The families of four million children across the UK could benefit from cheaper school uniforms under a new law, the Government has claimed. Legislation making its way through parliament could force primary and secondary schools to reduce the number of compulsory branded items to three in a move officials say would save parents up to £50 per child. The measures are part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would impact seven in 10 secondary schools and 35% of primary schools in England, and put money back in the pockets of the families of over four million pupils, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

The government says the change, which could be enforced from September 2026, would cut school costs for struggling families - with secondary school uniforms currently totalling £442, dropping slightly to £343 for primary school pupils. But retailers have warned that the plans could backfire and create a reliance on lower-quality clothes which need to be replaced more frequently. Matthew Easter, chair of the Schoolwear Association, also said branded uniforms helped to promote good behaviour and close inequality gaps.

However, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson insisted the changes, alongside free breakfast clubs also proposed in the bill, would "save parents hundreds of pounds a year" and "make sure [that] family finances have no bearing on children's time at school".

"Looking smart at school shouldn't cost the earth, and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie," she added.

The new cap, which will have its second reading in the House of Lords this week, will build on existing statutory guidance requiring schools to minimise the cost of uniforms for parents.

Matt Perry, headteacher at The Halifax Academy in West Yorkshire, said school uniforms can create a sense of "pride and inclusion" in pupils, but added that some items were unaffordable for families in the high deprivation area.

"There are so many different factors that children have to face in order to have clean and correct uniform that is used daily," he told the BBC.

"As long as we see the families really trying to adhere to the uniform policy that we've got, we can be flexible with how we interpret that. So, if it is in the right colours but it's not branded, that doesn't matter to us."

Lynn Perry MBE, CEO of Barnado's, said the children's charity welcomed the legislation as a means of tackling the number of pupils "going to school wearing ill-fitted clothes or shoes due to the high cost of uniforms".

"As high prices continue to impact families, it's yet another essential item that parents are struggling to afford," she added.