School uniform costs are about to get a whole lot cheaper. Here’s what’s changing and how to save even more cash

Good news for anyone dreading the back-to-school shopping list: from this September, schools will no longer be able to insist you buy a trolley-load of branded uniform. Under a new rule change, schools will be legally required to limit branded uniform items to just three – think jumper, blazer, and trousers or skirt.

To help families across the nation save even more this summer, VoucherCodes.co.uk has scoured the shops for the best school uniform deals on the high-street.

Check out the top deals below: 

July is a fantastic time to buy school uniforms, as they are often on deals in stores, all sizes and fits are available, plus you can complete everything before heading off on your summer holiday (one less thing to worry about for busy parents).

Sadly, Tu at Sainsbury’s, George at Asda, M&S school uniform and F&F at Tesco all ran their 20% off school uniform offers in June and early July. That said, there are still ways to grab a deal and save money. Here are the best buys at each store: 

Tu school uniform at Sainsbury’s:

• 2 pack cycling shorts from £3
• 2 pack polo shirts from £3
• 2 pack cardigans from £8
• Leather chunky loafers £20

George school uniform at Asda:

• 2-pack short-sleeved polo shirts from £3
• 2 pack elasticated grey trousers from £7
• 2-pack skater-style skirts from £7
• School shoes (not leather) from £10 

F&F school uniform at Tesco:

• 2-pack regular school trousers from £7
• 2-pack sweatshirts from £4
• 3-pack long-sleeved shirts from £7.50
• Two-pack cardigans from £5

Marks and Spencer school uniform:

• Girls’ Slim Fit pleats school skirt from £7
• 2-pack stain-resistant school polo shirts from £4.50
• 2-pack jersey school cardigan from £5
• 2-pack sweatshirts from £6

Aldi school uniform:

If you can still find it in-store. Aldi’s £5 school uniform bundle launched at the end of June. Available in a range of sizes from 4-12 years, the bundle includes a choice of:

• 2 Girls’ Polo Shirts (£1.75) or 2 Boys’ Polo Shirts (£1.75)
• A navy or red Sweatshirt (£1.50) or Cardigan (£1.50) in red
• Choice of either girls’ and boys’ durable Trousers (£1.75), a Pleated Skirt (£1.75) or Cargo Shorts (£1.75) in grey

H&M school uniform:

Did you know H&M has school uniform items (ages 2-14) online or in store? Head here for the following: 

• Boys’ trousers £7.99
• 2-pack easy iron shirts £9.99
• 2-pack pleated school skirts £14.99
• Chunky Mary Janes £17.99

John Lewis school uniform:

For a premium school uniform, you can’t go wrong with John Lewis. Best buys here are:

• 2 polo shirts from £7
• 2 pairs of trousers from £11
• Adjustable waist trousers from £9
• 2 pack of cotton V-neck jumpers from £11

* Prices vary by age, style, material and fit.

10 things to know about back-to-school shopping:

1. Buy key uniform pieces early, as the best bargains are available now with 2-for-1 deals and multi-packs.
2. Buy early if you have kids who need a specific fit to their trousers and shirts. Slim styles, skinny trousers and Plus sizes all sell out fast.
3. Buy early if you have a tall or small child, as the desired fit may also sell out quickly (you can always size up if you’re worried about them growing over summer)
4. Short-sleeved white and blue shirts and grey trousers always sell out quickly, as do navy or black joggers.
5. Uniform sizes sell out more quickly in boys’ uniforms for the 11-14 range, and for girls’ uniforms, in the 8-14 range.
6. Check with the parents of older children whether you need to purchase all items listed on the school uniform lists.
7. Use name tags (or a fabric pen), regardless of age, especially for PE Kits, coats, and jackets.
8. Don’t overbuy; if you have a child entering Primary or Secondary school, there are parts of the uniform list (raincoats, PE sweatshirts, football boots, for instance) that you can buy as the term progresses. Also, most kids don’t need 5 shirts and 5 pairs of trousers.
9. Buy one size up in items like jumpers and adjustable-waist trousers. These extend wear by 6–12 months, but don’t go up more than one size.
10. Always buy the correct-sized shoes and buy as close to the Autumn term as possible so you know they fit well

Image: Depositphotos