As many parents will know, school uniform doesn't come cheap and finding a good value option that won't immediately fall apart at the first wash may seem like an impossible task. So, each year, MadeForMums closely examines the uniform offering from a variety of brands to help parents and caregivers identify the best place to go to kit out their kids for the new school year.First, we collect responses from parents across the country in our annual school uniform survey. Over 1000 parents shared their experiences of buying school uniform and provided scores and feedback on the uniform offerings from a range of retailers.1 Alongside this, we sent school uniform from various brands to our army of parent and child testers who put the uniform to the test — reporting back on how well it fits, how well it washes, what extra features it has, how good the quality is and whether they think it provides good value for money. This year, our testers tried uniforms from 12 different brands, including supermarket staples, high street favourites and specialist retailers.
We've combined the experience of our testers with the feedback from over 1000 parents who responded to our survey to establish which brands offer the best school uniform for a variety of needs. We have 10 award winners in the following categories. You can jump to see the detailed verdicts below:
To see what parents thought of the other uniform brands, you can read their feedback below:
You can also see our awards for Best school shoes and Best school bag below:
In our survey, parents were asked to rate, out of 10, how well each brand's uniform performs when it comes to the key criteria of Fit, Washing, Quality and Worth the Money. You can see the results below:
In some parts of the country, school uniform grants are available to qualifying families. You can find out more and search for your council on the School Uniform page on the Gov.uk website.
Gold: Marks & Spencer
Available from Marks & Spencer
For an incredibly impressive 3 years in a row, Marks & Spencer has been awarded Best high street school uniform, this year winning the Gold award in this category. Parents gave uniform from M&S top marks for washing and quality, and the brand also received the highest average score for overall performance out of all the brands included in our survey.
Parent after parent told us that M&S is their "first choice for uniform" due to its consistent high quality. One parent told us that M&S has been their "go-to for school uniform for the past 10 years." This high quality is clear across the range too; one parent said that their child's M&S "pinafore has lasted almost 2 years and is still in amazing condition" and others were full of praise for M&S trousers. One parent told us that "they have lasted the school year despite my son playing football in them every lunchtime" and another said "the trousers have lasted well despite lots of crawling and knee slides!"
As these parents note, one of the standout features of M&S's uniform is its longevity. Parents told us that it lasts "for years." One said, "we have some new and some second-hand M&S uniform items and they all look as good as the day they were bought." One reason for this incredible durability is the quality of the fabrics used. Parent tester Charlotte, who tested the uniform with her 5-year-old daughter Lily (pictured above) immediately identified how hardwearing the uniform seemed: "lovely durable-feeling fabric that's a lot thicker when compared to others I've used, so I think it would last longer."
The uniform also proves to be long-lasting due to the addition of adjustable features that allow the items to grow with children. For example, parents really "love the trousers with the adjustable waists." Parent tester Shereen, who tested the uniform with her 4-year-old son Zayn (pictured above), really rated "the extra-long hems on the trousers which are very handy for growing children!" Other features parents appreciated include the reinforced knees, crease-resistant and stain-resistant fabrics, and the velcro behind the top button on polo shirts which one parent said "helps speed up getting ready."
M&S offer an impressive "array of types and sizes" of uniform and parents were "very pleased with the range available." Parents were also impressed by the accurate sizing and comfort of fit, saying that M&S offers the "best-fitting trousers for our son". Feedback included being "happy with the fit of the tops, dresses and socks" and "every item of schoolwear was a perfect fit for my son." Most parents had a positive experience with washing the uniform too, telling us that it "washes really well with no shrinkage", "feels lovely and soft even after lots of washes" and "items wash well, hold their shape and last all year," with only a handful of respondents reporting any issues. Parent tester Shereen however, did notice some shrinkage and also told us "the polo shirt and jumper didn't seem to be very stain resistant."
Many parents did remark on the fact that the price point of M&S uniform is higher than that of supermarkets, but most also told us that this extra price is worth it due to the robustness and quality of the brand's uniform: "I find M&S uniform more expensive than supermarket uniform, however it fits better and generally lasts longer" and "although it is slightly more expensive than that of supermarkets, the quality, sizing and availability is second-to-none" are just 2 examples of many similar comments we received. Although the uniform is admittedly more expensive, if you can afford the initial cost, hundreds of parents who have tried and tested M&S uniform over the years attest to the fact that it is most definitely worth investing in. As parents told us: "M&S uniform is very good quality so it is a good investment" and "our [M&S] uniform is still in perfect condition after 2 years of wear. It's definitely worth the money for the quality."
M&S also offer an Easy Dressing range which this year won the Silver award for Best Easy On uniform — you can read more about this below.
Available from: M&S School Uniform – Also available at M&S stores nationwide.
Silver: Next
Available from Next
This year, we have awarded uniform from Next the Silver award for Best high street school uniform. Parents and testers told us they were very impressed by Next's school uniform offering and it performed well on many metrics, with the brand coming top for fit, second for washing and quality and achieving the second best average score overall — just slightly behind M&S.
Unsurprisingly, due to its top score, many parents who responded to our survey told us that one of the standout reasons they chose Next for school uniform was its "perfect fit." Our 3 parent testers agreed and praised the uniform for being "true to size." One reason for this impressive fit is due to the variety of fit options available, including regular, slim, plus and more. Through running our uniform tests, we've found that the brands that tend to perform best are those that offer a vast array of different options — including varying sizes, fits, colours and ranges such as Easy On uniform. Having a broad range available to choose from is something that parents really do value.
Another much-praised feature of school uniform is adjustable elements that allow the uniform to grow with children, and parents most definitely appreciated this addition on Next's uniform. As one parent told us, "the skirts from Next were a little big but having adjustable waists and lengths for my taller-than-average girls were perfect." Parent tester Stacey, who tested the uniform with her 7-year-old daughter Ellie (pictured above) praised these features too, "the trousers had waist extenders which were needed for them to fit properly as we had to make the waist smaller."
Next also received positive feedback for its Easy On range. One parent of a child with additional needs told us "they offer a huge variety online of different materials and different fits to suit the needs of my daughter." Parent tester Emma, whose 6-year-old son Oliver (pictured above) has ASD, said that she particularly loved the shirt that had buttons along the bottom half and velcro at the top: "this is perfect for my son as he struggles with buttons." Other parents praised this too, telling us that the "velcro on Next polo shirts help my son get dressed." Parents also admired the "non-scratchy, soft material" and told us "the labels aren't as noticeable" on Next's uniform.
Parents were predominantly positive about how well the uniform washes, telling us that it "lasts for all of my muddy and rough children, stains come out great and it doesn't shrink after being washed multiple times" and "it washes well, doesn't shrink and hardly needed ironing." Parent tester Stacey said that "it washed brilliantly" and parent tester Rebecca, who tested the uniform with her 5-year-old son Jaxxon agreed: "it washed well with little to no shrinkage." However, parent tester Emma and other parents had a more negative experience, they told us "the jumper had shrunk" and "I was disappointed with the quality after washing. It was lovely at first, however after a lot of washes the material felt like it was wearing thin. For the cost, I would have expected better."
Some parents agree with the latter part of the quote above too, and we received very mixed opinions regarding whether the price of Next uniform is worth it. Some parents believed that although it's "more expensive than supermarket uniform, it's definitely worth the money" and they "find it expensive but great quality." Parent tester Rebecca agreed too, "it's good value for money for the great quality you are receiving." However, some parents, including parent tester Stacey disagreed: "the quality is great, but I still think it is very expensive and I would not pay the money."
Although admittedly on the higher end of the pricing scale for uniform, the all-round quality, great fit and durability of Next uniform does make it, for many parents, "worth the money." Parent tester Emma said "we are likely to use Next in the future due to the quality of the uniform" and many parents agreed with her regarding the quality and longevity: "the uniform is hardwearing and lasts", "Next is probably my go-to, it provides fantastic quality and washes beautifully" and "it stood the test of time."
Available from: Next school uniform – Also available at most Next stores nationwide.
Gold: Tu at Sainsbury's
Available from: Tu at Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is, for many parents, a firm favourite destination to purchase school uniform and so once again, Sainsbury's wins Best supermarket school uniform, this year winning the Gold award. This is due to its impressive range, long-lasting quality and competitive prices. The uniform performed well across the board too — its average score was 3rd overall, just narrowly behind M&S and Next.
"It's the most expensive option of the supermarket choices, but we have never had any issues with fit, quality or longevity post-washing" said one parent — acknowledging Sainsbury's slightly higher price point compared to its competitors but, like many other parents, believing that it's worth the money. We know that if parents are going to spend a little bit more on uniform, then they really want it to last and, according to parents, uniform from Sainsbury's really does: "It tends to last us all year unless outgrown, but the quality lasts." Parent tester Nisha, who tested the uniform with her 8-year-old son Jacob (pictured above) agrees about the uniform's durability: "I felt that the quality of the uniform was thicker than the uniform from ASDA I usually buy, so potentially will last longer and will look better for longer." Parent tester Daisy, who tested the uniform with her 5-year-old daughter Felicity (pictured above) agreed that the uniform does seem to be hardwearing: "the quality of the uniform is really good. I can see it lasting for the majority of the school year."
Parents told us that the uniform proves to be so long-lasting due to a combination of its robust materials and extra features such as adjustable and additional elements: "the school trousers are very stain resistant and have reinforced knees. They wash well and look as good as new" and "with the addition of the adjustment tabs on either side of the waistband, these trousers have grown with my son and are still going strong!" Parent tester Nisha loved these features too: "the adjustable elements in the trousers were a MASSIVE win for us!" Sainsbury's uniform was also praised for how well it fit, with parents telling us that it "fits perfect" and "seems to fit well" — mostly due to these adjustable features — as parent tester Daisy said, "the additional elastic to pull in the waist made the skirt perfect."
Although most parents told us that the uniform "is great after being washed" and "the fabrics don't bobble and keep their shape after multiple washes," some did raise concerns that the "red colour faded significantly" and "the polo shirts shrunk and discoloured after a few washes." This mixed experience was also reported by our testers. Parent tester Daisy thought it washed well: "it feels nice and soft after being washed, there were no visible stains left on the uniform and there doesn't appear to be any shrinkage". However, Nisha said "the shirts came out creased and the jumper stretched."
There were also some concerns raised about the availability of the uniform, with parents telling us "certain sizes seem hard to get" and "local stores don't stock a great range and online seem to sell out of certain items before I've even thought about them." Some, however, did praise the "good online ordering system which makes it easier to select what we need."
Sainsbury's also has an SEN-friendly Dress With Ease range that helps to support independent dressing and has features such as touch & close fasteners and pull-on trousers which parents really appreciated. Parents told us the "materials are a lot softer and the labels cut off easily with an alternative tag to stamp their name in" and "my son feels comfortable in these clothes and they do variations of summer and winter clothes throughout the year."
Overall, Sainsbury's offers an impressive range of good quality, well-priced uniform that provides a great fit and has some excellent features. However, it's understandably not as long-lasting as more expensive brands, and you may need to order it online.
Available from: Tu at Sainsbury's school uniform – Also available at selected Sainsbury's stores nationwide.
Silver: F&F at Tesco
Available from: Selected Tesco stores
Winning our inaugural Silver award for Best supermarket school uniform is F&F at Tesco. The brand performed consistently well across the board, with its average overall score coming an extremely respectable 5th. Although parents felt that the quality of the uniform is not as strong as supermarket rival Sainsbury's, many believed that the uniform "is very reasonable and lasts well."
Many parents were pleased with the quality of Tesco uniform, particularly considering its low price point, telling us "it was extremely good value and served its purpose." Parent tester Jennifer, who tested the uniform with her 7-year-old son Roman (pictured above) agreed that "it's great value for money!"
The uniform performed strongly in a number of areas, specifically regarding fit and durability. Parents said the uniform "fits very well, it's long-lasting and it's great for washing" and "it's smart, durable and comfortable." Parent tester Tanya, who tested the uniform with her 6-year-old daughter Nancy (pictured above) loved the fit of the uniform, telling us "all of the items fit very well and the pinafore, skirt and trousers had a good amount of growing room." Other parents agreed, telling us the uniform "fit really nicely" and loved that Tesco have a "great range for all ages and it fits very well."
As with most brands, parents were very impressed by the additional features of the uniform that improves its longevity: "the adjustable waist and reinforced knees are good" and "the trousers are perfect for children of all shapes and sizes with the adjustable waistband and adjustable leg length." Parent tester Tanya really rated these features too: "the skirt had an adjustable waist along with grow-with-me hems, a fantastic feature that provides longevity."
Many also thought that the uniform washes well, telling us it "stays soft after washing" and "doesn't fade or shrink in the wash." Parent tester Jennifer said, "as a busy mum of 3 I found it super helpful that I could put it all in with the rest of my usual washing with no special requirements. The fact that it dries so nicely and no ironing was needed was fantastic too!" Some parents did however encounter issues with washing the uniform, telling us "it shrinks in a cold wash" and "it washed ok but stained easily."
Although Tesco doesn't offer a specific Easy On range, some parents who buy uniform for children with additional needs purchase from Tesco due to a variety of reasons: "they've removed tags and labels from most items, so my son who has ASD isn't irritated by itchy tags" and "my son is prone to eczema and suffers with flare ups. The trousers from Tesco have never caused him any discomfort. They are great quality, durable and keep him well-protected from environmental factors."
As we've established, a lot of parents do really rate Tesco uniform and think it offers value for money. The main criticism we received regarding Tesco's uniform was the inability of many parents to actually buy the uniform they need. Whereas uniform from most brands included in our survey can be purchased online, Tesco's uniform offering is strictly in-store only. Whereas some think this is really convenient, "Tesco is very easy to buy from and they have lots of stock," others expressed concern with the limited range available in store, along with the lack of flexibility of no online option. Two frustrated parents told us, "if they had more available I would buy it more often" and "not being able to order online makes purchasing school uniform from Tesco very hit and miss."
If you can find some F&F in your local store, we recommend it as a reliable, comfortable, well-fitting option that has some great design features at a very competitive price.
Available from: Selected Tesco stores
Gold: George at ASDA
Available from George at Asda school uniform
Year after year, uniform from George at ASDA has performed well in our annual school uniform testing and has won a variety of awards. This year, it scoops a brand new award: Gold for Best Easy On school uniform. It was abundantly clear from both our uniform testing and survey results that parents are incredibly impressed by George's Easy On Easy Wear range and we found George's commitment to providing uniform that is "designed to support independent dressing and sensory needs" extremely worthy of our inaugural Best Easy On award.
Parents told us that "we bought the Easy On jumpers and they have been a godsend," "the Easy On range helps my son to be more independent with dressing as he has additional needs" and "my son has sensory needs and loves the polo shirts with no itchy labels and velcro fastenings as he gets super stressed with buttons." Parent tester Hannah, who tested the Easy On Easy Wear range from George with her 5-year-old son Finley who is autistic (pictured above, left), was extremely complimentary about the uniform, telling us that "this uniform met and exceeded our child's needs." Her son Finley "was very excited to put the uniform on, despite it usually being a battle to get it on him" and "found the uniform extremely comfortable. He loved the feel of all of it and said it was the most comfy he had ever been in school." As well as the comfort and softness of the uniform material, Hannah was also impressed by "the hidden features that make the uniform that little bit more accessible for all," including the labels being printed directly onto the material and velcro fastenings behind the buttons.
Many parents also praised the quality and affordability of the Easy On Easy Wear range. "The fact that they sell it at an affordable price and it's good quality help," said one parent. Another said "the adaptions may seem pointless to some people but honestly, they are such a game changer, especially for children with hidden needs." In addition to this, parent tester Hannah also found the uniform easy to wash, telling us that it stayed soft and the stains completely came out, but did notice minimal shrinkage with the polo shirt.
Parents were also largely impressed by the standard uniform from George too, especially its extremely competitive price point (it came 3rd in our survey for worth the money). Parents also praised the "very wide range to choose from," "the good fit" of the uniform and the additional features like the "reinforced knee protection" and "adjustable waists." However, there was mixed feedback regarding the longevity of the uniform. Many told us that they had issues with how well the uniform washes over time including shrinkage and staining, and some had concerns about the thinness of the materials.
A main concern of both parents who buy from the Easy On Easy Wear range and the regular range, is availability. Although some praised the fact that the uniform is "easy to access when doing the normal weekly shop and there is good availability," these comments were in the minority. Many parents told us that "the uniform is regularly out of stock" and "I just wish they had more options in store as there is never anything!"
Whether you're looking for a specific Easy On uniform, or for a uniform that's reliable and affordable, George at ASDA is a very strong contender — especially due to its impressive variety of fits, styles and colours available too.
Available from: George at Asda school uniform – Also available at selected Asda stores nationwide.
Silver: Marks & Spencer
Available from M&S
Proving again why it's an excellent destination for school uniform for a variety of needs, the Easy Dressing range from M&S was a huge hit with our parent tester and much praised by our survey respondents, so this year we have awarded M&S the Silver award for Best Easy On school uniform for its Easy Dressing range.
Parent tester Katie said that her 6-year-old son Harley (pictured above, right) "really liked the uniform" and in particular "loved the jumper as it was easy to get on and off without overstimulating him (he has ASD/ADHD)." Katie also said "the Easy On t-shirts are absolutely fabulous especially for children with things like autism or sensory processing disorders. They make it comfortable for the child and gives them the ability to be independent."
Other parents had very similar experiences to Katie and praised many different elements of the Easy Dressing range. One parent said they "love the velcro shirts, they help my daughter who struggles with the feeling of buttons" and another loved the "pull on trousers and shorts with no buttons, this meant my son can be independent which has given him confidence at school."
Most parents who buy M&S uniform for their children who have additional needs liked the soft, "non-scratchy materials" and said that the seams don't bother their children as much as other brands do. One praised the "softer material and not-as-noticeable seams" and another said "my daughter has a clothing sensitivity where she hates feeling seams and M&S was best for this." Another parent said "my daughter has Down's Syndrome and she likes the softness of the M&S clothing the most."
Parent tester Katie also said the uniform "all washed beautifully" and was really impressed with the fit and adjustable hems on the trousers too. She told us she "will be moving to M&S for future uniforms" as "the quality speaks for itself."
Available from: M&S
Gold: Trutex
Available from Trutex
Although uniform from Trutex sits at the very high end of the scale in terms of cost, most parents who have tried and tested the uniform were in agreement: its robustness and long-lasting, high quality makes it undoubtedly worth the higher price point. So, this year, we have awarded Trutex the Gold award for Best school uniform for durability.
It was one of the lesser-tried brands included in our uniform survey, but most parents who had bought it referenced how robust the uniform proves to be. Admittedly, the parents that praised its durability did caveat this by referencing its high price point: "it's not the cheapest but it's great, hard-wearing uniform," and "the trousers seem to outlast all the rest, they cost a bit more but it's worth it." Parent tester Amy, who tried Trutex uniform with her 5-year-old daughter Rinoa (pictured above), agreed: "I think this uniform would stand the test of time compared to some cheaper options. The cardigan felt thick and like it would last longer than competitor styles, the polos feel more heavy duty than many equivalents." Fellow parent tester Zara, who tested the uniform with her 4-year-old son Isaiah (pictured above) agreed: "it appeared more durable than other brands. The high quality alludes to longevity."
Uniform from Trutex proves to be incredibly durable and long-lasting due in part to the robust materials used that make the uniform feel, according to parent tester Zara, "much thicker than the supermarket uniform I have bought previously." This durability is also due to the great fit of the uniform and the adjustable elements that allow it to grow with children. Zara also loved the "waist extenders, elasticated trousers and deep hems in the trousers" and said the uniform had plenty of "growing room" too.
Parents told us that "it's great for washing and not that much ironing is needed" and "it washed well and holds it shape." Zara agreed with this analysis too — she said that the uniform washed well and she had no issues. However, Amy experienced "minimal shrinkage" with the polo shirt and cardigan and some survey respondents said "I've had issues with shrinkage with the sweatshirt/jumpers" and another said "it shrunk in the wash."
Although Trutex doesn't offer a specific Easy On range, some parents told us that Trutex uniform was great for their children that have additional needs. One said that the uniform is "comfortable to wear for children with sensory issues" and other parents told us "the materials are great and the clothing is roomy," it's "not itchy" and "Trutex are a successful school uniform brand for a reason and that is because they have many different styles to suit both sensory or sizing needs."
Trutex offers very high quality uniform that is durable, comfortable and fits very well. Although it is an expensive option, if you can make the initial investment then the quality is worth it and the uniform is sure to last.
Available from: Trutex — Also available at some stores throughout the UK.
Silver: John Lewis
Available from John Lewis
Winning our Silver award for Best school uniform for durability is high street staple John Lewis. Parents who use the brand, as well as our parent testers who tested the uniform with their children, told us that it's thoughtfully-designed uniform that proves to be robust, but some reservations were raised over its price point.
Many parents mentioned how long-lasting the uniform is, calling it "hardwearing," telling us that it "lasts well and is good quality" and is "excellent quality, comfortable and lasting." Our parent testers agreed. Parent tester Bhavisha, who tested the uniform with her 9-year-old daughter Tiya (pictured above) said "the uniform is more expensive than what we are used to, but the quality is better so hopefully it will last longer and pay for itself." Parent tester Shauni, who tested the uniform with her 5-year-old son Oscar (pictured above) praised the robustness too, telling us that the material on the trousers felt "thick and long-lasting" and "feel like they will last."
One reason why uniform from John Lewis has great longevity and durability is due to its "brilliant" adjustment features, according to parent tester Bhavisha. Parent tester Shauni said she was "very impressed by the adjustable waistband and length on the legs" and praised the reinforced knees as the "material was noticeably thicker (than that of M&S or ASDA) and they're in fantastic condition after a week of knee-skidding!"
There was, however, some mixed feedback in terms of washing. Some parents, including Bhavisha, said the uniform "washes well". However, some were disappointed and said "it does not wash as well as expected for the brand" and Shauni said "the polo shirts dried out of shape, there was considerable shrinkage and the jumper's waistband narrowed and curved."
Due to this, and its relatively high price point, parents were divided over whether the uniform offers good value for money — John Lewis came 10th out of the 13 brands included in our survey for worth the money. Some thought it was "too expensive" but a majority told us that "the quality of John Lewis is always very good so worth spending a bit extra on", "it's quite expensive but lasts well and is good quality" and is "a bit pricey compared to other shops but definitely worth it."
Although it is more expensive than the supermarket options, it provides a great hard-wearing and well-fitting uniform option that should last and grow with your child.
Available from: John Lewis school uniform – Also available at John Lewis stores nationwide.
Best hidden gem
Gold: Very
Available from Very
A new winner for 2024, online retailer Very takes the Gold award for Best hidden gem for 2024. Less than 4% of parents who responded to our survey had tried uniform from Very but, through their feedback and our testing, we found that the uniform performs well, has great availability — scoring the best for this metric in our survey — and an impressive variety of items. Very is the only online-only retailer in our survey and whilst some parents did say they "prefer to take their children to a shop to get uniform," many also told us that they liked the ease, convenience and, crucially, the great availability, that shopping at Very offers. This, alongside its impressive range of styles, sizes and fits makes it a great hidden gem.
Those who had bought uniform from Very were impressed, telling us it was "excellent quality." One parent said, "I haven't bought that many items but I was impressed with the pinafore and skirts." Another told us "I found the trousers with reinforced knees really good quality, they have lasted really well and were a good fit." Although some parents think that the uniform is "good value for money," some said that the items were "a bit pricey for what they were" and the "quality could have been better for the price." Parent tester Celia, who tested the uniform with her 4-year-old son Luca (pictured above), believed that "the uniform is pretty standard in terms of quality when compared to supermarket brands" but also said "the quality seems very practical for everyday use, washing and children's play. The lasting colour (after washing) and low creases in the jumper and trousers make it great for a smart uniform choice."
Washing results were mixed. Parent tester Rebecca, who tested the uniform with her daughter Hettie said the items "washed extremely well" whereas Celia noticed "some shrinkage in the polo shirt and the jumper arms stretched slightly." Survey respondents also raised some concerns. One said the polo shirts "shrunk in the wash" and another said "both the trousers and the polo shirts shrunk after the first wash and carried on getting smaller after each wash."
Like most brands, the adjustable elements and additional features in some of the items was highly praised by parent respondents and testers alike. Rebecca applauded the waist extenders and said her daughter Hettie "liked that the shirt had a velcro top button that was easy to do." Celia also liked these elements, telling us "the trousers have an elastic waistband and reinforced knees. Trousers with no zippers are ideal for smaller children and reinforced knees will help greatly in longevity."
Very's price point is on the higher side, and some parents did raise this concern, especially as some believed that they would expect slightly better quality for the higher price. However, Very proves to be an extremely reliable option, particularly if you need uniform quickly. As one parent told us, "the uniform is more expensive than George and Aldi but it was OK. I ordered shirts for my oldest when I couldn't get them anywhere else in her size."
If you are struggling to get the uniform you need, or if you're looking for a particular colour of fit of school uniform, we would definitely recommend taking a look at Very's offering — the uniform is reliable, comfortable and has great design elements too.
Available from: Very
Gold: Aldi
This year, Aldi takes the Gold award for another one of our new categories: Best budget range school uniform. The feedback from parents and results from our survey were astoundingly clear — although Aldi didn't perform as well as some of our other Award winners in some metrics, the supermarket took the top spot for worth the money, with parents telling us that Aldi offers good uniform at a very good price.
Most comments we received were incredibly complimentary about the price. One parent told us that the uniform is "really good value, particularly with the price in mind" and another said "it does the job I need it to do at a reasonable price." However, Aldi's performance across many of the metrics we asked parents to rate was certainly mixed. How well the uniform fit, for example, was contested by parents. Some parents thought that the uniform "fits very well" and "the uniform is a great price and a great fit" whereas two parents described the polo shirts as having a "boxy fit" and others told us the uniform "didn't fit quite right."
How well the uniform washed followed this trend, too. Its performance on this metric was the 3rd lowest out of the uniform brands included in our survey and parents told us that "the polo shirts were not soft after washing", "the colour fades and shrinks fast" and "the shirts didn't wash brilliantly — they got shorter and wider!" However, some parents did have some positive experiences, telling us "it washed very well and doesn't shrink" and "it washed well and has stood the test of time, including keeping its colour."
Despite this mixed feedback, parents pretty much agreed that the biggest issue regarding Aldi uniform was actually being able to purchase it. Over half of our survey respondents who buy Aldi uniform expressed frustration at how inconvenient finding and buying uniform from Aldi is. The retailer also came 2nd from the bottom when ranked by ease of accessing uniform, beaten to the bottom only by Lidl. Parents told us it "sells out way too quick", it's "difficult to get the right sizes" and "Aldi is one of our favourite places for school uniform, but unfortunately the range and stock size is a little lacking, it's a shame they don't stock it more frequently and on a larger scale." This availability issue was an issue for us too, as Aldi was the only brand of uniform that we weren't able to send to parent testers, due to a lack of availability.
Despite these reservations and some mixed feedback on its quality, parents told us that Aldi uniform, largely due to its extremely competitive price point, is worth the money — uniform starts from just £1.50 in the supermarket. Due to the low price, we would definitely recommend giving Aldi a try — if you can get hold of the uniform that is!
Available from: Selected Aldi stores.
Nutmeg at Morrisons
Nutmeg at Morrison's offers a good, standard uniform at a very good price. According to parent tester Carly, who tested uniform from Nutmeg with her 7-year-old daughter Isla (pictured above), the uniform is "good value", "good quality" and was "very comfortable" for Isla. She also really praised the additional features on the uniform too, including the waist extenders, reinforced knees, reinforced seams, adjustable hems and stain resistant materials on some items. Parent tester Natalie, who tested the uniform with her 4-year-old son Jack (pictured above) agreed that the uniform was comfortable and loved the fit of it too. However, she did experience shrinkage and raised concerns about the thinness of the materials used.
Some concerns were raised by our survey respondents too, particularly about the longevity of the uniform, even when compared with similarly-priced supermarkets. There were also mixed reports on the accuracy of the sizing. One of the main concerns from our survey respondents however, was the "very small range of school uniform items available" and the very limited availability in stores. Plus, like F&F at Tesco, Morrisons has no online option.
Available from: Selected Morrisons stores.
Matalan
Available from Matalan
Matalan's performance was very mixed in our testing. Some of our parent testers were impressed by the uniform: parent tester Wendy who tested the uniform with her 7-year-old daughter Melanie (pictured above) told us that the quality and comfortable fit of the uniform was "definitely better than the supermarket brands." She also appreciated the "long-lasting bright colours and outstanding non-iron features" and thought that the uniform "looks nice and seems designed to last." However, parent tester Isidora, who tested the uniform with her 6-year-old son Raphael (pictured above) had some issues with washing the uniform and raised concerns about the fit and sizing of the uniform too.
Parents who responded to our survey had similar concerns, especially regarding sizing accuracy, quality after washing and stock availability. Although many were impressed by the price when compared to high street retailers, parents were extremely divided on whether the uniform is good quality or not and it didn't outperform the supermarkets and so for many, doesn't justify its higher price point.
Available from: Matalan school uniform – Also available at Matalan stores nationwide.
H&M
Available from H&M
H&M was the least-tried uniform out of the brands we surveyed and whereas some parents thought the uniform was "very comfortable" and had a "very cute style," many raised concerns with the quality of the uniform. The main issue parents had was in relation to the longevity and durability of the uniform, telling us that the "quality for the price doesn't last" and it's "not as good quality as M&S." Parent tester Libby, who tested the uniform with her 4-year-old son Arthur (pictured above) agreed. Although she liked the fit and comfort of the uniform for her son, she doubted how long the uniform would last due to its thinness. She said, "I wouldn't purchase it for the winter months nor would I look to buy it believing it would last the school year."
However, parent tester Annie, who tested the uniform with her 9-year-old daughter Edie (pictured above), was impressed, telling us that "the quality was great, it washed up so nice and the materials were good quality and soft."
Available from: H&M – Also available at H&M stores nationwide.
Lidl
Like Aldi, Lidl offers uniform at a truly bargain price. But also like Aldi, parents express frustration at availability of Lidl uniform and also raised some concerns about its quality and durability. Our parent tester Vikki who tested Lidl uniform with her 5-year-old son Romeo (pictured above) called the uniform "such a great budget buy" and told us that Romeo found it "very comfortable."
However, parents in our survey believed that the "quality is reflected in the lower price" and raised issues around shrinkage, stains, thinness of the material and sizing accuracy. Unsurprisingly however, the most common concern was availability — it came bottom for this metric in our survey. Parents told us that it's "hard to find in store," "very difficult to find the size you need" and "it isn't always possible to find uniform in Lidl." It works well as a back-up or spare uniform, if you can find any in store.
Available from: Selected Lidl stores
Best school shoes
Gold: Clark's
Clark's is unmistakably a favourite school shoe retailer amongst parents — over half of our survey respondents (52%) told us that they usually buy their kids' school shoes from Clark's. So, this year we have awarded the shoe retailer Gold for
Best school shoes.
Although shoes from Clark's can be expensive, they are known for their incredible durability and should last your child all year — making the price definitely worth it. Parent tester Hollie said, "my daughter is in reception and has been in the same Clark's shoes all year. She runs around and plays all day and they are still in great condition!" Parent tester Amy had a similar experience too, "my son has just finished reception and his shoes from Clark's lasted all year." Another parent tester, Chelsea told us that their child who just finished year 6 "always had Clark's, they usually last the full year."
Clark's also has a great in-store fitting service and an incredibly impressive range with dozens of different styles to choose from, in a variety of different sizes and width options too.
Best school bag
Gold: Smiggle
In our survey, Smiggle was the most popular school bag retailer for parents and the brand certainly impressed due to their fun designs, robust quality and large capacity of their bags. This year, Smiggle received the Gold award for
Best school bag.
Smiggle is known for its fun and bright design choices, with over 80 backpack designs to choose from. Parent tester Bryony said, "my eldest had a Smiggle bag which was a fun unicorn design and it was really great quality too!"
As Bryony attests, bags from Smiggle stand out not only for their fun designs, but for their robustness and longevity too. Parent tester Gemma said her child's Smiggle bag "lasted so well, there's barely any wear and tear and it wipes clean." Parent tester Marie agreed, "all 3 of my children used a Smiggle bag last year as they last longer than other bags I've found."
¹ Survey carried out in June 2024 with 1035 parents/caregivers whose children currently wear school uniform
Pics: Home testers recruited via the MadeForMums Top Testers Club
How we home-tested school uniforms
We tested primary school uniforms, comprising (in most cases) a shirt or polo shirt, jumper or cardigan, skirt, pinafore or trousers and socks. Children put them through their paces before parents washed and dried them following the instructions on the labels (usually washing at 40°).
Our testers reported back on:
- Quality
- Ease of wear
- Comfort and fit
- Washing; shrinkage and removing stains
- Worth the money
How we conducted our school uniform survey
In June 2024 we asked over 1000 parents more than 35 questions about their children's uniforms. We also asked them to score uniforms they have tried under the following criteria, before calcuating an overall average score.
- Fit
- Washing
- Quality
- Worth the money
We asked these parents to share further details on fit and sizing, and to share their thoughts on availability. We also asked them to highlight the brands they preferred to go to for each item of uniform.
Read more...
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