In the Education Act 1996, after section 551 insert—

“Costs of school uniforms

551AGuidance about the costs of school uniforms: England

(1)

The Secretary of State must issue guidance to the appropriate authorities of relevant schools in England about the costs aspects of school uniform policies.

(2)

In this section “costs aspects of school uniform policies” means any aspects of school uniform policies that the Secretary of State considers relevant to the costs of school uniforms.

(3)

The appropriate authority of a relevant school must have regard to guidance issued under this section when developing and implementing a school uniform policy for the school.

(4)

The Secretary of State may from time to time revise guidance issued under this section.

(5)

In this section “relevant school” means—

(a)

an Academy school;

(b)

an alternative provision Academy;

(c)

a maintained school (within the meaning given by section 437(8));

(d)

a non-maintained special school (within the meaning given by section 337A);

(e)

a pupil referral unit not established in a hospital.

(6)

In this section “the appropriate authority” means—

(a)

in relation to an Academy school, an alternative provision Academy or a non-maintained special school, the proprietor;

(b)

in relation to a maintained school, the governing body;

(c)

in relation to a pupil referral unit, the local authority.”