Our vision encourages children to work hard and have high aspirations. Wearing school uniform encourages children to feel that they belong. Smart children take a pride in their learning and their school. At Rothley Academy, all children from Foundation to Year 6 wear the same uniform.

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

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 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.

 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

·         Limits the number of logoed items

 We will do this by:

·         Limiting any items with distinctive characteristics where possible for example, by only asking that the jumper / cardigan, worn over the school shirt, features the school logo

·         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

·         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

 Uniform Rules

Jewellery 

• ·No rings /bangles/bracelets/necklaces may be worn (unless they are for religious beliefs)
• One pair of small stud earrings is permissible
• A standard watch is permissible—but not an iPhone /Apple watch /Fitbit or any other smart watch

Nails 

• ·No acrylic/false nails
• No nail varnish is permitted. 

Hair

• Hair colour should be natural. Coloured hair dye/spray IS NOT permitted 
• Simple plain purple, purple and white, purple and gold hair or lilac gingham bands or clips may be worn.

 Outer Wear 

• No gloves, scarves, hoodies, hats, cap or any other “outside wear” may be worn when inside the building

.  Where to purchase it

     The following suppliers sell all school logoed items, along with non-logoed items. Non-logoed items also available from all major super markets.

Example School Uniform                                                                              Rosebuddies

www.exampleschooluniforms.com                                                        http://rosebuddiesonline.co.uk/

Phone: 01509 813888                                                                                     Phone Tel: 07821 077606

                                                                                                  Email: Rosebuddies@rosebuddiesonline.co.uk

Unit 2F, Sileby Road Industrial Estate,                                                           Loughborough Market
Barrow upon Soar,                                                                                           Thursdays and Saturdays – Outside Café Nero
Loughborough                                                                                                 
LE12 8LP

Second Hand Uniform

The school office has a limited stock of second hand uniform. Items are available from as little as 50p.

Please feel free to call into the school reception or contact the office by email, telephone: admin@rothley.leics.sch.uk 0116 2302106

  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 expected to contact the Headteacher 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 

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 by sanctions as outlined in our 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.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM

We hold a limited amount of logoed school uniform and PE wear.

Please call into the school office, email admin@rothley.leics.sch.uk or phone 0116 2302106 to see if we have your child's size.

Our stock changes daily and includes jumpers and cardigans, pe shirts and sweatshirts and school ties prices start from 50p.

If your child has outgrown any logoed uniform and you would like to donate it to the school please bring it to the office.