Co-op Academies Trust is committed to ensuring that school uniforms are affordable, simple and consistent for families across our academies. This approach enables the Trust to:

Reduce costs for families through collective purchasing.
Ensure consistency and quality across all academies.
Simplify the purchasing process for parents and carers.
Improve sustainability and efficiency across the Trust.

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 all 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

2. 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: age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.

To avoid discrimination, our school will:

Avoid listing uniform items based on sex, to give all students the opportunity to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in
Make sure that our uniform costs the same for all students
Allow all students to have long hair, although we reserve the right to ask that long hair be tied back
Allow all students to style their hair in a way that is appropriate for school, and makes them feel most comfortable
Allow students to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons, or if they are experiencing discomfort
Allow students to wear headscarves
Allow students with sensory or physical needs to make reasonable adaptations to their uniform, depending on their specific needs
Allow for reasonable adaptations to our policy on the grounds of equality by asking students or their parents/carers to get in touch with Kelly James, Office Manager (kelly.james@coopacademies.co.uk), who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis

3. 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 (DfE) on the cost of school uniforms.

We understand that items with distinctive characteristics (such as branded items, or items that need to have a school logo attached or be in a unique fabric or style) cannot be purchased from a wide range of retailers, and that requiring many such items limits parents/carers’ ability to shop around for the best price.

We will therefore make sure our uniform:

Is available at a reasonable cost
Provides the best value for money for parents and carers
Simplifies purchasing options for parents and carers

We will do this by:

Following the statutory limits for compulsory branded items of uniform and PE kit to a maximum of 4 or fewer, if one item is a tie.
Carefully considering whether any items with distinctive characteristics are necessary, and limiting these items where possible.
Limiting compulsory branded items to low-cost and/or long-lasting items.
Avoiding specific requirements for items such as coats, bags and shoes/trainers that students could also wear on non-school days. See more information in section 4.1
Avoiding different uniform requirements for different year/class/house groups (excluding ties, however each year group must keep the same year group tie colour throughout secondary school where this differentiation is being used)
Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities including (but not limited to) sport, music and drama
Avoiding requiring different branded items for particular times of the year, such as a branded dress in summer and a branded skirt in winter
Considering alternative approaches, including loaning compulsory branded items such as sports kit for competitions
Making sure that opportunities to acquire second-hand items in a timely manner are accessible to parents and carers of both current and prospective students
Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications, and minimising the financial impact on parents/carers of any changes
Where appropriate, consulting with parents/carers and students on any proposed significant changes to the uniform policy, and carefully considering any complaints about uniform in line with the school’s complaints policy
Avoiding single-supplier for non-branded items, to make sure generic items can be purchased from a range of retailers
Continuing to review this policy, to ensure the cost of our uniform is reasonable and provides the best value for money

4. Expectations for school uniform

4.1 Our school’s uniform

Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams has four compulsory branded items: the burgundy academy blazer, academy tie, academy-branded long-sleeved quarter-zip sports top and academy-branded sports T-shirt. All other compulsory uniform items are unbranded.

Main uniform (business dress)

Burgundy academy-branded blazer
Unbranded grey V-neck jumper
Academy tie (one design for all students)
White shirt with a collar (not a polo shirt)
Straight-leg grey trousers for all students. Trousers must be straight and must not be made from lycra, denim or similar stretchy material. Skinny or tight trousers and flares are not permitted.
Plain grey socks. Socks with decorations, logos or other colours are not permitted.
Black, navy blue or oxblood flat office shoes. Trainers, heels, pumps, canvas shoes, patterns, accessories, logos or excessive decorative features are not permitted. Shoes should not be on or above the ankle (no boots).
Plain navy blue or burgundy headscarf, where worn.
Students are provided with a grey HP Chromebook backpack by the academy to carry their Chromebook and essential equipment. Families are not required to purchase this item. Students are expected to use the academy-provided backpack rather than pouches, handbags, single-strapped bags or bags with large logos.

PE kit

Academy-branded long-sleeved quarter-zip sports top
Academy-branded sports T-shirt
Unbranded black jogging bottoms
Suitable sports trainers (sports logos are permitted on PE trainers)

Optional PE kit

Unbranded black sports shorts

Additional uniform expectations

No jewellery is to be worn. This includes facial, tongue and body piercings.
All hair over shoulder length must be fully tied back and must not obscure the face. Only natural hair colours are permitted and shaved patterns are not permitted. The academy subscribes to the Halo Code and encourages students to embrace all Afro-hairstyles.
No obvious make-up should be worn, including false eyelashes. Nail varnish and acrylic nails are not permitted.

4.2 Where to purchase or acquire it

Academy-branded uniform and PE items are supplied by Debonaire Sportswear. Generic items may be purchased from any retailer, provided that they meet the requirements set out in section 4.1.

Co-op Academy Florence MacWilliams encourages families to donate good-quality uniform that is no longer required to the academy office. This enables the academy to operate a pre-loved uniform offer for current and prospective families.

Pre-loved uniform is available on request and can be accessed discreetly through the academy office. Families who need support with uniform costs, purchasing information or pre-loved uniform should contact Kelly James, Office Manager, at kelly.james@coopacademies.co.uk.

5. Expectations for our school community

5.1 Students

Students 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)

Students are also expected to contact Kelly James, Office Manager (kelly.james@coopacademies.co.uk) if they want to request an amendment to the uniform policy in relation to their protected characteristics.

5.2 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/carers are also expected to contact Kelly James, Office Manager (kelly.james@coopacademies.co.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/carers are expected to lodge any complaints or objections relating to the school uniform in a timely and reasonable manner in accordance with the school’s complaints policy.

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/carers to arrive at a mutually acceptable outcome.

5.3 Staff

Staff will closely monitor students to make sure they are in correct uniform. They will give any students 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 academy’s Behaviour Policy.

In cases where it is suspected that financial hardship has resulted in a student not complying with this uniform policy, staff will take a mindful and considerate approach to resolving the situation and the student will not miss classroom teaching because of a sanction. This is in line with the statutory guidance.

5.4 Trust Senior Leadership Team

The Trust Senior Leadership Team will review this policy and make sure that it:

Is appropriate for our Trust’s context
Is implemented fairly across the Trust
Takes into account the views of parents/carers, and students
Offers a uniform that is appropriate, practical and safe for all students

5.5 Trust Board

The Trust Board is responsible for approving this policy. The Trust 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.

6. Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed at least once every three years by the Trust’s Senior Leadership Team, and then approved by the Trust Board. At every review, it will be approved by the Trust Board.

7. Links to other policies

This policy is linked to our:

Behaviour policy
Equality information and objectives statement
Anti-bullying policy
Complaints policy
Charges and Remissions policy