The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

The online school uniform shops to know for every budget, from Sainsbury’s to M&S

Here’s an A-star for beating the back-to-school rush by getting ahead of the game

Eva Waite-Taylor

Monday 22 August 2022 16:43 BST

Head to Asda for a two-pack of trousers for £6 and PE kits from £2 (iStock/The Independent)

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The summer holidays will shortly come to an end. And when September rolls around, you’ll undoubtedly be frantically rushing around trying to kit the kids out in uniform for the new school year.

But luckily for you, you can say goodbye to those in-store panic buying sessions and instead order the whole lot online. Whether you’re getting them ready for big school or simply replacing the clothes they’ve outgrown, there are plenty of destinations that mean you can get them kitted out easily and more affordably.

Matalan’s dedicated back-to-school shop, for example, has hundreds of different styles, making it a treasure trove for all your little one’s needs. Similarly, Deichmann is currently running a buy one get one half price offer across its school shoes.

If you can, we’d certainly recommend beating that back-to-school rush once and for all and getting that September to-do list ticked off. You can bank on getting an A-star for your organisation.

To help you in your endeavour, we’ve rounded up the best online school uniform shops you need to know about, from Asda to M&S.

Asda school uniform

Smart price supermarket Asda is a reliable destination when it comes to kitting your kids out for the new term. It has a vast range on offer, all at affordable prices. Trousers cost as little as £6 (Asda.com) for a two-pack, and you can also get two sweatshirts for just £4 (Asda.com). Of course, you can also get a PE kit from £2 (Asda.com).

Shop school uniform at Asda.com now

M&S school uniform

This isn’t just any school uniform, this is the M&S school uniform collection. The highstreet stalwart promises that its offering is light, cool and comfortable. Luckily, if you’re a parent or carer of mucky pups, M&S has a selection of stain-resistant polo shirts (from £6, Marksandspencer.com) and a three-pack of easy iron shirts (from £10, Marksandspencer.com).

You can also expect all of the other school staples, including skirts (from £6, Marksandspencer.com), dresses (from £9, Marksandspencer.com), trousers (from £7, Marksandspencer.com) and even PE kit (from £2.50, Marksandspencer.com).

And if it’s shoes you’re after, the M&S leather lace-up brogues (from £32, Marksandspencer.com) featured in our review of the best kids’ school shoes, with our writer noting that they have a “sleek silhouette and are lightweight”. Inside, “there is the brand’s special technology that works hard to offer support to busy feet”.

Shop school uniform at Marksandspencer.com now

Matalan school uniform

If you’re looking for an online destination that has hundreds of different items to choose from, Matalan really is the answer. With a whole section dedicated to school uniform and prices starting from just £2, you can’t go wrong.

Unsure what to expect? It stocks items for both primary and secondary school-aged kids, including shirts (£10, Matalan.co.uk), skirts and trousers (from £3, Matalan.co.uk), as well as an impressive range of sweaters (from £6, Matalan.co.uk) and cardigans (from £8, Matalan.co.uk) in a full range of colours. The shirts (from £4.50, Matalan.co.uk) were considered comfortable by our tester, while the easy-iron fabric received high praise from parents.

Shop school uniform at Matalan.co.uk now

Next school uniform

Next also has you covered when it comes to kitting out your kids for the new term. From shirts and trousers to dresses and cardigans, it has a dedicated back-to-school shop for girls and one for boys, so it really does have everything you could possibly need. With prices starting from £6, its pocket-friendly range is where it’s at.

Shop school uniform at Next.co.uk now

Sainsbury’s school uniform

If getting the kids dressed in the morning is a long process, Sainsbury’s has come to the rescue by launching a “school dress with ease” range that encourages them to dress themselves. Designed with touch and close fasteners instead of buttons, this smart-looking high-quality range is a great way to promote greater independence in your kids.

With sweatshirts (£4, Sainsburys.co.uk) costing less than £5, and a two-pack of pull-on trousers (from £7, Sainsburys.co.uk), you’ll want to beat the back-to-school rush with these affordable prices. If your little one needs a pinafore though, look no further than this jersey two-pack (from £8, Sainsburys.co.uk), which featured in our review of the best school uniform. Our tester noted that it offers “a little extra something in the comfort stakes, particularly for youngsters just starting school”.

Shop school uniform at Sainsburys.co.uk now

Shoe Zone school uniform

If your kids haven’t outgrown their uniform but are in need of a new pair of kicks, Shoe Zone is the place to go. You can get them a pair of plimsolls (£2.99, Shoezone.com), and its black leather-look shoes start at just £9.99. A great one to know, particularly when you’re all too aware of the rate at which kids’ feet grow.

Shop school uniform at Shoezone.co.uk now

Amazon school uniform

As retailers go, Amazon stocks just about everything and anything you could possibly need, including school uniform. It’s perhaps one of the best destinations if you go against our advice of beating the crowd, as in most instances, you can rely on next-day delivery (thank you, Amazon Prime).

Unsure what to expect? Well, you can pick up everything from skirts (£12.99, Amazon.co.uk) and polo shirts (from £6, Amazon.co.uk) to sweatshirts (from £6.13, Amazon.co.uk) and trousers (from £6.95, Amazon.co.uk).

Shop school uniform at Amazon.co.uk now

John Lewis & Partners school uniform

Known for its high-quality clothing, John Lewis & Partners certainly delivers, and thankfully, its affordable Anyday range is here to make it that bit more pocket-friendly. Its shirts and blouses start at £3 per item, while you can get a two-pack of trousers for little more than £10. For sweatshirts, you can expect to spend around £6, which, considering the quality, is excellent value.

Shop school uniform at Johnlewis.com now

Deichmann school uniform

If you find yourself constantly replacing school shoes, Deichmann is the perfect destination to know ahead of the new term because it’s offering a “buy one, get one half price” offer on selected lines. It has a whole host of different designs available, including loafers, Nike trainers and slip-on shoes. The deal will run for a limited time, so we recommend being quick.

Shop school uniform at Deichmann.co.uk now

Looking for advice when it comes to shoes? We’ve reviewed the best kids’ school shoes

Thank you for registering