School Uniform Policy

Children come to school to learn and develop in all sorts of ways. They spend time running, painting, eating, and playing outside. Formal uniforms discourage full physical activity and don’t meet the needs of outdoor play. From September 2025, we are introducing an active uniform which is appropriate for a child’s typical activities throughout the school day. We want children to be in comfortable clothes, allow freedom of movement, and be safe for adventurous play. Throughout the school day, children will play on grass and in mud, sand, and water; they will do PE, have dance lessons, run around and climb. They need flexible, warm, sturdy shoes with good grip that allow for these activities. We want them to be able to go outside and move around in all weather. Office-style shoes are inappropriate for the range of activities a primary-aged child should be experiencing in exploring the world. our active uniform policy promotes suitable footwear, such as trainers and wellies to support safe-enough play in all conditions. 

This policy supports the Rights Respecting principles adopted by Lady Margaret Primary School and is particular relevant to the following articles:

Article 2
The Convention applies to everyone: whatever their race, religion or abilities, whatever they think or say, whatever type of family they come from.

Article 3
The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children.

Article 12
Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.

Article 28
Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free. Secondary education must be available for every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

Article 30
Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, regardless of whether these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.

1. Aims

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

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 sex, race, religion or belief, and gender reassignment.

This policy has due regard to all relevant guidance including, but not limited to, the following:

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 Miss Simpson – Headteacher via the school office on 020 8566 6486 who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests

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 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
  • Limiting items with distinctive characteristics to low-cost or long-lasting items.
  • Considering cheaper alternatives to school-branded items, such as logos that can be ironed on, as long as this doesn’t compromise quality and durability
  • 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 of three, so that the school’s uniform can act as a social leveller
  • Avoiding different uniform requirements for different year/class/house groups
  • Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities
  • Considering alternative methods for signalling differences in groups for interschool competitions, such as creating posters or labels
  • 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
  • Having a system for collecting and storing donated uniform that is previously worn but in good condition that can be accessed by families who need this, free of charge.

4. Expectations for school uniform

4.1 Our school uniform

Compulsory items

  • White polo shirt
  • Black joggers or leggings
  • Red logo sweatshirt,
  • Black trainers
  • School PE shirt with logo
  • Red/black PE shorts (logo is optional)

On PE days pupils can come into school with their PE kit

Optional items

  • Red fleece jacket

Please do not buy

  • School shoes
  • Large school bags
  • Pencil cases
  • Yellow T-shirts
  • School dresses
  • School trousers

Other school uniform items permitted

  • Pupils from the Sikh community who choose to wear a head covering garment may wear a black Pakta or Turban.
  • Pupils from the Muslim community who choose to wear a head covering garment may wear a short black hijab. 
  • Expectations for jewellery and hairstyles (taking into account the requirement described above to avoid discrimination in line with the Equality Act 2010)

4.2 Where to purchase it

Parents & carers can purchase Lady Margaret Primary school uniform online at My Clothing, Fashion Mark located on Southall Broadway opposite the fire station also sell uniform. Other items are available from a variety of retailers.  PE kits can be purchased via our online ParentPay shop

5. Expectations for our school community

5.1 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)

Pupils are also expected to contact Miss Simpson – Headteacher via the school office on 020 8566 6486 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 are also expected to contact Miss Simpson – Headteacher via the school office on 020 8566 6486 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.

5.3 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’s 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.

5.4 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 retendering contracts at least every 5 years.

6. Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed annually by the interim head of school. At every review, it will be approved by the full governing body.

7. Links to other policies

This policy is linked to our:

  • Behaviour policy
  • Equality information and objectives statement
  • Anti-bullying policy
  • Complaints policy

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Approved by:
Governing Body

Date:
13th September 2023

Last reviewed on:
June 2025

Next review due by:
June 2026

Part of Ealing Bridges Federation

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