New national guidance which aims to reduce the cost of school
uniforms for families has been published.
Following consultation with schools, families, uniform suppliers,
pupils and councils, the new guidance also sets out key
considerations to ensure pupil comfort, freedom and happiness.
The guidance, which can be used to form individual school uniform
policies, includes advice on encouraging schools to adopt
measures that limit costs for families and reduce waste,
including limiting the number of items that pupils need and
promoting items that can be reused more easily.
The Education Secretary launched the guidance during a visit to
Camperdown Primary School in Dundee where she learned about work
by pupils to develop a cost of the school day action plan.
Ms Gilruth said:
“Every child in Scotland should be able to attend school feeling
comfortable, confident, and ready to learn. However, we know the
cost can be a significant burden for families and we want to
support schools to minimise these costs.
“This new national guidance contains measures for schools to
develop and implement their own affordable and sustainable
policies that recognise the individual needs of all pupils.
“It makes clear that schools are expected to do all they can to
limit school clothing costs for families as part of our wider aim
to reduce the cost of the school day. The guidance also
encourages schools to develop flexible and inclusive policies
which promote generic items of clothing and do not include
compulsory branded items, supporting our efforts to be more
sustainable.
“Ending child poverty is the central mission of this government
and reducing the cost of the school day for families will play a
crucial role in this work.”
Background
School uniform and clothing:
Guidance for schools and education authorities
There is no legal requirement to wear school uniform in Scotland.
The new guidance does not mandate the wearing of school uniform
at national level.
The non-statutory guidance applies to public schools in all local
authorities. This guidance is also available to grant-aided and
independent schools to consider when developing their school
uniform and clothing policies. Grant-aided and independent
schools are strongly encouraged to take account of this guidance
when reviewing uniform and clothing policies in their schools.
Early Learning and Childcare settings that have a uniform or
clothing policy may also find the guidance helpful.
The level of school clothing grant has increased to at least £120
for primary school pupils and £150 for secondary school pupils
from the start of the new school year in 2021.
