Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that schools do not use charges for uniform, school trips and other activities as a means of selection.

No child should be discouraged from applying to or attending a state-funded school due to the costs of uniform or school activities. The Department for Education has published clear guidance to schools on school uniform which advises schools to give high priority to ensuring the uniform is affordable for parents. We have also published guidance on charging for school activities which reminds schools of their statutory responsibilities regarding charging for school trips and other school activities.

The school uniform guidance is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform

The guidance on charging for school activities is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/charging-for-school-activities