Almost half of parents say their child has been told off at school for wearing uniform from a supermarket rather than a specific supplier, research shows.

And some 47 per cent of parents are worried about the cost of buying uniform for the start of the school year, according to the poll for charity Parentkind.

In the survey of parents with children aged 4-15 who attend state schools in England, 49 per cent said their child had been punished or given a telling off for wearing uniform not coming from a single school supplier.

Some 45 per cent of the 2,000 respondents said they used credit cards to pay for uniform, while 34 per cent used “buy now, pay later” schemes, such as Klarna.

Moving away from branded school uniform

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has called on schools to reduce the number of branded items of uniform that they require, ahead of an incoming change in the law.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said schools are already making uniform more affordable as they look to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Some 29 per cent of parents said they would go without heating or eating at some point to afford school uniform. And a significant minority said that the cost of uniform may lead to them going into debt.

Ms Phillipson said no family should have to choose between “putting food on the table” and buying school uniform.

The government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill includes a plan to cap the number of branded uniform items that schools in England can require.

The bill, which is now being considered in the House of Lords, would require all schools in England to limit the number of compulsory branded uniform items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary and middle schools.

The legislation is due to come into force from September 2026, the Department for Education said.

But schoolwear retailers have claimed that a cap could increase costs for families, if parents buy lower-quality items that might not last as long as branded items.

Capping cost of uniforms

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “We support the intention behind the government’s plans to limit the number of branded items, but have suggested that a cap on the cost of uniforms might be a better way of achieving this policy aim.”

He added that the ASCL hopes the government will publish a child poverty strategy to help families who are unable to afford basic amenities.

In the poll, carried out by Censuswide, 73 per cent of parents said they would be better off financially if schools reduced the number of branded items; and 39 per cent said their child’s school does not give them the option to purchase plain uniform from anywhere they like.

Overall, 86 per cent of parents said they believe the number of branded uniform items makes “no difference” to how well behaved children are at school.

Ms Phillipson said: “Schools can help ease the pressure on families right now by reducing the number of branded items they require.

“Our Plan for Change is keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking families, so the back-to-school shop doesn’t push parents into debt and children can focus on their education, not their outfit.”

Jason Elsom, chief executive of Parentkind, said: “Parents have faced the crushing cost of sending their children to school for far too long. For many families the bills soar into the thousands every year, covering uniforms, books, stationery, trips, laptops and travel.”

He added: “Limiting branded school uniform items will make a difference straight away.”

In 2024 school uniform guidelines in Scotland established a set of principles based around affordability and equality.

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