School Uniform Prices Slashed £20

A secondary school in Surrey has opened its own uniform shop to sell items at cost to pupils, cutting back on costs for families. The Winston Churchill School in Woking sells items including skirts, ties, and PE kit at no markup from what it costs the school. The approach has cut £20 off the cost of school blazers compared to the previous school year.

The school's head teacher, Zoe Johnson-Walker, stated that the school had been trying to reduce the cost of its uniform over the past couple of years. The school redesigned its uniform for 2026-27, coinciding with new government rules limiting secondary schools to three branded items, plus a branded tie. According to the Department for Education, the new rules aim to save parents up to £50.

The school had proposed removing its branded blazers from its uniform as it was one of its most expensive items, but found demand from parents to sell it with the badge on. The school managed to negotiate with its supplier to provide the badged item without additional cost to parents. The school has also scrapped branded PE tops and is selling plain, black PE shirts in its uniform shop after requests from parents.

## What it means The move is part of a broader effort to reduce the financial burden of school uniforms on families. The back-to-school period can put additional pressure on families, with many struggling to afford the costs of uniforms, shoes, and other essential items. A family support charity, Stripey Stork, gave out over 15,000 uniform items and about 1,500 pairs of school shoes over the summer under its School Days campaign, highlighting the need for affordable school uniforms.

The new government rules and the school's initiative to sell uniforms at cost are expected to make a significant difference for families. With the school's uniform shop selling items at no markup, parents can expect to save money on essential items, making it easier for them to afford the costs of sending their children to school.