New law to make school uniform costs affordable for all

Date published: 5 December 2024

Once in law, the new School Uniforms Bill will require schools to place affordability at the centre of their policies.

Welcoming the Executive’s agreement, Paul Givan said:

“I previously indicated my intention to bring primary legislation forward and today marks a key milestone in enabling me to do just that.

“School uniforms play an important role in the ethos of our schools. They help to improve behaviour and a sense of belonging and identity. But we want to be sure they are affordable for parents.

“While there is much good practice in our schools, there are still some whose uniform policies do not place affordability at the centre or follow the current guidance. I am concerned that parents should not find the cost of a school uniform a significant outlay, and it definitely should not deter them from applying for a particular school."

The Minister concluded:

“Once the new legislation is in place, it will remain a matter for schools to determine whether to have a uniform and, if so, what that uniform will be. What the legislation will do is work in tandem with strengthened, statutory guidance to ensure that affordability is transparent and at the centre of school uniform policies.”

In June, the Education Minister, launched a public consultation seeking views on school uniform policy. It received almost 7,500 responses, almost half of which were from parents. The results of the consultation will be published in the coming weeks.