Nestled among the bigger promises in its manifesto was Labour’s pledge to make school uniforms more affordable.

Specifically it states: “We will also bring down the cost of school by limiting the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require.”

It’s a succinct, if vague, statement - and one that may be welcome by many families, with research by The Children’s Society estimating the average cost of uniforms to be £287 per primary school pupil and £422 per secondary school pupil.

But is it achievable and how should schools be preparing for any potential change in the law?

Current guidance on school uniforms

Currently, statutory guidance from the Department for Education on the cost of school uniforms says that schools should think about the total cost of uniforms by taking into account all items or clothing needed.

It directs schools to “keep the use of branded items to a minimum” and ensure their uniform supplier arrangements prioritise cost and value for money, with single supplier contracts to be avoided unless regular tendering competitions are run.

Second-hand uniforms should also be made available and a school’s uniform policy should be published on its website for all parents, including for those of prospective pupils.

However, a lack of clarity in the existing guidance makes it very easy for schools to justify an array of branded items as it doesn’t specify any cost perimeters or a maximum number of such items.

How soon could things change?

This guidance - which applies to all schools, maintained and academy alike - was issued under the Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021.

This means the new government only needs to update the guidance without new legislation required - meaning it could be amended at any point with specific requirements on the number of items schools can require without formal consultation.

The greater challenge would come in how it practically governs any new guidance to keep schools in check regarding the volume and costs of branded items.

How to prepare

Given a change could arrive at any time, it’s important schools are prepared.

A good starting point would be to review supplier contracts to ensure families are getting good value for money, as well as their branding requirements to establish how many items carry the school logo and which of these remains necessary.

If this encompasses just a handful of items - such as a school blazer, tie and PE top - then this is unlikely to require changing.

But where schools have expanded branding into items ranging from trousers to book bags, they should reflect on whether there is sufficient justification for families to buy all these items, particularly during challenging economic times.

Furthermore, schools with ambitions to broaden marketing after recently joining a new academy trust or merging infant and primary schools, for example, may wish to find a compromise where existing pupils can continue to use legacy uniforms while the updated branding is gradually rolled out, to avoid burdening parents with another cost.

Overall, while it would be wise to be ready for any policy changes, by placing families front and centre of any uniform policy review, schools can help to build positive, trusted relationships with their community - which is always worthwhile.

Alexandra Myers is an associate in the education team at UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson

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