FAREHAM — Parents in England will face new limits on branded school uniform items this term, as a law takes effect requiring schools to keep logo-bearing clothing to three items, plus a tie for secondary pupils. Ministers say the change should help families spend less on uniforms and reduce pressure on household budgets.
The government has suggested some parents could save up to £50 per child. But schoolwear suppliers argue the picture may be less straightforward, warning that cheaper-looking non-branded clothes may wear out faster and lead to higher spending over time. In Hampshire, families, a second-hand uniform bank and a headteacher have given mixed views on whether the change will make a meaningful difference.
Parents say branded kit still adds up quickly
Kay Devonshire-Murphy, a mother of three from Fareham, said she tried to manage the cost of uniform by buying items throughout the year, often from charity shops and second-hand sales. Even so, she said three branded items remained too expensive for many families.
She said a PE top had cost her £18, and that she had needed to buy three. She also said a new blazer for one child had cost £30, along with a tie. In total, she said she spent about £75 on branded items per child.
For families with more than one child, she said, that level of spending quickly became a serious burden. Her comments reflect the wider debate over whether limiting branded kit will genuinely lower costs or simply shift where the money is spent.
Fareham uniform bank sees demand from struggling families
Councillor Gemma Furnivall set up a second-hand uniform bank in Fareham after seeing how quickly her own eight-year-old son grew out of clothes. She said many parents are reluctant to admit they cannot afford new uniform, even when the cost becomes difficult to manage.
She said the people who use the bank often come away with “huge bags” of items, especially when children are moving up to secondary school and need a long list of new clothing. In her view, the new law shows government is treating uniform costs as a genuine pressure point for families.
She added that the cap on branded items should send a clear message to schools that affordability matters. While the policy will not solve every problem, she said it should still make a difference for many households.
Schools and suppliers remain divided over what the law will change
At The Petersfield School in Hampshire, pupils already wear only four branded items. Headteacher Mark Marande said he supports having some logoed clothing because it can help students feel they belong and take pride in their school.
He said branded items such as blazers and PE tops contribute to that sense of identity. He also argued that uniform can remove pressure on pupils on non-uniform days, when some may feel they need expensive trainers or specific tops to fit in.
The Schoolwear Association has taken a different view, saying the new rules could increase costs if parents end up replacing lower-quality generic garments more often. It also warned that reducing branded uniform could affect equality, behaviour and school culture. The Department for Education says the average total cost of a child’s uniform was just under £250 in 2023/24, with PE kit costing about £140.
What the Department for Education says about the average cost
The Department for Education says the policy is part of wider efforts to help schools bring down the price of individual items. Ministers argue that keeping branded clothing to a small number of essentials should stop costs from climbing unnecessarily when children change schools or grow out of uniform quickly.
Officials have pointed to the average cost figures as evidence that uniform remains a major expense for many families. The department says the average total cost for one child’s school uniform was just under £250 in the 2023/24 school year, while PE kit alone came to around £140.
Supporters of the change say that even modest savings will matter for households with several children. Critics, however, remain unconvinced that lower-cost generic items will outperform branded ones in the long term. For parents now shopping for the new school year, the impact is likely to vary depending on the school and the type of uniform already in use.
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