Givan welcomes vital step towards reducing the cost of school uniforms

Date published: 15 September 2025

The Bill will provide the necessary powers to ensure schools adhere to statutory guidance to address affordability of school uniforms.

It also opens access to the clothing allowance administered by the Education Authority to pupils in independent schools.

Paul Givan said: 

“Today marks a significant step forward in the legislative process required to bring forward the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill and deliver change that will make a real difference to parents. At a time of growing pressures on family budgets, I am extremely concerned that families are finding the cost of a school uniform a significant outlay, and that in some cases it deters them from applying for a particular school.

“This Bill aims to strike a balance between recognising the role that school uniforms play in the ethos of our schools and ensuring that school uniforms are affordable for all. It will see strengthened, statutory guidelines created to ensure that transparency and affordability are at the core of school uniform policies.”

Addressing criticisms of the Bill, the Education Minister continued: 

“Suggesting that this legislation will not deliver for parents fundamentally misrepresents both the purpose and the strength of the Bill. It has been carefully constructed to ensure it delivers real, tangible support for families struggling with the cost of school uniforms, while also being workable for schools and robust in law.

“The focus has been on getting it right — not on over-legislating or introducing unnecessary provisions that could result in vague, overcomplicated, or legally unworkable guidelines. Unfortunately, I am informed that some of the amendments were poorly drafted and do not represent legislative best practice. Every provision in the Bill has been considered in light of legal advice, the practical realities faced by schools, and the need to avoid exposing schools to increased risk of legal challenge due to unclear or overly broad wording.

“This Bill requires that school uniforms are affordable and it places a clear statutory duty on the Department to issue guidelines that address the cost burden on parents, while allowing schools the clarity and flexibility to implement these changes effectively.”

Paul Givan concluded: 

“I welcome the progress made to date and I want to see this Bill now move through the remaining process, with the support of the Assembly, to deliver this important piece of legislation as quickly as possible for parents.

“Work is continuing on preparing guidelines and communications to schools ready for issue once Final Stage is completed. This will ensure we remain on track for schools to adhere to statutory guidelines from the 2026/27 school year.”

It is anticipated that the Bill will have its Final Stage in the Assembly in October 2025.