New legislation to address school uniforms hoped to be in by September 2025

New legislation aimed at making school uniform costs more affordable is hoped to be in law by September 2025, the Stormont education minister has said.

Paul Givan said his draft School Uniforms Bills is set to include power to set a price cap, but cautioned such a move may need further consideration.

Speaking during questions for his department in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Givan said his Bill is being finalised and is aimed to “make a difference to families most in need of our assistance”.

He said he will then seek the agreement of the Stormont Executive and the Assembly but hopes to have the legislation passed before the summer recess and to be in operation by autumn 2025.

“It’s my hope to bring this to the Executive at our first meeting in February, and then subject to the way in which the committee and Assembly decide to deliberate on the matter there would be the potential to complete all of the Assembly stages before the summer recess, and I would then expect it to come into operation in autumn 2025,” he told MLAs.

“However I am entirely at the mercy of this Assembly and the Education Committee in fulfilling that time frame.

“But once implemented, this will have a positive impact in trying to help hard-pressed working families when it comes to meeting the costs of school uniforms and the associated PE kits.”

Asked whether a school uniform price cap is being considered, Mr Givan said that within the draft legislation he will seek a power to introduce a cap.

However he said some evidence suggests a cap can suggest to some schools “a limit to reach rather than keeping costs down”.

“There are commercial market considerations and I have no doubt the committee will want to hear from retailers as they consider this issue,” he said.

“But I can confirm that the legislation will contain provision that would enable a cap to be brought into place.”