New guidelines published to reduce uniform costs

EB News: 09.12.2024 – 09:40

New guidelines have been published to reduce the cost of school uniforms for families in Scotland.

After consultation with schools, families, uniform suppliers, students and school councils, the new guidelines also set out important considerations to ensure student comfort, freedom and happiness.

The guidance, which can be used to develop individual school uniform policies, also includes advice on how schools can be encouraged to take measures that limit costs for families and reduce waste. This includes limiting the number of items pupils need and encouraging items that can be more easily reused.

Education Minister Jenny Gilruth launched the guidelines during a visit to Camperdown Primary School in Dundee, where she heard about pupils' work developing an action plan on the cost of the school day.

Gilruth said: “Every child in Scotland should feel comfortable, confident and ready to learn when they go to school. However, we know that costs can place a significant burden on families and we want to support schools to minimise these costs.

“These new national guidelines set out measures for schools to develop and implement their own affordable and sustainable policies that meet the individual needs of all students.

“It makes clear that schools are expected to do everything they can to limit the cost of school clothing 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 that encourage generic garments and do not require branded items, supporting our efforts to become more sustainable.

“Ending child poverty is the central task of this government and reducing the cost of the school day for families will play a crucial part in that work.”

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