PARENTS in England must be allowed to buy some uniform from High Street shops as well as school suppliers, according to new government rules reports the BBC.

Second-hand items should be made available and the cost of anything branded must be kept to a minimum.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the legally binding guidelines would make uniforms “far more affordable”.

The move has been welcomed by education unions – but child poverty campaigners say more action is needed.

Research by the government, in 2015, suggested parents could save almost £50 on average, if they bought all uniform items from High Street shops instead of designated suppliers.

Many schools have already tried to reduce costs, in line with voluntary guidelines, but this new statutory advice strengthens that obligation.

From next autumn, items with logos should be kept to a minimum and more uniform from any shop, such as supermarkets, should be allowed.

Schools are also being asked to make sure second-hand uniforms are available as an affordable and sustainable option. 

Mr Zahawi said school uniforms “should be a real source of pride” and not “a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education”.

“This new binding guidance will help to make uniforms far more affordable for families by driving costs down as we work hard to level up the country,” he said.