Uniform

Footwear

We expect all students to wear smart, black, leather looking shoes or ankle boots which are appropriate for a working environment (no canvas or suede). Only plain black trainers without coloured logos and without air bubbles are acceptable. For safety reasons, flip flops, sliders, steel toe capped, high or raised heels or platform soles are not acceptable. Suitable shoes, with Velcro fastenings are also acceptable.

Skirts

School skirts must be black, drop-waisted with pleats and must be an appropriate length; good guidance for
skirt length is that if your child kneels, the skirt should touch the floor. The skirt must not be rolled up. Lycra
is not permitted.

Trousers

Trousers are to be plain black, tailored and business-style. They must be full length (i.e. socks not visible)
and not denim, brushed cotton, stretch material or chinos. Black socks are to be worn. White socks are not
permitted to be worn with the school uniform. Students wearing trousers that are considered unduly tight
or short will be asked to replace them. Lycra, skinny and flared trousers are not permitted.

Belts

If a belt is worn, it must be plain black.

Socks and tights

Students must wear plain black socks with their school uniform. White socks, that are also worn for PE
lessons, are not acceptable. Tights, if worn, must be plain black or natural. Patterned or fashion tights are
not permitted.

Shirt

Shirts must be a tailored, plain, button-up, full or half-sleeve white shirt. The shirt must have a collar and top
button. The sleeves of the shirt should be rolled down. Blouses are not permitted. Undergarments i.e. vests,
bras should not be visible under the shirt. The shirt must be tucked in.

Coats/Jackets

Students are permitted to wear an outdoor coat over their blazer to travel to and from school. (No other
outerwear except blazer, jumper and coat will be allowed). Hoodies are strictly prohibited. The coat must
not be worn instead of the blazer.

Blazers

Blazers should be worn at all times of the academy day, unless otherwise stated by the Principal, permission is granted by a class teacher or during break or lunchtime activity i.e. playing sport. Students must always have their blazers with them at school.

Jumpers

The jumper is an optional item of school uniform, which can be worn under, but not instead of, the blazer. It must not be tucked into the school skirt or trousers.

Ties

Ties should be worn at all times, at full length, with the logo showing at the front, just below the knot and the top of the shirt button done up.

Make-Up

Make up of any kind is prohibited for students in Year 7 and 8.

For students in Year 9-11, make-up must be natural and subtle.

False eyelashes, nails, acrylics or coloured nail varnish must not be worn. Students will be asked to remove inappropriate make-up or nail varnish, students will not be permitted to attend timetabled lessons until they are removed.

Jewellery

No jewellery is permitted except:

• One wristwatch
• One plain gold or silver stud in each earlobe.

Rings, bracelets, chains, necklaces, charity bands, bangles, beads and anklets are not permitted

Piercings in the upper ear, tragus are prohibited, as are bars and earrings that stretch the earlobes. Piercings
in any other part of the head or face (i.e. nose, lip, tongue, and eyebrow) are also not permitted.

Recent piercings, covered by tape or plasters, will not be permitted and must be removed. With this in mind,
parents are advised, if they are considering additional piercings for their children, to do so over the summer
holiday period, allowing time for the piercing to establish so that jewellery can be removed for school.

Hair

It is our policy to expect any student’s hair to be of a reasonable, natural length and appearance. No
extreme haircuts, unnatural colours or obviously dyed hair. A good guide for parents is to consider whether
your child could naturally grow, during childhood, the colour of hair one might plan to dye it.

We do not permit patterns, tramlines or lines shaved into the head. The minimum grade for hair length
shaven head is grade 1. The only hair accessories are to be of a natural appearance, simple hair slide only,
with no embellishments e.g. flowers.

Bag

Every student must have a school bag. Bags should be of a minimum size, such that an A4 folder could be
accommodated within the bag (not a handbag).

Non-compliance

Like all other providers of secondary education in this area, we insist on students wearing the full uniform.
There may be certain times, when, for very good reasons, a student cannot attend in uniform. In these
circumstances, students will be loaned new or freshly laundered items of correct uniform, e.g. an
appropriate skirt, pair of tailored trousers, blazer or a jumper with the embroidered badge on it, or tailored
shirt.

In the event of non-compliance with the dress code, parents will be contacted. Students who are defiant or
persistently breach uniform expectations may be sanctioned with a detention or internal suspension.

Confiscation

In accordance with DfE Guidance Searching, Screening and Confiscation guidance, the academy may on
occasions confiscate items of contraband uniform or jewellery. Should this situation arise, the following
procedure will be followed:

First occasion: The item will be retained by the academy until the end of the school day, after which the
student can collect it from the member of staff.

Second and each subsequent occasion: The item will be retained by the academy until it can be collected,
by formal appointment, by a parent/carer.

Religious Observance

If parents have strong religious or ethnic reasons for believing that their child should not be bound by any aspect of the dress code, they should discuss this with the Principal. Please see photographs giving examples of the appropriate way to wear the academy uniform, and guidance on what is acceptable and unacceptable. Please contact the academy [email protected] if you require further guidance on the correct way to wear the uniform.