OpenLegislation

Section 551ZA School uniforms: limits on branded itemsF1F2

(1)

The appropriate authority of a relevant school in England—

(a)

may not require a primary pupil at the school to have more than three different branded items of school uniform for use during a school year;

(b)

may not require a secondary pupil at the school to have more than three different branded items of school uniform for use during a school year (or more than four different branded items of school uniform if one of those items is a tie).

(2)

Where the relevant school is a middle school, the limits mentioned in subsection (1)(b) apply in relation to all pupils at that school.

(3)

For the purposes of subsection (1), a pupil is required to have a branded item of school uniform for use during a school year if the pupil is required to have it—

(a)

for general use at school (or for travelling to or from school) during that year, or

(b)

to participate in any lesson, club, activity or event facilitated by the school during that year.

(4)

“School uniform” means a bag and any clothing required for school or for any lesson, club, activity or event facilitated by the school.

(5)

An item of school uniform is “branded” if—

(a)

it has the school name or school logo (or for an Academy, the school or proprietor’s name or logo) on or attached to it, or

(b)

as a result of its colour, design, fabric or other distinctive characteristic, it is only available from particular suppliers.

(6)

In this section—

  • “the appropriate authority” means—

    1. (a)

      in relation to an Academy school, an alternative provision Academy, a non-maintained special school, a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts, the proprietor;

    2. (b)

      in relation to a maintained school, the governing body;

    3. (c)

      in relation to a pupil referral unit, the local authority;

  • “relevant school” means—

    1. (a)

      an Academy school,

    2. (b)

      an alternative provision Academy,

    3. (c)

      a maintained school,

    4. (d)

      a non-maintained special school,

    5. (e)

      a pupil referral unit, or

    6. (f)

      a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts,

    other than where established in a hospital;

  • “primary pupil” means a pupil receiving primary education (or receiving education that would be primary education if it were full-time education);

  • “secondary pupil” means a pupil receiving secondary education (or receiving education that would be secondary education if it were full-time education);

  • “maintained school” means—

    1. (a)

      a community, foundation or voluntary school, or

    2. (b)

      a community or foundation special school;

  • “non-maintained special school” has the meaning given by section 337A.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

S. 551A and cross-heading inserted (29.6.2021) by Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 (c. 20), ss. 1, 2(2)

F2

S. 551ZA inserted (1.9.2026) by Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (c. 21), ss. 35(3), 78(5); S.I. 2026/803, reg. 5(b)

Notes on ... School uniforms

Textual amendments

F1

Words in s. 551A cross-heading omitted (1.9.2026) by virtue of Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (c. 21), ss. 35(2), 78(5); S.I. 2026/803, reg. 5(b)