All about school clothing

Children and young people may not always like wearing school uniform but having everyone dressed in a similar way can help children feel part of their school and also help reduce peer pressure, teasing and bullying.

It’s up to your child’s school to decide what everyone should wear at school. But there are some guidelines schools should follow when setting school clothing policies.

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What is a school clothing policy?

A school clothing policy sets out what children should wear in school. It includes things like their PE kit and items they might need for different subjects, like a lab coat for science. You can usually find out about your child’s school clothing policy in the school’s handbook or on their website.

What should schools think about when setting their clothing policies?

Here are the three main things that schools should consider when they’re setting clothing policies.

All pupils should feel comfortable and included

This means that schools should make sure that children can learn and play comfortably in their school uniform, and that school clothing is practical for all weathers.

It also means that the policy should take into account the needs of all children at the school, including disabled children, children with sensory issues, children of all genders and gender identities and children of all faiths or religions.

School clothing should be affordable

Schools should consider how much it costs to buy all the school clothing your child needs for the year (including things like their PE kit). This should be similar to the amount you get with a school clothing grant. Children should be allowed to wear plain, unbranded uniforms that you can buy from different shops, with branded items (like jumpers with a school badge) optional.

The school clothing policy should be sustainable for the environment

This means that schools should encourage uniforms to be reused, for example, by having a pre-loved school clothing shop and by not changing the uniform too often. This is a great way to reduce waste and help everyone save money.

What if my child can’t wear school uniform?

There’s no law that says children have to wear school uniform, but most schools will have rules about what children should or shouldn’t wear. If your child finds it difficult to wear uniform (for example, if they have sensory issues and find it too uncomfortable), the best thing to do is get in touch with the school and see if you can work out a compromise.

Can I get help with the costs of school clothing?

Our page on saving on school costs has advice for saving money on school clothing, along with other school essentials like travel.

Where can I find out more?

You can find out more about the Scottish Government’s school clothing policy guidance and how you can get involved in discussions about school clothing on the MyGov.scot website.