---

Schools: Uniforms

Answer

The Department has received 123 pieces of correspondence relating to school uniform since 1 September 2011. Correspondence data are not recorded in such a way that it is possible to identify how many of these were complaints about the cost of uniform.

Responsibility for school uniform policy rests with the governing body or the academy trust, including how the uniform should be sourced. The governing body should be able to demonstrate to parents how best value has been achieved and keep the cost of uniform under review. The Department has published non-statutory school uniform guidance on its website at:

www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/b0014144/schooluniform

That guidance clearly states that when considering their school uniform policy, governing bodies should give ‘high priority’ to cost considerations, and no school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling socially excluded. The Department does not collect information about whether schools which have adopted a new uniform on conversion to academy status, about the costs of school uniform, or about the number and value of grants paid by local authorities to help parents with the cost of school uniform.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

120023; 550 cc601-2W

Session

2012-13

Subjects

Schools Uniforms

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk