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Written question asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 September 2019, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 September 2019. It was answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton (Conservative) on Monday, 9 September 2019 on behalf of the Department for Education.


Schools: Uniforms

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for implementing the commitment in their 2015 report A better deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms to put best practice guidance for school uniform supply in England on a statutory footing.

Original answer

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The answer was corrected by Lord Agnew of Oulton (Conservative)

on Friday, 4 October 2019 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Corrected answer

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

It is for the governing body of a school (or in the case of academies, the academy trust) to decide rules relating to appearance, including whether there should be a school uniform, what it will be and how it should be sourced.

No school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling unable to apply to, or attend, a school of their choice. The Department’s best-practice guidance advises schools that they should give the highest priority to cost considerations and achieving value for money for parents.

The Department intends to put the school uniform guidance on a statutory footing when a suitable opportunity arises.

The Department’s guidance is attached and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL17659
Session
2017-19
Related items
Lord Speaker’s Statement
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Notes
Supreme Court ruling of 24 September that Parliament was not prorogued on 9 September.
Subjects
Competition Schools Uniforms
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk