http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/35/enactedChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026enKing's Printer of Acts of Parliament2026-05-07 Part 2 35 1 The Education Act 1996 is amended as follows. 2 In the italic heading before section 551A, omit “Costs of”. 3 After that italic heading insert— 551ZA 1 The appropriate authority of a relevant school in England— a may not require a primary pupil at the school to have more than three different branded items of school uniform for use during a school year; b may not require a secondary pupil at the school to have more than three different branded items of school uniform for use during a school year (or more than four different branded items of school uniform if one of those items is a tie). 2 Where the relevant school is a middle school, the limits mentioned in subsection (1)(b) apply in relation to all pupils at that school. 3 For the purposes of subsection (1), a pupil is required to have a branded item of school uniform for use during a school year if the pupil is required to have it— a for general use at school (or for travelling to or from school) during that year, or b to participate in any lesson, club, activity or event facilitated by the school during that year. 4 “School uniform” means a bag and any clothing required for school or for any lesson, club, activity or event facilitated by the school. 5 An item of school uniform is “branded” if— a it has the school name or school logo (or for an Academy, the school or proprietor’s name or logo) on or attached to it, or b as a result of its colour, design, fabric or other distinctive characteristic, it is only available from particular suppliers. 6 In this section— “the appropriate authority” means— in relation to an Academy school, an alternative provision Academy, a non-maintained special school, a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts, the proprietor; in relation to a maintained school, the governing body; in relation to a pupil referral unit, the local authority; “relevant school” means— an Academy school, an alternative provision Academy, a maintained school, a non-maintained special school, a pupil referral unit, or a city technology college or a city college for the technology of the arts, other than where established in a hospital; “primary pupil” means a pupil receiving primary education (or receiving education that would be primary education if it were full-time education); “secondary pupil” means a pupil receiving secondary education (or receiving education that would be secondary education if it were full-time education); “maintained school” means— a community, foundation or voluntary school, or a community or foundation special school; “non-maintained special school” has the meaning given by section 337A. 4 In section 551A (guidance about the costs of school uniforms: England), for subsections (5) and (6) substitute— 5 In this section “the appropriate authority” and “relevant school” have the same meanings as in section 551ZA.