The charity Clothing Coventry claims that the government's limit on branded school uniform items is not enough and that more needs to be done to reduce costs for families. According to the charity, this new rule still allows for three logoed items per child, which can cost up to £200. The government estimates that the new rules will save families around 23% of secondary schools, with an average saving of up to £50 per child. However, some parents say they are still struggling with costs, citing uniforms costing over £300 per child.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
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Story summary
A charity called Clothing Coventry is calling on the government to go further in limiting the number of branded items that schools can require students to wear. From September, schools will be allowed to have only three items with a school logo, such as a blazer or jumper, plus a tie for secondary schools. However, the charity says this is still too expensive for many families and estimates that one child's uniform could cost around £100-200. In fact, some parents say they've spent over £200 on uniforms alone. The government claims that the new rules will save families up to £50 per child, but suppliers are worried about uncertainty in demand for this year's uniforms. Around 23% of secondary schools will have to change their uniform lists to comply with the new rules.
Written for “School Uniform Debate” on 2026-08-31,
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- Published
A limit on the number branded items schools can force pupils to wear "are a start", but the government "needs to go further", a charity says.
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charity → publish → pupils
From September, uniforms will be limited to three items requiring a school logo, like a blazer, jumper or sportswear – plus a tie for secondary schools.
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uniforms → limit → schools
In the run-up to the rules being introduced, Clothing Coventry have opened a three-week long school uniform pop-up, as some families saying uniforms are costing them hundreds of pounds.
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uniforms → introduce → pounds
Zia Lee, from the charity, says the law needs to go further:
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law → say → charity
"To have three compulsory logo items I mean you're still looking at a lot of money, you know, one to two hundred pounds for one child.
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you → have → child
Around 23% of secondary schools will have to change their uniform lists for September to comply with the new rules, according to the latest government data.
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The government says the changes will save some families "up to £50 per child", but schoolwear suppliers say they now face uncertainty in demand for this year's uniforms.
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they → say → uniforms
Mum of three, Eniole Okwuosa, said secondary school uniform was particularly expensive: "Uniforms are usually over £200 because the blazers alone are about £40 or £45.
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blazers → say → three
"Two of my girls, the schools they do go to, their clothes have to be logoed, the blazer and the jumpers.
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clothes → go → girls
So, they can't really wear the regular ones.
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they → wear → ones
However, she welcomed the limits on logoed items.
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she → welcome → items
"It's a brilliant idea if it works," she added.
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she → work → ?
Angelica Jaros' son is starting school this year, on top of buying uniform for her six-year-old daughter too.
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son → start → daughter
She said there was pressure to get new clothes, bags and shoes.
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She → say → clothes
because you remember when you were a child, you wanted to go to school with brand new things, you want the same thing for your kids as well," Jaros explained.
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Jaros → remember → kids
Meme Horner, 21, volunteers at the charity and said it's a way of giving back.
"As a child I got hand-me-downs, my mum got quite a lot of help, so it's kind of like just giving back to the community in a way, I feel good doing it," she said.
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she → volunteer → it
Schools having three branded items is still too many, she added.
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she → have → items
"The crisis of money nowadays, the inflation has gone up so dramatically, and parents are struggling to do the basic necessities, let alone get children three pairs of logoed clothing for school," she explained.
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she → go → school
Seyedeh Naseriniaki also volunteers at the uniform bank and says the cost of branded secondary school uniforms remains a problem for her family too.
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cost → volunteer → family
"Last year we had to change twice", she said.
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she → have → ?
"And going for a specific uniform cost a lot for us.
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going → go → us
"With the help of charities we had a better chance, but we could choose the newer uniform if it was not logoed."
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it → have → uniform
The education secretary has legal powers to direct schools to comply if they are not sticking to the new rules.
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they → have → rules
One head teachers' union, the Association of School and College Leaders, says the actual difference in cost is likely to be marginal for most families.
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difference → say → families
The Schoolwear Association says the plans could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality generic garments, which might not last as long as branded ones.
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which → say → ones
