Uniform & Equipment

1. Equality statement

School uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a school, supporting effective teaching and learning. School uniform helps to:

Instil pride
Support identity with, and support for, the school ethos
Ensure children of all races and background feel welcome
Protect children from social pressures to dress in a particular way
Nurture community cohesion and promote good relations between different groups of students.

The school uniform represents a reasonable requirement for our pupils and pays regard to the The Equality Act 2010 that prohibits discrimination against an individual based on the protected characteristics, which include age, sex, disability, race, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment. We also pay regard to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Race Relations Amendment Act 2002.

2. Overview

Uniform standards across the Chiltern Learning Trust and our uniform code is inclusive and smart. Parents are expected to ensure that students arrive at school in the correct uniform and that on the rare occasion where for medical reasons the uniform cannot be adhered to, then a medical note is provided clearly explaining any temporary change from this code. We have a clear and focused uniform policy for the simple reason that it enables every child to attend school in an equal and fair way. By maintaining this expectation, we ensure that appearance does not advantage or disadvantage any child based on fashion choice, socio-economic wealth or body shape/ size. We strongly believe that this basic equality is a fundamental right of children in education and that this is vital to a caring and safe learning environment. For this reason, we will not spend time discussing, negotiating or arguing personal views on uniform with parents.

3. Value for money

The Chiltern Learning Trust believes that our uniform policy and suppliers should offer value for money and that the cost of uniform should never be a barrier to a child attending the school. Therefore, schools within the Chiltern Learning Trust should ensure the following:

We have more than one supplier to provide both competitive pricing and convenience.
Uniform costs and durability are balanced to ensure good value for money.
The school has a system for collecting and storing donated uniforms that have previously been worn but are in good condition. Information about second-hand uniforms (including how and when parents can access it) is published on the school’s website.
The school will help families with financial assistance, where appropriate and as needed, when cost is a barrier to their child attending school and meeting our uniform expectations. This can be discussed and agreed on a case-by-case basis.
The basic school uniform only has very minimal branding and colour ranges to ensure that suitable
alternatives can be found in high street stores whilst still meeting our codes.
One uniform is suitable for the whole year and no summer/ winter uniform is required.

The Level Trust Exchange in Luton offers families help with uniform.

More information can be found at https://www.leveltrust.org/projects/uniform-exchange/.

4. Uniform Rules

Our school uniform is as follows:

Boys Uniform

School blazer: Navy blue with blazer badge.

Shirt: Plain white cotton/polyester shirt, short or long sleeve with a collar that can be unbuttoned closed (no patterns or colours). Shirts should be worn tucked in at all times.

Tie: Year 7, 8 and 9 have individualised ties with blue lines, pink lines and green lines respectively. Year 10 and 11 have traditional Chiltern Academy ties. Pupil Ties will remain with their respective year groups as they transition through each year group.

Trousers: Full-length grey straight plain trousers – baggy trousers (including flares), jeans and chinos are not acceptable, nor are trousers with zips, buttons or embroidery as decoration.

Socks: Plain navy blue/black/grey/white socks.

Shoes: Only plain black shoes may be worn. Laces should be black. Shoes must be sensible and flat. Boots, trainers and sandals are not allowed.

Bag: Chiltern Academy school bag.

Girls Uniform

School blazer: Navy blue with blazer badge.

Shirt: Plain white cotton/polyester shirt, short or long sleeve with a collar that can be unbuttoned closed (no patterns or colours). Shirts should be worn tucked in at all times.Tie: Year 7, 8 and 9 have individualised ties with blue lines, pink lines and green lines respectively. Year 10 and 11 have traditional Chiltern Academy ties. Pupil Ties will remain with their respective year groups as they transition through each year group.

Skirt: Grey skirt, A-line or pleated. Fabric should be cotton or poplin type, not shiny, clingy or crinkly. The length of the skirt must be in line with the top of the knee cap and no shorter.

Trousers: Full-length grey straight tailored trousers – baggy trousers (including flares), jeans and chinos are not acceptable, nor are trousers with zips, buttons or embroidery as decoration.

Socks: Plain navy blue, black, grey or white socks or plain black/navy blue/grey tights.

Shoes: Only plain black shoes may be worn. Laces should be black. Shoes must be sensible and flat. Boots, trainers, sandals and slipper-style shoes are not allowed.

Headscarves: Girls who wish to wear headscarves may do so as long as these conform to the requirements below:

• The fabric should be lightweight and grey or blue
• The headscarf should be folded under the chin, taken round to the back of the neck and the
ends tucked in – this conforms to health and safety requirements.
• Headscarves should be worn so that the collar and tie can be seen.

Bag: Chiltern Academy school bag

Miscellaneous

Jewellery: All students may wear a wristwatch (no Smartwatches) and one pair of plain studs in each ear lobe. If any student chooses to wear a nose stud, it must be plain. No other items of jewellery may be worn to school. All jewellery must be very simple and inexpensive, as the school cannot take any responsibility for loss.

Makeup: No makeup should be worn to school. No nail extensions, nail varnish or false eyelashes to be worn.

Coats/Jackets: Denim or denim look, leather or leather look jackets of any colour, cardigans, overshirts and sweatshirts are not acceptable as coats, and may not be worn to school. Coats should be plain, warm and waterproof.

Hair: Students are expected to have sensible hairstyles of a natural colour. Hair in natural Afro styles, braids, cornrows, plaits is permitted. Hair below shoulder length should be tied back off the face during practical lessons, i.e. Food, PE, Science. This can be extended to any of our curriculum lessons if required to ensure pupil safety. Pupils are not permitted to have lines or patterns in their hair or eyebrows.

Scarves and hats: Students can wear dark hats and scarves for school. Baseball caps and hoodies are not allowed to be worn in school.

STRICTLY NOT PERMITTED

No trainers, boots, Crocs, high heeled shoes, this includes black trainers or any shoe the school judges to be a trainer (we withhold the right to make this judgment and advice/ descriptions of appropriate school shoes from shoe retailers will not be accepted).
No hoodies, sweatshirts or non-school jumpers are to be worn at any time.
No skinny Jeans, denim trousers, chinos or non- school trousers.
No baseball caps/ hats.
Short or tight skirts above the knee

If there is a medical reason why school shoes cannot be worn, then the student will bring a doctor’s note to school and the issue resolved as soon as possible. However, we recognise that doctor’s notes may incur a charge; we will work with families to resolve this. The school will consider financial support when the cost of shoes/ uniform is prohibitive to students.

If a student is wearing non-uniform items, the following should happen:

A discussion will take place between school and parents to ascertain why the correct uniform has not been worn. This should be supportive and not in the first instance disciplinary.
If there is no valid reason for a student not to be wearing the correct uniform the school
should then take appropriate disciplinary action according to the agreed behaviour policy.
We always try to work closely with parents to resolve issues in partnership. However, if a
student persistently breaks uniform code then repeated issues can result in sanction and/ or exclusion from school.

Boys & Girls P.E Kit

Chiltern Academy polo shirt Navy blue plain sweatshirt (optional)
Navy blue football socks
Shin pads
Non-marking trainers
Navy blue plain shorts
Navy blue plain tracksuit bottoms (optional)
Navy blue plain sports leggings (optional)
Students are encouraged to wear a blue or black base layer in the colder months (optional)

PE KIT STRICTLY NOT PERMITTED

Any other colour garment other than navy blue
No branded sportswear or clothing
No Hoodies
No thin/transparent or “shaped” leggings
No fashion styled trainers that are not appropriate for sports
ALL jewellery must be removed for PE lessons
Personal items that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated

5. Uniform Suppliers

The branded school blazer, tie, bag and P.E polo shirt are available to purchase from the following Chiltern Academy approved suppliers:

All other non-branded items may be purchased from a high street store or supermarket of your choice.

Used Uniform Suppliers:

School uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a school, supporting effective teaching and learning. School uniform helps to:

Instil pride
Support identity with, and support for, the school ethos
Ensure children of all races and background feel welcome
Protect children from social pressures to dress in a particular way
Nurture community cohesion and promote good relations between different groups of students.