Your college’s uniform guidelines could possibly be breaking regulation, authorities says

Keir Starmer’s government has issued a stark warning to schools, claiming they should be cautious with strict uniform rules that may break the law.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) urged schools to consider whether their uniform rules are in the ‘best interest of pupils and parents’ after conducting an investigation into the effects of strict policies nationwide. Although it recognised that uniforms give students a ‘sense of identity’, they often come with a hefty price tag.

Combined with the additional costs of childcare and entertainment during the summer holidays, it proposed that managing the cost of uniforms can be quite a struggle for some parents. Its spokespeople explained: “At the (CMA), we’ve been looking at the impact of school uniform policy over the years and have advocated for schools to ensure that their policies are not overly restrictive, limiting the choice of what parents and carers can buy.

“For example, some families are forced to buy what they consider to be unnecessarily branded items of school uniform, often from suppliers and retailers who have exclusivity agreements with particular schools. It may come as a surprise to many schools and their governing bodies that they may in fact be breaking competition law if those policies are too restrictive.”

The CMA isn’t demanding schools to entirely rethink their uniforms, but it is asking them to consider several key factors when evaluating their flexibility. Crucially, this includes scrutinising uniform exclusivity contracts and deals that could potentially violate the law.

“Have you awarded a contract to a manufacturer for sale through third party retailers?”, it asked. “If so, are there any provisions that fix the minimum price that the uniform can be sold at? Such arrangements could be a breach of restrictions on resale price maintenance.

“How many items of uniform are branded or highly tailored to your school? While less common colour combinations may give a greater sense of identity, does this reduce the number of suppliers who will choose to invest in a stock uniform that can only be sold to a small pool of customers?”

The CMA also encouraged schools to set up second-hand uniforms shops. Whether that’s the redistribution of lost property, sale of donated clothing or even a size-swapping store, it can help prolong the lifespan of existing uniform.

Besides this, parents are advised to compare prices and be vigilant for warning signs like ‘pressure selling’. In separate guidance issued last year, the CMA said: “Make sure you understand what your school’s uniform policy is and especially what items need school branding and where they can be bought from.

“Even if you can only buy branded items from one place, make sure you find the best deals for everything else. Remember that for many items you do not need to buy from a school’s approved shop. Some retailers might make you rush into paying by saying that stock is low, lots of people are looking right now, or that it’s only available for a limited time.

“This is not always true. So, take your time to compare prices and availability on other sites, and ignore sales tactics that pressure you.”

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