13/11/2025
Dept Of Education Issues New Uniform Guidelines
The Department of Education has distributed new School Uniforms Guidelines to schools across Northern Ireland, in advance of the statutory provisions of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill coming into effect for the 2026/27 school year.
The Bill recently passed its Final Stage in the Assembly on 13 October, and the guidelines will become legally binding once it receives Royal Assent.
Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed that the guidelines were issued to assist schools in ensuring their uniform policies meet the forthcoming requirements. There are 16 guidelines in total, covering a broad range of criteria:
Affordability and Practicality: Schools must prioritize affordability, minimize branded items, and favour generic PE kit. Policies must ensure uniform requirements do not prevent pupil participation due to cost.
Inclusivity: Guidelines cover comfort, suitability for all seasons, and making necessary adjustments for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Consultation and Transparency: Schools are required to consult regularly with parents and pupils on their uniform policies, review them routinely, and publish transparent information, including the rationale for uniform choices, item costs, and where items can be purchased.
Minister Givan stated that these "robust guidelines" address all necessary matters within the Bill and will ensure that affordability becomes a key consideration for all future school uniform policies.
The guidelines have also been issued to the Education Committee and placed on the DE website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-uniforms-guidelines
Full statutory School Uniforms Guidelines will be laid before the Assembly and published when the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill gains Royal Assent.
The Bill recently passed its Final Stage in the Assembly on 13 October, and the guidelines will become legally binding once it receives Royal Assent.
Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed that the guidelines were issued to assist schools in ensuring their uniform policies meet the forthcoming requirements. There are 16 guidelines in total, covering a broad range of criteria:
Affordability and Practicality: Schools must prioritize affordability, minimize branded items, and favour generic PE kit. Policies must ensure uniform requirements do not prevent pupil participation due to cost.
Consultation and Transparency: Schools are required to consult regularly with parents and pupils on their uniform policies, review them routinely, and publish transparent information, including the rationale for uniform choices, item costs, and where items can be purchased.
Minister Givan stated that these "robust guidelines" address all necessary matters within the Bill and will ensure that affordability becomes a key consideration for all future school uniform policies.
The guidelines have also been issued to the Education Committee and placed on the DE website at: www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/school-uniforms-guidelines
Full statutory School Uniforms Guidelines will be laid before the Assembly and published when the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill gains Royal Assent.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.