Overview

This bill mandates the UK Secretary of State to provide guidance to schools in England on managing the costs of school uniforms. The aim is to help make school uniforms more affordable for families.

Description

The Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill inserts a new section (551A) into the Education Act 1996. This section requires the Secretary of State to issue guidance to schools in England on cost aspects of school uniform policies. This guidance must be considered by schools when developing and implementing their uniform policies. The Secretary of State can revise this guidance periodically. The bill defines "relevant schools" to include academies, alternative provision academies, maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, and pupil referral units (excluding those in hospitals). "Appropriate authority" is defined as the proprietor for academies and non-maintained special schools, the governing body for maintained schools, and the local authority for pupil referral units. The bill applies to England and Wales and comes into force two months after it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not specify any direct government spending figures. The cost will be associated with the creation and dissemination of the guidance, as well as any potential future revisions. No specific budgetary allocation is mentioned in the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Schools in England: Required to consider the government's guidance when setting uniform policies.
• Parents/Guardians: May benefit from more affordable school uniform options due to the guidance impacting school policies.
• School Governing Bodies/Proprietors: Responsible for implementing the guidance in their schools.
• Local Authorities: Have a role in implementing the guidance for pupil referral units under their jurisdiction.
• School Uniform Suppliers: May be indirectly affected by changes in school uniform policies driven by the guidance.

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