Parents preparing for the new school year should see welcome relief in their household budgets, as Jersey’s new school uniform policy comes into force for the September term.
From September 2026, Government of Jersey schools will be limited to a maximum of five compulsory branded items across all uniform and PE kit, with schools required to ensure affordability and provide access to second-hand uniform options.
The policy, announced in December 2023 by the then Minister for Education, Deputy Inna Gardiner, follows recommendations from the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) after its market study into the cost and competitiveness of school uniform supply.
Published in April 2023, the JCRA’s study found that branded items made up almost 40% of school uniform requirements, adding significant cost for families. Of the 38 schools surveyed, only one had no uniform policy. The cost of branded uniform items ranged from £115 to £294 per child, with some schools requiring as many as eleven compulsory branded items.
The JCRA made three recommendations to Government, aimed at improving affordability, transparency and competition in school uniform supply:
- Consider policy developments and good practice in other jurisdictions, particularly the UK.
- Require schools to review contracts and supply arrangements for uniforms regularly.
- Develop clearer guidance on competitive tendering for school uniform supply.
JCRA CEO Tim Ringsdore said: “When we carried out our school uniform market study, families were already facing rising inflation and pressure on household budgets.
“Those pressures have not gone away. As families prepare for the new school year, limiting the number of compulsory branded items should make a real difference. Branded items can help give schools a sense of identity and belonging, but the new policy strikes a better balance between that identity and keeping costs manageable for parents.”
Deputy Catherine Curtis, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “Reducing the costs parents face is an important part of ensuring access to education for all. I commend my predecessor, Inna Gardiner, and the JCRA for their work in this area. I am pleased the JCRA’s recommendations have been carried forward into Jersey’s school uniform policy, setting a strong standard for social and economic value.”
