Pupils wearing a uniform in a classroom (Image: Getty)
Retailers have warned that the government’s proposed cap on school-branded uniform items risks closing businesses and increasing families’ costs.
The Schoolwear Association said the government has failed to engage with the industry on the risks of implementing a limit of branded kit to three articles, plus a tie, since September 2026 in England.
Matthew Easter, chair of the organisation which represents the school uniform industry, said: “We are concerned that the real impact of this new legislation has not been properly thought through by the Government.
“The Minister for Schools has declined opportunities to meet with the Schoolwear Association time and again. There is now a significant risk that the Government’s decision will adversely impact pupils and school life in general, by undermining the welfare and attainment benefits that uniform is there to preserve.
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“Schools work hard to understand what works best for their community. Government should be supporting them to cater for their most disadvantaged pupils instead of imposing yet more rules for schools to implement. This completely arbitrary cap will have drastic unintended consequences for education standards and welfare – all while making the cost problem worse, not better.”
The schoolwear association’s poll found that at least 31% of school uniform retailers said their business risks closure if the cap is introduced.
And 88% reported they would need to consider staff redundancies, threatening thousands of jobs across the UK.
The Schoolwear Association said pupils may feel socially compelled to wear expensive in-fashion brands, particularly for sportswear, which will drive up costs for parents.
Roughly two-thirds of uniform costs already come from non-branded items, meaning any short-term savings of £5-10 from fewer branded items will likely be offset elsewhere.
A branded blazer lasts an average of 2.4 years, compared to 1 year for cheaper supermarket alternatives.
The association said this means families will need to replace generic items more frequently, increasing costs over time.
A Department for Education (DfE) has considered the impact of the cap on uniform providers, which the Government has said will save families more than £50 a child.
Ministers did not do a formal consultation on the uniform cap but the Government insisted it engaged with stakeholders informally through calls and meetings.
A spokesman for the DfE said: “A key aim of the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill is to cut the cost of sending children to school through free breakfast clubs and a cap on branded uniform items.
“Too many families tell us that the cost of school uniforms remains a financial burden. By limiting the number of branded items required, we can save families over £50 on the back-to-school shop.
“This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child can achieve and thrive.”
By Matthew Easter, Chair of the Schoolwear Association
The Government’s proposal to cap branded school uniform items to just three (plus a tie) risks devastating small, family-run schoolwear retailers while doing little to address affordability concerns. This poorly thought-through policy threatens to dismantle the equalising benefits of school uniforms while inadvertently increasing costs for parents.
School uniform retailers, like many small businesses, were already under significant pressure following the Government’s first Budget, which increased costs for employers. The proposed uniform cap now adds even more strain to these family-run businesses, many of which have supported schools and communities for generations. A recent Schoolwear Association survey revealed that 31% of retailers risk closure if the cap is imposed, with 88% saying they may need to lay off staff. Thousands of jobs are on the line.
The cap also risks diverting sales to supermarkets, which prioritise seasonal stock and mass production, leaving parents struggling to find uniforms for children who don’t fit ‘standard’ sizes. Worse, it opens the door to students wearing costly branded sportswear, undermining the policy’s aim of affordability.
Uniforms are more than just clothing – they are a social equaliser. Research shows they reduce visible inequalities and improve behaviour and academic performance. Yet this policy risks exposing students to social pressures to wear expensive, on-trend brands. Existing school uniform guidance, introduced in 2021, has already delivered year-on-year reductions in costs. The proposed cap threatens to undo this progress, forcing businesses to cut quality, raise prices, and reduce discounts or free uniforms for struggling families.
The Government must now properly engage with schools and industry alike. Schools, families, and businesses need a flexible, evidence-based approach to uniform policy – not arbitrary caps that harm jobs, education standards, and children’s welfare.