Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including digital devices in the (a) Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 and (b) related statutory guidance.

Where a school may require a pupil to possess a digital device, such devices are covered by existing school charging rules. Sections 449-462 of the Education Act 1996 set out the law on charging for school activities in schools maintained by local authorities in England. Academies (including free schools, studio schools and University Technical Colleges) are required through their funding agreement to comply with the law on charging for school activities.

The department’s school charging advice is clear that schools cannot charge for education provided during school hours, including the supply of any materials. This includes digital devices as well as books, instruments or other equipment. The advice can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charging-for-school-activities.

Schools can charge parents for such items where the parent wishes to own them.