If your school has a uniform, you must have a policy
A school uniform policy is included in the list of statutory policies in the governance guides for maintained schools and academy trusts (in the guide for trusts, it's listed under 'Statutory guidance and additional resources'). The DfE clarified for us that this is only a requirement if your school has a uniform or dress code.
What this policy needs to do
It should reflect:
- The DfE's statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms – get up to speed with our summary
- The Equality Act 2010
- The Human Rights Act 1998
It's not your job to cross-reference your policy with this guidance, but you should expect your school leaders to have done so.
You'll want to make sure the policy sets out:
- How your school will:
- Make sure your school uniform is affordable, and provides the best value for money for parents and carers
- Avoid discrimination
- Your school’s expectations for school uniform