New school uniform rules explained in full as they come into force next month

Parents and caregivers have been warned about a new school uniform rule coming into force next month, with almost half admitting they had no idea about the changes.

The new rules will apply from September 2026, as children across the UK prepare to head back to school after the summer holidays.

Under the new rules, most schools will only be allowed to require pupils to have a maximum of three compulsory branded uniform and PE kit items.

For secondary and middle schools, that limit rises to four or fewer if one of the items is a tie.

The changes are designed to make school uniforms more affordable, with Gov.uk stating that affordability should never be a barrier to the schools parents apply to or the activities children take part in.

From September, most schools will only be allowed to require pupils to have a maximum of three compulsory branded uniform and PE kit items (Getty Stock Images)

However, a new survey suggests plenty of parents aren't aware of the changes.

According to a survey of 1,000 parents with school-age children by advice site Money Wellness, 48% had no idea about the new rules.

While 61% reckon the change will help them save some money, 30% don't think they'll notice any major savings at all.

It comes as families face a hefty increase in the cost of school uniforms.

One study revealed that the average yearly spend on school uniforms climbed to £141.15 in 2026 (Getty Stock Images)

Research from money-saving site MyVoucherCodes found that the annual cost has surged by almost 30% in just one year.

The average yearly spend has climbed to £141.15 in 2026, up from £108.59 in 2025.

More than half of parents (57.9%) also say they'll have to spend even more on uniforms over the rest of the year, anticipating an average additional expenditure of £129.09 to cover replacements, growth spurts and seasonal changes.

And despite government guidance, 73% of parents are still being forced to buy expensive branded uniforms.

Sarah-Jane, a shopping and lifestyle expert at MyVoucherCodes, said via PA: "A 30% cost jump puts intense pressure on families, especially when most are still forced to buy branded items. While supermarket multi-buys help ease the burden, more must be done to keep school uniforms genuinely affordable."

Items like a branded bag, including a book bag or rucksack, also count towards the limit (Getty Stock Images)

Under the new government guidance, schools must also publish their uniform policy on their website and make it available to all parents, including those considering sending their child to the school.

The policy must clearly explain which items are compulsory and which are optional.

Schools are also expected to prioritise cost and value for money when arranging uniform supplies, including considering quality, durability and sustainability.

The rules also cover more than just the obvious uniform staples, as items like a branded bag, including a book bag or rucksack, also count towards the limit.

Seasonal items count too, meaning that, for example, a secondary-school pupil could not be required to have a branded skirt for winter and a branded dress for summer if they were also required to have a branded blazer, tie and PE top. That would take the total number of branded items required during the school year to five.