A new Bill to reduce the costs of school uniforms has been introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly by Education Minister Paul Givan.
The Bill will provide the necessary powers to make a difference in terms of affordability of school uniforms.
Paul Givan said:
“Today’s introduction of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill is a major step forward for parents and guardians across Northern Ireland. I have listened to the concerns of parents, young people and children, and at a time of growing pressures on family budgets, I am extremely concerned that families are finding the cost of a school uniform a significant outlay, and that in some cases it deters them from applying for a particular school.
“This Bill will now move through the legislative process and be scrutinised by Assembly colleagues, but I hope it gives parents the reassurance that we are working to deliver change.”
The Bill will make it a legal requirement for the Department of Education to make guidelines for schools; and for schools to follow those guidelines, addressing unfair costs aspects regarding their uniform requirements.
It also opens access to the clothing allowance administered by the Education Authority to pupils in independent schools.
The Minister continued:
“Once the new legislation is in place, it will remain a matter for schools to determine whether to have a uniform and, if so, what that uniform will be. What the legislation will do is work in tandem with strengthened, statutory guidance to ensure that affordability is transparent and at the centre of school uniform policies.
“Schools will have to consult with parents and pupils, and then publish the rationale and cost of their uniforms, as well as the range of suppliers it can be bought from.”
The Minister added that the Bill has attempted to strike a balance between recognising the role that school uniforms play in the ethos of our schools and ensuring that school uniforms are affordable for all.
Paul Givan said:
“The Bill provides scope for a cap to be introduced however, more work is to be carried out in relation to this. The cap could be in relation to numbers of branded items, such as PE kits, or in relation to the cost of an individual item or the overall uniform requirements.”
It is anticipated that the Bill will have its Second Stage in the Assembly during March 2025.