What does the new law on school uniforms mean in Northern Ireland?

Whether you're a student or a parent, what can or cannot be worn to school is a big deal.

School uniforms, PE gear and other items put a burden on family budgets while students themselves can often look for more of a say in what they're allowed to wear inside school grounds.

Now, in order to make things clearer, new guidelines have been issued in the wake of law changes on uniforms.

The Department of Education (DE) has issued these legally-binding guidelines to schools on what the new law means for them.

Schools have to follow the guidelines when deciding on uniform policies for the 2026/27 school year.

Some MLAs have criticised the new legislation, and argued it does not go far enough.

But what does the new law mean for people across Northern Ireland?

BBC News NI has been looking at they key aspects.

Education Minister Paul Givan says yes they will.

Givan said that "the cost of a school uniform should not be a significant burden for parents".

Families can spend hundreds of pounds per child on school uniform and PE kit and the new law places the onus on all schools to ensure families pay less.

According to the detailed guidelines from the DE that means schools must do a number of things to keep uniforms and PE kit "affordable for families on the lowest incomes and do not impose unfair costs".

Schools have been told to "use eligibility for free school meals as a general benchmark for affordability".

Pupils are eligible for free school meals if their household income is less than £15,390.

Branded school sports kits have driven up the cost of school uniform and "ruined the reputation" of sellers, a retailer has previously told BBC News NI.

So what do the guidelines say around branded items?

Schools have to "minimise the number of branded items," including "school-specific" PE kit.

If schools want to use branded items or uniforms in "unusual colours", they must clearly explain why to parents.

Schools should ensure parents can get uniform items from a range of shops including supermarkets, not just one supplier.

Schools should also run uniform banks or exchanges and should not discipline pupils for breaching uniform rules if the breach is due to financial hardship.

The law also means that parents can complain to the department if they believe a school is not adhering to the guidelines.

If the department decides a school is not following the guidelines it can formally tell the school to comply.

Skirts or trousers for girls.

It's a long running debate among many here in Northern Ireland but it is not mentioned in the new guidelines.

Some MLAs are planning a further bill so that all schools have to give girls the choice.

But Givan has said that the law already gives girls the legal authority to challenge their schools to let them wear trousers instead of skirts.

There had also been suggestions that the new law could include a price cap, or maximum amount parents should pay for a school uniform, but that is not included.

Instead, schools are told to avoid "unfair costs," but no financial figure is put on those.

The principal of St Patrick's and St Brigid's College in Claudy, County Londonderry, Philip McCullagh, welcomed the new law.

McCullagh said blazers and PE kits, in particular, were "a pressure" for families.

They have now opened a "pre-loved" shop where parents pay less for uniform items.

"I think there's less of a stigma around that, I really do, and that's just based on the numbers we have coming through our doors.

"It is hundreds and hundreds of pounds so anything we can do as a school to claw that back a little bit, I think, will be welcome," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"A lot of the PE uniform items now have the pupils' initials on them and that makes it difficult then in terms of a swap-shop or for them to re-use by another child."