Single supplier uniform contracts criticised

The Competition and Markets Authority has written a letter to the Department of Education (DfE) regarding the impact that single-supplier contracts can have on the cost of school uniform.

The letter from Lord Tyrie says that the CMA continues to receive a surge of complaints from parents and carers every summer about the excessive cost of uniforms where school policies prevent items being  purchased from cheaper alternative suppliers.

In a responding letter, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the DfE already publishes best-practice guidance which advises that schools should give high priority to cost considerations and achieving value for money for parents. The guidance says that items should be easily available for parents to purchase and schools should keep compulsory branded items to a minimum.

Williamson also said the government will put school uniform guidance on a statutory footing “when a suitable opportunity arises”.