It is for the governing body to decide whether there should be a school uniform. The Department has issued guidance1 to all schools on the need to consider the costand availability of schooluniforms. Local authorities and academies have discretion within their budgets to provide school clothing grants or offer other help with the cost of school clothing in cases of financial hardship. The Department does not collect data on school uniform costs.1School Uniform: A Guide for Head Teachers, Governing Bodies,Academy Trusts, Free Schools and Local Authorities (2012), availableat http://education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/b0014144/schooluniform