Schools face prosecution for failing to provide low-cost uniforms

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The Government will today warn of big fines for those that fail to ensure uniforms are widely available at a price low-income families can afford.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls also has new powers to force governors to ensure uniforms are inexpensive.

Parents can typically pay £300 or more to kit their children out for school, including PE kits and shoes.

Schools minister Jim Knight said: "Uniforms can instil pride and unity, support a strong school ethos and prevent jealousy, rivalry and conflict when children wear different clothes."

But he added: "The cost of the uniforms must never be a barrier for poorer families.

"There's an important balance to be struck between developing a smart, comfortable uniform and burdening parents with needless expense.

"We will take action where schools have a uniform policy that is needlessly and prohibitively expensive.

"The Office of Fair Trading has already warned schools that exclusive contracts with suppliers may contravene the Competition Act."

The guidance said headteachers should consider children's religious and cultural backgrounds when drawing up uniform policies.

But this must be balanced against the need to protect pupils from wearing distinctive colours or clothes associated with gangs.

Mr Knight said: "Schools must make every effort to accommodate the cultural, religious or medical requirements of all pupils, and should consult widely when setting or amending the uniform.

"But we are clear that the needs of safety, security and effective teaching and learning must always be paramount - and these may supersede individual requests under the terms of the Human Rights Act." The Tories urged the return of traditional school blazers at their conference this week.

Mr Knight's comments could be seen as an attack on shadow education secretary Michael Gove who said blazers, often the most expensive items on the list, should be an essential part of any uniform, as they were at 48 of England's top 50 comprehensives.