My Lords, no amendments were submitted and we proceed to final division.

School Uniforms Bill

A

BILL

TO

Provide for uniform stores within schools for a maximum price, to allow students to wear uniform regardless of gender in schools that mandate uniform, and for connected purposes.

Section 1: Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless specified otherwise,

(2) ‘School’ is defined as any education institution in England, publicly funded or otherwise.

(3) ‘School Uniform’ is considered to be the clothes as required by the school to attend classes and other extracurricular activities within the boundaries of the school.

Section 2: Non-Gendered Uniforms

(1) Schools may not punish or otherwise discriminate against any student for wearing an article of clothing that does not fit with their assigned gender at birth.

(2) Clothing that does not fit with their assigned gender at birth may include, but is not necessarily limited to;

(a) An individual assigned male at birth wearing a skirt
(b) An individual assigned female at birth wearing trousers
(c) An individual assigned male at birth wearing a dress
(d) An individual assigned female at birth wearing a shirt designed for an individual assigned male at birth and vice versa.
(e) An individual assigned male at birth wearing a blouse
(f) An individual assigned female at birth wearing a short sleeved shirt
(g) An individual assigned male at birth wearing makeup, provided that it is within other regulations as established by the school.

Section 3: Inclusivity in Uniforms

(1) Whether a student identifies with a gender different to their assigned gender at birth or not, students must be permitted to wear the items of clothing they choose, provided it fits with other uniform regulations established by the school.

(2) Should a school lack a uniform, they may not punish or otherwise discriminate against a student on the basis of their choice of clothing, provided it is not rude, inappropriate, or otherwise offensive.

Section 2: Inclusivity

(1) Schools may not punish or otherwise discriminate against any student for wearing an article of clothing that does not align with the student's legal or expressed gender identity or sex or intersex status.

(2) Regardless of a student's status, students must be permitted to wear the items of clothing they choose, provided it fits with other uniform regulations established by the school.

(3) Should a school lack uniform regulations, they may not punish or otherwise discriminate against a student on the basis of their choice of clothing, provided it is not rude, inappropriate, or otherwise offensive.

Section 3: School Uniform Stores

(1) Schools must, where they have a uniform code, run a uniform shop.

(2) Schools may access funds made available by Her Majesty’s Government for assistance with running the shop if required.

(3) Schools may accept second hand uniform donations from current or former students.

(a) Second hand uniform must:
(i) Have no visible damage to the article of clothing.
(ii) Have no visible stains on the article of clothing.
(i) Be in good condition generally.
(ii) Be washed or otherwise cleaned prior to sale.

(4) Any items sold must be at reasonable cost, but may not cost more than £20 per item.

(a) The relevant Secretary of State may, by order, alter the maximum cost of items.

(5) Schools must sell sets of uniforms designed for unisex use.

(a) This does not prohibit the school from selling gendered uniform sets alongside the unisex sets.

Section 5: Commencement, Short Title, and Extent

(1) This Act shall come into force at the commencement of the next school term after January 1st 2023

(2) This Act may be cited as the School Uniforms Act 2022

(3) This Act extends to England

This Act was written by the Rt. Hon. Sir Frost_Walker2017, the Viscount Felixstowe, the Lord Leiston KT GCMG KCVO CT PC, Secretary of State for Education, on behalf of Her Majesty’s 31st Government, and is inspired by SSI 2021/6, the School Uniform (Guidance) Regulations 2021 by the same author.

Opening Speech:

Speaker,

I rise today to present this piece of legislation, tackling two promises made in the recent Queen’s Speech - the right to self-select uniform regardless of gender, and limits on the cost of uniform.

The purpose behind the right to self-select uniform regardless of gender is to create a safe and welcoming environment for pupils in school regardless of how they choose to identify. This is extended to both schools with uniform codes and those without uniform codes. This allows both transgender or nonbinary students the ability to go to school without being punished for being transgender or nonbinary, and also the ability for both boys and girls who are not transgender or nonbinary to wear clothes of the opposite gender if they want. Nobody is harmed by this, people are only helped by this.

The purpose of Section 4 is to ensure that uniform remains accessible for students regardless of their household incomes. Some uniforms can cost ridiculous amounts, and this section aims to deal with that. By providing a route for second hand uniforms to be made available, we help minimise waste. By setting a limit on the cost of uniforms, we help keep prices low for students. We are not interested in defunding schools by any stretch of the imagination, so by creating a fund for schools to access if help is required to cover these costs we help out.

Speaker, I commend this bill to the House.

This division shall end on the 1st October at 10pm BST.