School Uniform Rules 2027: New Laws on Branded Items

My son's primary school required branded jumpers, cardigans, PE t-shirts, PE hoodies, book bags, and water bottles. All from one supplier. The jumper alone was £18.

I spent £140 on uniform for one child before I'd bought trousers.

That changed in September 2026.

The New Law

From 1 September 2026, state schools in England can require a maximum of three branded items as part of their uniform policy.

This came from the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021, which took five years to actually limit what schools could demand.

The goal: make uniform affordable. Stop schools signing exclusive deals with expensive suppliers. Let parents buy most items from supermarkets.

What Counts as a Branded Item

Branded means it has the school logo, name, or crest on it. You can only buy it from specific suppliers.

Common branded items:

• Jumpers or cardigans with embroidered school logo
• Blazers with school crest
• PE t-shirts with school name
• Ties (if they have the school crest)
• PE hoodies or sports kit

If a school requires more than three of these, they're breaking the rules.

What Doesn't Count

Plain items in school colours that you can buy anywhere.

Examples:

• Grey trousers or skirts
• White polo shirts
• Black shoes
• Plain navy PE shorts
• White PE socks

Schools can specify colours and styles, but they can't make you buy these from their chosen supplier if they're not branded.

What This Means for You

Your school might require, for example:

• A branded jumper with school logo
• A branded PE t-shirt
• A branded book bag

Everything else (trousers, shirts, shoes, plain PE kit) you can buy from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi, or anywhere else.

This typically cuts uniform costs by 40-60%.

Do All Schools Follow This

They're supposed to.

The Department for Education issued statutory guidance. Schools must have regard to it. That's the legal phrase for "follow this unless you have a very good reason not to."

Some schools responded by reducing branded requirements immediately. Others are phasing changes in over a year or two, so families aren't left with unusable uniform.

If your school still requires five branded items, you can challenge it. Contact the governing body or local authority. Reference the September 2026 guidance.

Second-Hand Uniform

The law also says schools must make second-hand uniform available where possible.

Most primary schools now run a uniform swap or nearly-new sale. Some are organised by the PTA. Others by parent volunteers.

Branded items especially are worth buying second-hand. A £15 jumper for £2 is the same jumper. Children grow fast. Nobody cares if the logo is slightly faded.

Cost Comparison: Before and After

Before September 2026, parents reported average costs of £150-£200 for primary school uniform (one child, full set including PE kit).

After the changes, typical costs dropped to £80-£120 for the same items.

Secondary school uniform is still more expensive, especially if blazers are required. But even there, limiting branded items helps.

What About Private Schools

The rules apply to state-funded schools only.

Independent schools can require whatever they like. Many have extensive branded uniform lists. You knew this when you signed up.

Tips for Buying Uniform

Order branded items early. School suppliers run out of popular sizes in August. If you're ordering online, give yourself three weeks before term starts.

Buy plain items (trousers, shirts, polo shirts) from supermarkets in July when they're on promotion. Asda and Tesco both do two-for-£5 polo shirts. Stock up.

Go big on sizing for branded items. You can't easily replace a £15 jumper mid-year if your child has a growth spurt. Roll the sleeves up. They'll grow into it.

Check the school website or prospectus for the exact uniform policy. Some schools specify details like "navy blue, no logos" for trousers. Don't guess and then have to return things.

What If You're Struggling

Most schools have a hardship fund or can point you toward local uniform banks.

Some local authorities provide grants or vouchers for families on certain benefits. It's not widely advertised. Ask the school office.

The school should never exclude a child or send them home for not having correct uniform if the family can't afford it. If that happens, complain to the governing body.

The Spirit of the Law

Uniform shouldn't be a financial barrier. That's the entire point of the 2026 rules.

Some schools embraced this immediately. Others are dragging their feet. If your school is still demanding five branded items at £20 each, push back. You're allowed to.

The law is on your side.

If keeping track of non-uniform days and PE kit requirements is harder than understanding uniform legislation, My School Agent handles the admin side while you handle the labelling.