Debate contribution: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mrs Cathy Mason on 3 March 2025.

MLA

Mrs Cathy Mason

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

3 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill: Second Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4826487

Read the official Assembly record

Text

It is welcome that the Minister has moved the Second Stage of the legislation to attempt to make school uniforms more affordable. The legislation should be a real opportunity to finally cut the cost of school uniforms and ease the pressure on families. Each summer and throughout the year, parents face astronomical costs when buying school uniforms and PE gear. The pockets of workers and families are hit. Parents are already struggling with rising living costs. They need and deserve our support. We need to make sure that going to school is as easy as possible for every child. That means removing unnecessary barriers to education. That can start with making school uniforms more affordable for all families, which is what the legislation must do. This issue is very close to my heart and something about which I feel very strongly. I will never forget the day that I sat with a grandmother in my constituency office, watching her break down in tears, completely overwhelmed with worry about how she would afford the new uniform of the high school that her grandchild really wanted to go to. That moment reinforced my determination to push for change. The situation cannot continue. That is why I proposed my Member's Bill to tackle the issue head-on. Although I welcome the Minister's progress on the legislation, it must be strong, robust and truly effective in making a difference. I am grateful that a local school uniform swap was able to help the woman who was in my office that day. That initiative has already brought relief to so many families. Last year, when I was researching for my Member's Bill, we undertook a survey that asked families for their views on the subject. The response was overwhelming; it really highlighted just how much pressure was being put on parents and children. We cannot have a single parent having sleepless nights, worrying about whether they can get their child an expensive blazer; a family member working extra hours to get a PE uniform; or a grandparent spending their much-needed pension on their grandchild's branded jumper. Families are already struggling to make ends meet, and, when the summer comes around, the cost of school uniforms really can be the final straw. Sinn Féin wants to see legislation that will make a real difference to bringing down the cost of school uniforms. We need strong, robust legislation that meets the needs of all children by ensuring that school uniforms are affordable. For that to be achieved, we must pass legislation that will drive down costs by ensuring that schools have competitive tendering processes, remove requirements for expensive branded items and permit the use of affordable high-street alternatives. Families need to see action urgently, so I, alongside my Education Committee colleagues, will work to ensure that the legislation is the very best that it can be and is passed through the Assembly as quickly as possible to ensure that money goes back into the pockets of families as soon as possible.

503 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:07 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification