Oxford headteacher fully supports new legislation for school uniforms
The new uniform laws are aimed to save parents £50 a year
A headteacher in Oxford says he fully supports a new legislation aimed at making school uniforms more affordable.
The Government claims parents of four million children will get cheaper school uniforms because of a law reform making its way through Parliament.
"This is this is not a controversial piece of piece of legislation"
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will reduce uniform costs for families by £70 million across England, according to analysis by the Department for Education (DfE).
It will place limits on the number of branded items schools can require children to have, excluding school ties.
The new uniform laws are aimed to save parents £50 a year in the back-to-school shop, according to the DfE.
Rob Pavey, Headteacher of Cheney School in Oxford says he “entirely supports it”.
He said: “To my mind this is this is this is not a controversial piece of piece of legislation and I think it ought to be fine.”
Some critics say that it could lead to more inequality in school uniforms, especially for children from a poorer background.
Mr Pavey says they have been doing this for a number of years already and haven’t noticed any inequalities.
“I know a certain amount about which of my kids are on pupil premium or free school meals, but it's not easy to tell from looking at them and that's with a radically simplified uniform code.”
Parents are currently having to pay on average £442 for secondary school uniforms, and £343 for primary school uniforms.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "Looking smart at school shouldn't cost the earth and no parent should be forced to choose between buying family essentials and a school shirt or tie.
"Alongside our free breakfast clubs, these new laws will save parents hundreds of pounds a year and make sure family finances have no bearing on children's time at school.
"This Bill is about keeping children safe, saving parents money and bringing every school up to the standard of the best, so we can break down barriers to opportunity and deliver our plan for change."
Alongside the uniform limits, the Bill proposes to introduce free breakfast clubs, create a new register of all home-schooled children in England and reform academies.