Overview
- From September 2026 most schools must limit compulsory branded uniform and PE kit to three items and secondary and middle schools may require up to four if one is a tie.
- The rule applies to academies, trusts, maintained schools, non‑maintained special schools, pupil referral units and local authorities.
- Schools must publish clear uniform policies, say which items are compulsory, avoid single‑supplier contracts where possible and not exclude pupils from lessons for financial non‑compliance.
- A Money Wellness survey of 1,000 parents found 48% were unaware of the change and parents are split on savings, with about 61% expecting some cut in costs and 30% expecting none.
- The reforms sit alongside measures to make half a million more children eligible for free school meals and to open more than 2,000 free breakfast clubs, but savings will depend on how individual schools implement procurement and behaviour policies.