School Uniforms (Trousers) Bill

As Introduced

CONTENTS

1. Trousers as part of school uniform for all pupils
2. Publication of guidelines
3. Transitional arrangements
4. Commencement
5. Short title

A
BILL
TO

Permit all pupils to wear trousers as part of their school uniform.

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His Majesty as follows:

Trousers as part of school uniform for all pupils

1.—(1) The School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 is amended in accordance with this section.

(2) At the beginning of Part 1 insert—

“CHAPTER A1

TROUSERS AS PART OF SCHOOL UNIFORM FOR ALL PUPILS

Trousers as part of school uniform for all pupils

A1. All pupils are permitted to wear trousers as part of their school uniform.”.

(3) In section 2 (particular matters for inclusion in guidelines), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) Guidelines under this Chapter must include provision—

(a) implementing and giving full effect to the right of all pupils to wear trousers, as part of their school uniform,

(b) permitting all pupils to wear trousers, shorts or other leg coverings, whilst taking part in recreational, sporting or outdoor activities, as appropriate for that activity, as part of their school uniform.”.

Publication of guidelines

2. After section 15 of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026 insert—

“Publication of guidelines

15A. Guidelines under Chapter 1 must be published by the Department of Education as soon as practicable after issuing or reissuing them.”.

Transitional arrangements

3.—(1) This section applies in respect of the current guidelines issued under Chapter 1 of the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.

(2) Those guidelines must be revised to take into account section 1 of this Act and reissued in accordance with section 1 of that Act by 1 August 2027.

Commencement

4.—(1) Section 1 comes into operation on 1 August 2027.

(2) The other provisions of this Act come into operation on the day after the day of Royal Assent.

Short title

5. This Act may be cited as the School Uniforms (Trousers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2026.