Aims
The Governing Body and school want to create a positive learning environment for all our children so that they may take full advantage of the opportunity to progress at school without being distracted by following our behaviour policy and uniform expectations.
This policy aims to - Set out our approach to requiring a uniform that is of reasonable cost and offers the best value for money for parents and carers
- Explain how we will avoid discrimination in line with our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010
- Clarify our expectations for school uniform
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Our school’s legal duties under the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against an individual based on the protected characteristics, which include sex, race, religion or belief, and gender reassignment.
To avoid discrimination, our school will: - Avoid listing uniform items based on sex, to give all pupils the opportunity to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in or that most reflects their self-identified gender
- Make sure that our uniform costs the same for all pupils
- Allow all pupils to have long hair (though we reserve the right to ask for this to be tied back)
- Allow all pupils to style their hair in the way that is appropriate for school and meets the school’s expectations as outlined below
- Allow pupils to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons
- Allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols
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Limiting the cost of school uniform
Our school has a duty to make sure that the uniform we require is affordable, in line with statutory guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms) from the Department for Education on the cost of school uniform.
We understand that items with distinctive characteristics (such as items that have to have a school logo or a unique fabric/colour/design) cannot be purchased from a wide range of retailers and that requiring many such items limits parents’ ability to ‘shop around’ for a low price. We will make sure our uniform: - Is available at a reasonable cost
- Provides the best value for money for parents/carers
We will do this by:
- Carefully considering whether any items with distinctive characteristics are necessary
- Limiting any items with distinctive characteristics where possible
- Limiting items with distinctive characteristics to low-cost
- Avoiding specific requirements for items pupils could wear on non-school days, such as coats, bags and shoes
- Keeping the number of optional branded items to a minimum, so that the school’s uniform can act as a social leveler
- Avoiding different uniform requirements for different year/class/house groups
- Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities
- Making sure that arrangements are in place for parents to acquire second-hand uniform
- Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications and minimising the financial impact on parents of any change
- Consulting with parents and pupils on any proposed significant changes to the uniform policy and carefully considering any complaints about the policy
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Expectations for school uniform Please ensure that all items are clearly named - Blue cardigan or sweatshirt with the school logo, or blue knitted cardigan with the school logo
- White polo shirt or white cotton shirt
- Grey skirt, kilt, pinafore, shorts or trousers, or blue and white checked dress in the summer
- Black shoes (not trainers)
- Waterproof coat, anorak or cagoule
Additional items available (optional) - School fleece with logo
- Book bag with logo
PE Kit - Black or navy shorts, tracksuit bottoms for winter
- T-shirt in the colour of their house, or a plain white t-shirt
- Trainers
Where to purchase uniform Our uniform is available from Phillips Man’s Shop in Cranbrook, or online at www.phillipsmanshops.com In cases where there may be financial hardship resulting in a pupil being unable to comply with this uniform policy, please speak to a member of SLT (Mrs Hacker, Mrs Poland or Mrs Elmes) and we will work together to resolve the situation. Please remember that we have a large selection of second-hand uniform available in school. We ask for a small donation, if possible, which goes into out School Fund. |
Hair - Pupils should not wear extreme hair fashions, which are designed to attract attention, including dyed or streaked hair, and styles such as spikes, mohicans and images or lines cut into the hair.
- Children with long hair should wear their hair tied back for health and safety reasons.
- Hair bands, clips etc should be discreet designs in colours compatible with school colours and only used in order to keep hair in place.
- The use of hair gels, waxes, oils, mousses and any other styling products is not allowed. This also helps with health & safety in PE because some of the styling products have been coming off onto the PE mats, causing them to have a slippery surface which is obviously dangerous for any child.
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Jewellery - Jewellery is not allowed at any time (with the exception of one pair of small earring studs) for health and safety reasons. The large diamond type studs worn by some boys are not allowed.
- Any logo or emblem as part of the earring is unacceptable. Jewellery or symbols, as part of a religious or cultural reason can be worn.
- Tattoos and body piercings are not allowed.
- Make up and coloured nail varnish are not allowed.
General Appearance
- Children should be smart at all times with shirts tucked in and sweatshirts worn properly or removed.
Footwear
- Sensible, black “school-type” shoes should be worn, without high heels
- Black low heeled, short boots may be worn in winter
- Trainers are not acceptable for every day wear but are fine for PE
Identification
- All clothing and footwear should be clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Links to other policies
This policy is linked to our:
- Behaviour policy
- Equality information and objectives statement
- Anti-bullying policy
- Complaints policy
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