School uniform
The wearing of a school uniform falls to schools to determine.
Guidance for schools
The day-to-day management of schools, including school uniform policy, is a matter for the Board of Governors of a school.
The Department has provided guidance for schools on school uniform policy for many years. The original circular was issued on 30 March 2011 and was reissued on 5 June 2018. The guidance provides advice only.
The Department is introducing statutory guidelines which grant-aided and independent primary and post-primary schools will have to adhere to. When these guidelines are introduced they will replace circular 2011/04. The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill has passed through the Assembly stages of legislative scrutiny and is now waiting for Royal Assent, following which it will come into operation. Once it becomes law the Department’s statutory guidelines will be introduced. More information on the Bill can be found at – School Uniform Legislation.
The Department wrote to schools informing them about the anticipated requirements of the Bill on 24 September 2024 and advising them to take action in relation to school uniform policies from that point. Letter of 24th September 2025.
When the Bill passed its Final Stage in the Assembly, the Department wrote again to schools to update them about this and advise them to ensure that information in their school prospectus took account of the incoming legislation. Letter of 14th October 2025.
Help with clothing costs
Families who are on benefits or on low income, could be entitled to clothing grants. The eligibility criteria are similar to those used for free school meals. Information for parents on school uniforms and how to apply for a clothing grant can be found on NI Direct.
The grant does not apply to pupils in attendance at nursery schools, nursery units or reception classes.
When the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill comes into operation pupils in independent schools will also be able to access the clothing grant – currently it is only pupils in grant-aided schools who are able to do so.