WOKING — A secondary school in Surrey has set up its own uniform shop so families can buy clothing at cost rather than paying a mark-up. The Winston Churchill School in Woking says parents can order items on site or online, with skirts, ties and PE kit among the items now available through the school-run supplier.
Head teacher Zoe Johnson-Walker said the change has already made a difference, cutting £20 from the price of a blazer compared with the previous school year. The school says it has spent the past couple of years trying to bring uniform prices down, while still keeping standards in place for pupils.
How the school says it has reduced uniform costs
Mrs Johnson-Walker said the school initially considered dropping branded blazers altogether because they were one of the most expensive items in the uniform range. But she said there was strong demand from parents for blazers to remain badged, so the school worked with its supplier to keep them without adding extra cost.
The school has also removed branded PE tops from its requirements. Instead, it is selling plain black PE shirts through its uniform shop after parents asked for them. The head teacher said the aim was to balance affordability with the school’s view that uniform helps create a more level playing field.
The arrangement means the school is now closer to controlling the price of key items itself, rather than leaving families to absorb supplier mark-ups. For parents, that could mean a more predictable bill before the new school year starts.
Government limits on branded items are reshaping secondary uniforms
The school redesigned its uniform for 2026-27, in line with new government rules that limit secondary schools to three branded items, plus a branded tie. According to the Department for Education, the change is intended to save parents up to £50.
A Department for Education spokesperson said families had made clear they wanted fewer costly branded items and that the policy was designed to respond to that pressure. The department said school uniform matters, but should not become a financial burden for households.
The Winston Churchill School says the new uniform approach fits with those changes, while also allowing it to keep a badged blazer where parents want one. That mix of lower prices and limited branding is central to the school’s current uniform offer.
Charity says back to school puts extra pressure on families
Family support charity Stripey Stork said the back-to-school period places additional pressure on households because of the cost of clothing and footwear. Nicola Dawes, the charity’s chief executive, said the organisation has made uniform support a bigger priority because it knows how important it is.
Over the summer, Stripey Stork gave out more than 15,000 uniform items and about 1,500 pairs of school shoes through its School Days campaign. The scheme, now in its fourth year, received council funding as well as donations of pre-loved items from the community.
The charity’s figures underline the scale of demand for low-cost school clothing at the moment. For many families, support from schools and local charities can help reduce the cost of getting children ready for term time.
The latest UK news and stories from Bailey Universe.
