RUNCORN’S MP has written to the new Secretary of State for Education offering to help strengthen his law around reducing school uniform costs.

Labour MP Mike Amesbury saw his private member’s bill included a statutory duty for schools to keep expensive branded items to a minimum, so parents could buy cheaper clothing from supermarkets.

But evidence suggests the 2021 legislation needs tightening up.

That is why Mr Amesbury secured a Labour manifesto commitment to set an actual limit on the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit schools can require.

He has now written to Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, pushing for this to be ‘done as quickly as practically possible’.

Mr Amesbury, who has offered to work with Ms Phillipson on the changes, wrote: “As students return from the summer break, you will be aware that many schools are now fully behind the spirit of the law and putting affordability centre-stage in their uniform policies, which is great news for their families.”

But the MP said it was ‘disappointing’ a 2023 Children’s Society survey found parents and carers of secondary school children were paying on average £422 per year on uniform, and around £287 for primary school children.

He commented: “It appears the rules on branded items are not clear enough and can be interpreted differently by schools, or the message simply is not getting through.

“That is why I was thrilled when my amendment to strengthen the law was accepted by the party and included in the 2024 Labour manifesto under the heading 'break down the barriers to opportunity’.”

Mr Amesbury understands the existing law can be tightened simply by updating the statutory guidance issued to schools and would not require new legislation.

He concluded: “If I am correct, I would implore that this is done as quickly as practically possible, and would politely ask for an approximate timescale.

“In addition, I would like to ask if the Secretary of State has given any thought to how the new guidance should be policed.

“It is my view the last government’s failure to take robust action against transgressors meant slower progress in changing the mindset among some educational leaders.”