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School uniform is now costing secondary school parents 拢400 per year on average and still includes multiple branded items, according to a poll suggesting new government rules have had limited impact.

Statutory guidance came into force last September to ensure 鈥渢he cost of school uniforms is reasonable and secures the best value for money鈥�. It included new rules on branded items and affordability.

But a poll of 2,000 parents by The Children鈥檚 Society in May found total costs had actually risen. 

Parents of secondary pupils pay on average 拢422 per year for uniform. At primary, the cost is 拢287 on average.

Below a quarter believed their school uniform policy had reduced the number of branded items.

Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who introduced the private member鈥檚 bill, said it appeared the new rules 鈥渁ren鈥檛 clear enough so can be interpreted differently by schools, or the message isn鈥檛 getting through.

鈥淚 would urge the Department for Education to do more so schools make these important changes鈥�.

Some schools have up to 7 branded items

In the guidance, schools are also asked to keep branded items 鈥渢o a minimum鈥�, including for PE kits.

The poll shows the average pupil was expected to have three branded items, while 29 per cent of secondary pupils were required to own four to five branded items.

Another 13 per cent of secondary pupils were expected to own between six and seven branded items.

Under the DfE鈥檚 own guidance, branded items are not just those with logos, but any item of clothing 鈥渨ith distinctive characteristics which make it unique to the school or trust鈥�.

Schools are told to think about the 鈥渢otal cost of their school uniform鈥� and that it is 鈥渘ot enough to consider everyday classroom wear鈥�, under DfE鈥檚 advice.

The Children鈥檚 Society鈥檚 poll also revealed secondary school pupils鈥� parents were paying 拢75 on average a year for coats and bags, 拢63 for PE trainers and 拢62 for school shoes.

This was followed by blazers at 拢46, skirts and dresses at 拢46, and jumpers and ties at 拢40.

Mark Russell, the charity鈥檚 chief executive, described the figures as 鈥渁larming. With inflation and the cost of living eating into family budgets, we are disappointed that the affordability of school uniforms remains a significant financial burden for many families,鈥� he said.

Schools not signposting parents to second-hand uniforms

Schools were expected to review policies to ensure they were compliant with the guidance by September last year. But nearly half (45 per cent) of parents reported that policies had not been updated.

While the charity acknowledged some schools may have already been compliant, only 30 per cent of parents reported that an up-to-date policy was available on the school website.

Schools are also told to ensure arrangements are in place so second-hand uniforms are available, such as through 鈥減eriodic鈥� sales or swap shops.

Only 26 per cent of parents said the school signposted them to such initiatives. 

However, the charity did not release a full breakdown of their findings, so it is not known how many parents said schools had not signposted them to initiatives.

Last year, The Children鈥檚 Society estimated the average cost of school uniforms to be 拢315 per primary pupil and 拢337 per secondary pupil.

But it said this year鈥檚 figures were not comparable due to a change in questions asked of parents, as well as inflation, which now sits at 8.7 per cent.

Poorer children punished for breaching uniform guidance

Schools must 鈥渉ave regard鈥� to the document when developing and implementing uniform policies.

The guidance states: 鈥淚f a distinction can be made between those who can afford it and those who cannot, this can reduce the benefits of a uniform and has the potential to negatively impact attendance, access and participation, and lead to bullying.鈥�

Where suspected financial hardship resulted in 鈥渘on-compliance鈥� with a school鈥檚 uniform policy, the guidance states schools would be expected 鈥渢o take a mindful and considerate approach to resolve the situation鈥�.

But the charity鈥檚 findings show 22 per cent of parents reported their child had been given a detention for breaching uniform policies due to being unable to afford correct uniform.

One in eight (12 per cent) of parents said their child had been placed in isolation for the same breach.

And 7 per cent said their child had been excluded for wearing the wrong clothing or shoes.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has previously that the guidance was published 鈥渞ather than subsidising expensive uniform policies with financial assistance鈥�.

Though no government funding is allocated for supporting low-income families with the cost, 鈥渟chools may offer additional support in cases of financial hardship鈥�.

In a parliamentary written response to Amesbury last month, Gibb the DfE had only received three complaints about school compliance with the statutory guidance.

A spokesperson for the DfE said: “We will continue to work with responsible bodies and schools to ensure the guidance is followed and uniform policies are reasonable.鈥�