School Uniform

School Uniform at Weston

Aims

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 yet makes them feel most comfortable
• Allow pupils to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons
• Allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols
• Allow for adaptations to our policy on the grounds of equality by asking pupils or their parents to get in touch with the headteacher who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests

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 from the Department for Education on the cost of school uniform.

We understand that items with distinctive characteristics (such as branded items, or 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
• Permitting cheaper alternatives to school-branded items, such as non-branded clothes in the appropriate colours and with no other distinctive features
• 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 groups
• Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities
• Considering alternative methods for signaling differences in groups for interschool competitions like sports day, such as creating posters or labels or wearing school-provided bibs
• Making sure that arrangements are in place for parents to acquire second-hand uniform items
• Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications and minimising the financial impact on parents of any changes
• Consulting with parents and pupils on any proposed significant changes to the uniform policy and carefully considering any complaints about the policy

Expectations for school uniform

All polo shirts, jumpers, cardigans, PE t-shirts, PE hooded tops and PE jogging bottoms are available as branded items. However, it is not a requirement that pupils wear any of these items, provided their uniform conforms to the following and has no other branding or detail:

• pleated or plain black or grey skirt or smart black or grey trousers
• light blue polo shirt
• navy blue sweatshirt or cardigan
• plain black, white or grey socks or tights
• blue and white checked dress (summer)
• black shoes (not trainers)

PE and after-school sports clubs:

• navy blue shorts or navy jogging bottoms (not leggings)
• navy blue tracksuit top
• light blue t-shirt
• black or white trainers

Pupils are permitted to wear watches. For safety reasons, the children are only permitted to wear small stud earrings, which must be removed for PE lessons and after school sports clubs.

Pupils are not permitted unnatural hair colour (hair must be one colour) or extreme hairstyles, including designs or lines shaved into hair.

Pupils are not permitted to wear make up or nail varnish

Outdoor coats should be waterproof

 

Where to purchase it

Larger supermarkets sell plain uniform that adheres to our policy.

Badged uniform is available from Smart Choice Uniforms in Alsager:

63 Crewe Road, Alsager, ST7 2EZ
Contact: Mr Neeraj Mittal
Tel: 01270 747170
Email: admin@smartchoiceuniform.com
www.smartchoiceuniform.co.uk

Expectations for our school community

Pupils

Pupils are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times (other than specified non-school uniform days) while:

• On the school premises
• Travelling to and from school
• At out-of-school events or on trips that are organised by the school, or where they are representing the school (if required)

Parents and carers

Parents and carers are expected to make sure their child has the correct uniform and PE kit, and that every item is:

• Clean
• Clearly labelled with the child’s name
• In good condition

Parents are also expected to contact headteacher head@weston.cheshire.sch.uk if they want to request an amendment to the uniform policy in relation to:

• Their child’s protected characteristics
• The cost of the uniform

Parents are expected to lodge any complaints or objections relating to the school uniform in a timely and reasonable manner.
Disputes about the cost of the school uniform will be:

• Resolved locally
• Dealt with in accordance with our school’s complaints policy
• The school will work closely with parents to arrive at a mutually acceptable outcome.

Staff

Staff will closely monitor pupils to make sure they are in correct uniform. They will give any pupils and families breaching the uniform policy the opportunity to comply, but will follow up with the headteacher if the situation doesn’t improve.
Ongoing breaches of our uniform policy will be dealt with in accordance with the school behaviour policy.
In cases where it is suspected that financial hardship has resulted in a pupil not complying with this uniform policy, staff will take a mindful and considerate approach to resolving the situation.

Governors

The governing board will review this policy and make sure that it:

• Is appropriate for our school’s context
• Is implemented fairly across the school
• Takes into account the views of parents and pupils
• Offers a uniform that is appropriate, practical and safe for all pupils
• The board will also make sure that the school’s uniform supplier arrangements give the highest priority to cost and value for money, for example by avoiding single supplier contracts and by re-tendering contracts at least every 5 years.