Uniform

Our school is committed to maintaining a high standard in school uniform and relies on parents and teachers working together to meet school expectations.

Our school uniform is reviewed bi-annually by our Governing Body and the rationale and full details can be viewed in our Uniform Policy. Our school ensures we take a considered  and realistic view to school uniform and take into account  Department for Education guidance in reaching our expectations.

We seek to ensure a large portion of our uniform is on sale in mainstream outlets but our branded items are available via Uniform Plus in Lichfield.

Uniform

The Years 7-11 uniform consists of:

The following items are prohibited:

• Any kind of jeans-style, skin-tight / fitted, legging-style, or with detailing are not allowed
• Studded, coloured (other than black) or decorated belts worn with trousers or skirts are not allowed
• Footwear with colour markings, badges, trim or canvas are not allowed
• Boots must not be worn
• Pullovers that cover the knot of the tie or fitted tops of any kind are not allowed
• Pullovers should not have logos
• Polo shirts, fitted shirts or shirts without a top button are not allowed
• Footless, patterned or coloured tights and leggings are not allowed
• Hoodies and sports tops / sweaters are not permitted to be worn in school
• A coat may be worn in school over the blazer – it must not though be worn as a replacement to the blazer

PE / Games Kit

The Years 7-11 Sports kit consists of:

Option Kit for PE / Games

• Black School ½ zip sports top with school badge
• Black tracksuit trousers for outdoor use
• Swimming goggles (parental consent required)
• Black base layer (must be worn underneath branded top – not instead of)

During school residentials, or related to special school events, branded items may be made available but these will always be optional; for example, an overseas residential trip.

4.2 Where to Purchase School Uniform

All branded items can be purchased via Uniform Plus in Lichfield city centre and they also offer an online service.

All other items can be purchased from a range of retail outlets included clothing stores and supermarkets.

Second-hand uniform can be acquired from the school though the capacity of this provision depends on parental donations. There are also community uniform events held through the school year for all local schools.

If a student does not have an item of uniform, then we will loan them the item until they are able to get their own replacement. When we issue a substitute item the expectation is that the student wears the item – this is non-negotiable. If this is down to personal disorganisation, this may result in a school sanction.

4.3 Wider Expectations

Extremes of hairstyle are not allowed. This would include, but not be limited to, colourings that cannot be naturally grown and any kind of patterning, or lengths of cut that the school considers to be inappropriate.

Make-up and nail varnish is permitted in moderation (school decision). Elsewhere, acrylic nails and fake eyelashes are permitted of a short length (school decision).

Also, although one stud or sleeper earring in each ear may be worn, all other forms of facial piercings (including tongue piercings) are not allowed. It is inadvisable to have any facial piercing done during term-time, or at such a point that it necessitates wearing the piercing during the school day to prevent healing, and this will not be permitted.

Other jewellery must be worn in moderation (as defined by the school).

Mobile phones are not permitted to be switched on by students during the school day. This expectation runs from their arrival on the school premises until the school days ends at 3.10pm.

If students / parents have any doubts about whether specific items of uniform or appearance are acceptable it is essential that you contact school before purchasing them so that the cost of replacement can be avoided.

If a student arrives to school in incorrect uniform then we will:

• Confiscate the item(s) of incorrect uniform
• Confiscate the item(s) of incorrect uniform and provide a non-negotiable alternative
• Contact parents or guardians so that they can bring the appropriate item(s) of uniform to school
• On rare occasions, we may contact a parent and send a student home to dress correctly

If a student has their mobile on or uses it during the school day we will:

• First occasion – Confiscate the mobile phone (electronic device) and return it to the student at the end of the school day
• Second occasion – Confiscate the mobile phone (electronic device) and return it to the parent / carer when they come into school to pick it up
• Third occasion – Confiscate the mobile phone (electronic device) and return it to the parent / carer in a meeting with pastoral staff. This meeting is likely to result in the student facing a serious school sanction which will go onto their school record

During particularly hot weather in the summer, the school may decide to issue a ‘Summer Uniform’ notification which means that blazers need not be worn through the school day. If there is a prolonged heatwave – as per the definition by the Met Office – then the school may consider adapting school uniform further for the period.

Further Information

For more information about our school uniform, please contact Michelle Simpson, Assistant Headteacher, via office@friaryschool.co.uk.