Scotland Issues New Guidelines to Reduce School Uniform Costs

The Scottish government advises schools to eliminate compulsory branded items to ease financial burdens on families.

New guidelines recommend schools avoid making blazers and other branded items compulsory.
Schools are encouraged to adopt generic, gender-neutral clothing options and promote secondhand uniforms.
The guidance aims to ensure uniform costs do not exceed the school clothing grant amounts of £120 for primary and £150 for secondary pupils.
The recommendations were developed in consultation with teachers, parents, and pupils and have been welcomed by Scotland's largest teaching union.
Critics argue the focus on uniforms distracts from addressing broader issues like declining educational standards and classroom violence.