Bridget Phillipson's flagship law on school uniforms undermined by one awkward fact

Bridget Phillipson's flagship plan to limit the number of school uniform items a school can prescribe for pupils took a major hit today after it emerged the cost of items has fallen for a third year in a row. The is introducing a new law that she claims will help parents with the cost of school uniforms.

However it's already been warned that the law could inadvertently end up increasing costs for parents. Now it's emerged that the cost of school uniforms is falling in real terms anyway, further undermining the need for Ms Phillipson's law. Data collected from 548 schools, representing approximately 15% of England's secondary school population, reveals that prices rose by 34% less than the rate of inflation.

The average cost of school uniforms, including daywear and sportswear, is now £92.45. However, had prices tracked inflation, this figure would have risen to around £130 instead.

This is the third year in a row where uniforms have become more affordable, and suggests that Labour's interfering law could be moot. While schools are currently able to demand pupils have as many branded items as they like, the average number of pieces is 5.2 items.

Experts have warned that if limited to just three items, as Ms Phillipson aims to do, the cost to parents could counterintuitively increase.

School leaders say the first items to be dropped will be PE kits and school bags. Parents will then have to source their own equipment, however will be pressured by their children to get more expensive, luxury items to avoid bullying.

Matthew Easter, Chair of the Schoolwear Association, said: "The government has repeatedly stated that the school uniform cap will save parents money.

"But the existing schools' guidance and the work of specialist retailers have ensured that uniforms have been consistently getting cheaper in real terms for several years.

"While we support the principle of making sure uniforms are affordable for families across the country, this blunt, bureaucratic cap is likely to cause parents to end up spending more in the long-term and undermine the progress made under the 2022 guidance.

"We urge the government to recognise the schoolwear sector's progress in reducing costs, and work with the industry to find a better solution to an arbitrary cap which will do more harm than good for families' pockets."

Ms Phillipson has also been warned that the cap could result in fewer school uniform items being donated to struggling families.

Kate France, who runs a so-called 'uniform bank' for families in need, said today's figures on the cost of kit "highlight the importance of durable, high-quality uniforms".

She added: "At Uniform Exchange, we see daily how robust uniforms from specialist retailers significantly reduce family costs and environmental waste by lasting through multiple children.

"The proposed cap on school-specific items risks pushing families towards cheaper, less durable supermarket uniforms, increasing overall spending and waste. It could also drastically reduce the availability of quality donated uniforms for families in need."

A DfE spokesperson said: "For cash strapped families to be worrying about sky high school uniform costs is simply wrong and nearly a third of parents are still telling us this is an issue."

"This is exactly why we are changing the law to limit the number of branded items schools can insist on, so instead of parents having to buy a skirt or dress from a specific shop, they can buy from the shop that suits them best, saving some families over £50 on the back-to-school shop.

"Our Plan for Change is removing barriers to opportunity, with limits on branded items of school uniform just one of the steps we're taking to put money back into parents' pockets and break the link between background and success."