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MoneyMagpie’s guide to getting a cheap or free school uniform
Nicola Kelly
27th Aug 2024
As the summer holidays come to an end, many parents are facing the familiar mix of family fun, back-to-school chaos, and the rising costs that come with the season. With just weeks left until school starts, getting back into the routine should be a relief. However, for many families, the cost of school uniforms is a looming concern.
That’s why we’ve crafted MoneyMagpie’s comprehensive guide to finding cheap school uniforms—and even scoring some for free.
Read on to discover the best deals, or use the links below to jump to your preferred section.
- Save money at the big shops
- Discover uniform recycle
- Buy from charity shops
- Websites that can help
- Grants towards uniform costs
- Do your bit for charity
The Big Shops
Supermarkets are still the place to find the cheapest school uniforms for the 2024 Autumn term and we’ve listed the best offers below. But, it’s also worth checking out the other clothing shops we’ve included, particularly the deals at Clarks and Matalan this year.
Sainsbury’s FLASH SALE: Get 15% off new uniforms
Online and in stores | Ongoing
Get 15% off school uniform online at Tu.co.uk and Argos.co.uk until Friday 30 August and in selected Sainsbury’s stores until Saturday 31 August.
Top picks include:
- White Unisex Perfect White Polo Shirt 2 Pack Was From £3, Now from £2.55
- Red Unisex V-Neck Jumpers 2 Pack Was From £7, Now from £5.95
- Blue Cardigans 2 Pack Was From £8, Now from £6.80
- White Unisex Crew Neck T-Shirt 3 Pack Was from £3, Now from £2.55
- Grey Skinny Fit Extendable Hem Trousers 2 Pack Was From £7, Now from £5.95
- Grey Pleated Zip Front Pinafore Was From £6, Now from £5.10
- White Scalloped Collar Polo Top 2 Pack Was From £5, Now from £4.25
- Grey Permanent Pleat Skirt 2 Pack Was From £7, Now from £5.95
- Navy Unisex Joggers 2 Pack Was From £8, Now from £6.80
Prices vary by size, and some sizes may be sold out online. Check in-store availability. Delivery is £3.95, and click and collect is free on orders over £15.
Aldi: Full School Uniform for £5
In stores only | While stocks last
Aldi is leading the way with a full school uniform for just £5, perfect for children aged 4-12. This incredible deal is part of Aldi’s ‘Specialbuys’ promotion, available in stores only, and it sells out quickly. We’ve checked in our local Aldi and you can still find some of these offers, but you will have to go into your local store to check.
What’s Included?
- Sweatshirt – £1.50
- 2x Polo shirts – £1.75
- Girl’s pleated skirt – £1.75
- Boy’s trousers – £1.75
- Boy’s cargo shorts – £1.75
Prices are consistent across all sizes, and Aldi includes a 12-month guarantee on its uniforms. Find your nearest store and act fast—this cheap uniform deal is a yearly favourite!
Lidl: School Uniform for £5
In stores only | While stocks last
Lidl is matching Aldi with its own full school uniform for £5, also catering to ages 4-12. Available in stores only, this deal tends to sell out quickly.
What’s Included?
- Sweatshirt – £1.50
- 2x Polo shirts – £1.75
- Girl’s pleated skirt – £1.75
- Boy’s trousers – £1.75
With prices fixed regardless of size, head to your local Lidl store to snag this cheap uniform offer.
George at Asda: Uniform Items from £3
Online and in stores | Ongoing
Asda offers cheap uniform items starting from just £3 for children aged 3-18, available both online and in stores and we even spotted a school skirt in the sale section for £1.50, so do check it out.
What’s Available?
- 2x Polo shirts – £3-£6
- 2x Sweatshirts – £5-£9
- 2x Skirts – £8-£14
- 2x Trousers – £8-£14
Prices vary by size, and stock for the cheapest items is running low. Standard delivery is £3.50, with free click and collect. Visit your nearest store to explore the full range of cheap uniforms.
Tesco: F&F Uniform Items from £4
In stores only | Ongoing
Tesco’s F&F range offers cheap uniform items starting from £4, available in stores only.
What’s Available?
- 3x Polo Shirts – from £4
- 2x Sweatshirts – from £5
- 2x Trousers – from £7
- 2x Skirts – from £7
Prices vary by size. Visit your local Tesco to check stock levels and find cheap uniforms for your kids.
H&M: Uniform Items from £4.99
Online and in stores | Ongoing
H&M offers stylish yet cheap uniform items starting from £4.99, available for children aged 2-14.
What’s Available?
- Jersey School Skirt – £4.99 (new lower price for 2024)
- Knit Jumper – £5.99
- Boys’ Trousers – £7.99
- Two-Pack Polo Shirts – £9.99
Prices are consistent across sizes. Standard delivery is £3.99, but H&M members enjoy free delivery on orders over £20 and free in-store pickup.
Matalan: Uniform Items from £4
Online and in stores | Ongoing
Matalan offers budget-friendly school uniform items starting from £4 for children aged 3-16 and there’s currently a sale section where you can find a few items for bargain prices such as 2 x blue polo shirts reduced from £4 to £2.
What’s Available?
- 2x Polo Shirts – £4-£7
- 2x Sweatshirts – £7-£11
- 2x Skirts – £7-£11
- 2x Trousers – £11-£15
The cheapest items are in low stock. Standard delivery is £3.95, with free click and collect available.
Peacocks: Uniform from £4 and discounts on polo shirts
Online and in stores | Ongoing
Peacocks is often overlooked as a shopping destination but currently, the school uniform range is definitely worth checking out. School uniforms start at £4 for children aged 4-16 and you can filter by school year as well.
- 2x Polo Shirts – £4.80 – £6.40 (look out for discounted sale items, as some packs are reduced from £6 to £4.80)
- Skirts – £4.80 – £6.40
- Pinafore school dress – £7.20 – £8.80
- Trousers – £5.60 – £6.40
There’s still plenty of stock available and prices change based on age. Standard delivery is £3.99 but sign up for the Peacocks newsletter and get 10% off your first online order.
Clarks: School shoes discount and free replacement shoes offer!
Clarks shoes has reduced its Back to School shoe collection by 33% and they are also offering a brilliant fit guarantee’ where if kids outgrow their school shoes within three months of their in-store fitting, they can come and exchange them for a new pair, free of charge.
Take advantage of the ‘buy together, save together’ bundle, where you get £10 off a pair of CicaStars kids trainers when you buy a pair of black school shoes.
JD Sports school shoes for £20
As the new term looms, head to JD Sports for big discounts on school shoes.
Previously £30, the McKenzie range of black school shoes has been reduced to £20, hopefully bringing down your school uniform budget a little this month.
If you’re after something a bit more premium, you get pairs of Kickers shoes, reduced from £75 to £55 but the McKenzie range looks very similar, if you ask us.
Uniform Recycling
School take-back schemes: Many schools offer take-back schemes, allowing parents to donate old school uniforms at the end of the year, which are then sold on at a reduced price to others. Check if your local school has a scheme like this going. If it doesn’t, you might even be able to get one going with other parents.
Donate at Wacky Warehouse: The leading soft play, party venue and activity centre, has relaunched its school uniform donation scheme for a second successive year due to national demand in partnership with B&M. Parents can visit their local Wacky Warehouse to donate any unused or pre-loved school uniform until 2 Sep and these will be distributed via local charities. Plus, parents who donate can enter the B&M competition to win a £1,000 gift voucher for their school school, to spend on school essentials, such as breakfast foods, stationery, and sporting equipment.
Location-based recycling schemes: Check your local authority website to find out about local recycling schemes, but here’s a few we found in London, where you can donate your old uniforms:
- The School Uniform Bank, East London Waste
- Recycle School Uniform CIC, Westminster, London
- School Uniform Exchange, North London Waste Exchange
Secondhand Savings
If you’re looking to save money on school uniforms, secondhand options are a fantastic way to stretch your budget without compromising on quality. Here are some top places to find affordable, gently used uniforms:
Charity Shops: High street charity shops often have seasonal displays featuring school uniforms, it’s worth hitting your local area to see what’s in stock and ask staff if you’re looking out for specific items as they might have noticed some hidden in the back or tucked away on the shop floor.
Auction sites: Browse online for gently used uniforms at great prices, eBay has a huge selection with many parents selling affordable bundles with a section for boys and girls uniform. Vinted also has some great listings – we spotted full uniform sets for as little as £3.50.
Facebook: Check local listings for school-specific uniforms on Facebook Marketplace and it’s worth seeing if there’s a uniform group for your actual school. Many parents are swapping instead of selling this year, so that could be a good way to get a free uniform.
School PTA Sales: Many schools have uniform exchange programs or sales through Parent Teacher Associations, offering items at low or no cost. Check with the school or, as it’s the summer holidays, check in with parents of your class via WhatsApp.
Websites
There are some brilliant websites dedicated to selling, swapping and buying school uniform. Try checking out the below for extra savings, cheap uniforms and free school uniforms:
- Uniformerly.co.uk: Uniformerly is an award-winning online marketplace for school uniforms, where parents and PTAs can buy, sell, give away, and recycle outgrown school uniforms. For schools and PTAs, Uniformerly offers the opportunity to sell or donate uniform items to parents, so you could bag a free item.
- Oldschooluniform.co.uk: Founded by concerned parents, oldschooluniform.co.uk is a free online platform that allows you to sell, buy or donate school uniform. You can buy items by school name for much reduced prices or even free on this website and if you’re after a specific piece, you can list a notice on the site so others can contact you directly. As an online marketplace, they focus on recycling and repurposing and you can donate your old uniform directly to your school of choice.
Grants
If you’re struggling with costs, you should see if you’re eligible for government or local authority grants.
- Government Grants: In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, parents may be eligible for a uniform grant of up to £200. Check Gov.uk for eligibility.
- School Trust Funds: Sometimes schools or trusts run their own schemes to offer help where needed but it depends on individual schools and you will need to contact directly to find out.Read our full guide to school uniform grants 2024 here
Do your bit for charity
Come September, many of us can be forgiven for breathing a little sign of relief when the schools re-open their doors, but did you know that as well as your own children, you can also send a less fortunate child to school too?
Founded in Nepal in 2003, Sherpa Adventure Gear has made it its mission to educate the children of Nepal and give employment to their parents. Working with the charity Room To Read’s Nepal Education Programme to implement a literacy programme aimed at improving and empowering the lives of children who are at a higher risk of dropping out of school due to cultural bias, a lack of educational resources and for girls, pressures to marry.
So, if you’re looking for a little late summer holiday wardrobe treat, make it a wardrobe staple with meaning as every Sherpa item sold means you’ll be sending a Nepali child to school! The beautifully made collection with its signature endless knot symbol includes sustainably made tees, tops, shorts, fleeces, dresses, roomy shopping totes or yoga/hike tights.
You’ll also be helping Sherpa achieve its commitment to providing 10 million school days by 2030!
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