2026, schools must limit the number of compulsory branded items of uniform and PE kit to three or fewer.

For secondary and middle schools, this limit increases to four, provided one of the items is a tie.

The new guidelines, stemming from the Education Act and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, aim to ensure that school uniforms are not a financial barrier for families.

The rules state that a branded item is any piece of clothing with distinctive characteristics, such as a name or logo, that make it unique to a school.

Examples include a blazer with an embroidered logo, a sweatshirt with a specific-coloured trim, or trousers with a unique style that are only available from a specific supplier.

To further reduce costs, schools are encouraged to allow parents to purchase generic items, like a plain navy skirt, from a range of retailers, giving them more choice and value for money.

The guidelines also say schools should avoid single-supplier contracts so parents have choice of where they can buy.

Schools are urged to ensure that opportunities to acquire second-hand uniforms are freely accessible to all parents, with information on how to acquire these items published on the school’s website.

It encourages schools to consider the total cost of their uniform to ensure it is affordable for all parents, particularly those from low-income households.

Schools are also advised to avoid frequent changes to uniform specifications and to minimise the cost of higher-cost items, such as blazers and jumpers.

The new rules reflect a shift in focus towards making school uniforms more affordable and accessible for all families, ensuring that no child is deterred from attending a school due to uniform costs.