Key Facts

• The Bill aims to address prohibitive costs of school uniforms that burden families.
• Research cited shows parents spend around £337 per year on secondary school uniforms and £315 for primary school uniforms.
• The Children's Society estimates that 500,000 children were sent home for wearing the wrong clothes due to financial constraints.
• Schools are encouraged to avoid making their uniforms available from a single retailer to promote competition.
• The Children's Society estimates that high uniform costs have affected 500,000 children.
• The Bill is designed to give legal teeth to non-statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education in 2013.
• Previous Governments had intended but failed to legislate on this issue since 2015.
• Mike Amesbury has gained cross-party support, including from the Minister and his team.
• The Bill requires new statutory guidance on school uniform costs for all schools.
• Print Lab, a local company in Aylesbury, supplies uniforms to 22 schools with competitive prices ranging from £105.50 to £107.50.
• One in five families on lower incomes are struggling to pay for school uniforms according to the Children’s Society research.
• The cost of school uniforms varies across the country.
• In Hounslow, the grant for families in hardship has been cut from £120 to £60.
• In Feltham and Heston, almost 5,000 households depend on universal credit with child dependants.
• About 66% of these households are lone parents.
• The average basket price for branded garments (uniform and sportswear) for a child starting secondary school is £101.19.
• Annual costs thereafter are estimated to be between £35 to £40 per year.
• Lower-cost items branded by the school rather than expensive brands like Nike or Adidas should be promoted.
• Mike Amesbury used his private Member's Bill ballot to bring forward this Bill.
• One in six families cut back on basic food essentials due to school uniform costs.
• One in eight families get into debt just to pay for school uniforms.
• Hand-me-downs among siblings are common practice.
• Local authorities' budgets have been cut in the last decade.
• Support for poor families on uniform costs varies by local authority.
• The cost of a secondary school uniform averages around £340-£361.
• 43% of parents reported that uniform costs affected their family's finances, and one in ten families got into debt due to these expenses.
• Some schools lack schemes to help with uniform costs despite the Government’s advisory guidance on cost considerations.
• The Bill could limit the amount of school uniform that must be branded.
• Schools should have a fair and open tendering process at the end of each financial year.
• Paula Hay’s family has struggled to afford uniforms for four children, especially when buying multiple sets simultaneously.
• Uniform costs can exceed £100 per child with additional items required.
• Some schools use the same shop, limiting choices and increasing costs.
• School uniform can impact school standards and results positively.
• The Children’s Society has put the cost of school uniforms at more than £300 a year.
• An estimated 1 million parents are cutting back on food and other essentials due to uniform costs.
• Schools should be required to demonstrate clear engagement with parents during consultations.
• The £340 figure is widely disputed as an accurate cost of school uniforms.
• Complaints about uniform costs are among the most received by the Competition and Markets Authority.
• Stigma associated with applying for support leads to families not taking advantage of available assistance.
• The Bill aims to increase competition in school uniform costs.
• Caldew School in Cumbria reduced costs by using generic items for uniforms.
• NextGen Clothing supports the legislation, competing with retailers like Tesco and Marks & Spencer on generic items.
• VAT applies to children’s clothes above age 14, potentially affecting uniform costs.
• A mother turned away from a school due to high uniform costs of £468.50.
• Sarah Chapman from Wandsworth food bank reports families facing debt and hardship over uniforms.
• Children's Society survey found 13% of parents get into debt for uniforms, nearly one in six cut back on essentials.
• Exclusive suppliers increase average cost by £71 for secondary schools and £77 for primary schools.
• A constituent's daughter faced a cost of over £300 for school clothing and equipment.
• Some schools do not have procedures in place to assist with the costs of uniforms.
• Local authorities are not equipped to provide financial support for all families struggling with uniform costs.
• School uniforms can help children get used to dressing formally at a young age.
• Uniforms foster pride in the institution among parents and students.
• A house system within schools helps provide support networks and guard against mental health issues.
• Without school uniforms, costs for families could be higher due to fashion pressures.
• Collaboration between primary and secondary schools on uniform items could reduce costs.
• The Government's guidance is already available.
• The Bill allows for an appeal process to the Secretary of State if a school does not follow the guidance.
• The MP emphasizes local decision-making and personal choice in determining uniform policies.
• The Government's programme has led to outstanding educational results.
• More competition in school uniform provision is desired for better products and lower prices.
• There are concerns about rural areas being penalised for inability to achieve non-single supplier status.
• Quality of items should be prioritized over sheer cost.
• The Bill was introduced by Mike Amesbury.
• School uniforms can cost over £300 according to research from the Children’s Society.
• Hundreds of thousands of children wear incorrect or ill-fitting uniforms due to costs.
• Parents report cutting back on essentials like food to cover uniform costs.
• Mike Amesbury won a private Member’s Bill ballot.
• Nick Gibb is supporting the Bill as it focuses on making guidance about school uniform costs statutory.
• The Bill seeks to uphold local school freedom and choice, specifically addressing cost-related aspects of uniforms.
• In 2015, the average cost of a school uniform was £213.
• A recent survey by the Schoolwear Association found that parents spent an average of £315 on primary and £337 on secondary school uniforms per child annually.
• The Children’s Society report showed parents spending around £315 for primary and £337 for secondary school uniforms per child.
• Mike Amesbury thanks multiple MPs for their contributions.
• He mentions the support from the Children's Society and other organisations.
• The Bill has received Second Reading approval.