No pupil ‘should be put off sport by school uniform rules’

The government has rejected concerns that a limit on branded uniform items could prevent children from taking part in school sports.

Ministers want to cap the number of branded uniform items that schools in England can require to three per child, plus a tie, and introduce the limit in September 2026.

The move has been widely welcomed, with Mark Russell of the Children’s Society saying: “The high cost of school uniforms has put an unnecessary financial strain on families for far too long.”

But concerns with some aspects of the policy have been raised, with Conservative MP Louie French this week questioning if the government has considered how it will affect participation in school sports.

Pupils 'shouldn't be discouraged from taking part'

In response, education minister Catherine McKinnell said the government expects schools to make sure that all pupils can take part in every aspect of school life, including sport and PE.

“No pupil should be discouraged from participating because of the cost of additional uniform requirements,” she commented.

“This limit allows school leaders to prioritise branding the uniform and PE kit items which best reflect the needs of their school.”

Ms McKinnell stated that guidance already encourages schools to select PE kit items that are comfortable, practical and appropriate for all students.

“Together with new limits on unnecessary branded items, this approach will help to ensure that all students feel confident and able to participate fully in physical activities,” she said.

Branded uniform cap will be good for girls

Ms McKinnell also noted that the new policy could be particularly beneficial for girls.

This, she said, is because they tend to be more comfortable and likely to play sport in the long-term if they have more choice over what to wear for PE.

In fact, research by the Youth Sports Trust shows that when asked about PE and sports kit, 29% of girls didn’t “like the look” of current options, while 30% wanted to wear their own choice of sportswear.

Meanwhile, 56% said they wanted “more options to choose from”.

How much could parents save?

According to government figures, 24% of primary and 70% of secondary schools still require five or more branded items.

And in some cases, parents have been asked to provide 10 or more.

That means that any savings will vary depending on what the rules are at your child’s school, especially as costs will vary from one supplier to the next.

But estimates suggest that parents of children at primary schools that have to remove at least one item could save about £14 on average per pupil.

And for people with children at secondary school, the saving could be around £19 per pupil.

“School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities,” Ms McKinnell said.

“However, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items, including branded PE kit.”

She added that introducing the limit on branded uniform items would “bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities”.