Uniform Policy

Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent

• Date approved by Trust Board - 15 July 2026
• Applicable from - 1 September 2026
• Next review date - September 2027
• Policy owner - Head of Marketing and PR

Contents

1. Aims        2

2. Our school’s legal duties under the Equality Act 2010        2

3. Limiting the cost of school uniform        3

4. Expectations for school uniform        4

5. Expectations for our school community        5

6. Monitoring arrangements        7

7. Links to other policies        7

1. Aims

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 pupils the opportunity to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in
• Make sure that our uniform costs the same for all pupils
• Allow all pupils to have long hair, although we reserve the right to ask that long hair be tied back
• Allow all pupils to style their hair in a way that is appropriate for school, and makes them feel most comfortable
• Allow pupils to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons, or if they are experiencing discomfort
• Allow pupils to wear headscarves
• Allow pupils 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 pupils or their parents/carers to get in touch with Olivia Williamson, Strategic Head of Academy Operations, Systems and Compliance (olivia.williamson@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 pupils 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 pupils
• Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications, and minimising the financial impact on parents/carers of any changes
• Where appropriate, consulting with parents/carers and pupils 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

It is an expectation that all students wear the following branded items:

• black Academy blazer with our logo
• an Academy tie
• Black Academy PE Multi-top with our logo

Additional Core Compulsory Uniform Items (these are the items that every child must wear, every day):

• Plain black tailored trousers
• Plain black smart shoes
• White shirt with a collar and fastenable top button

Additional Core Compulsory PE Items (these are items that every child must wear for their PE lessons)

• Plain black tracksuit bottoms or plain black shorts
• Black round neck t-shirt
• Trainers

Optional Additional Items (these are items that children can choose to wear in addition

• a black v-neck jumper
• a headscarf or headband which must be plain black
• a black v-neck tunic worn so that it is clear that all students are wearing trousers with a shirt and tie)

With the exception of the branded items, all other items of our academy uniform can be purchased from a retailer of your choosing as long as all items meet the parameters of our uniform policy:

Trousers - compulsory item

• Must be plain black tailored trousers.
• Can be wide leg, straight cut or bootcut (no flares) and must be made of proper school trouser material.
• Skinny fit, gym wear/lycra and knitted material is not permitted

Tunic - optional item

Students are given the option of wearing a black v-neck tunic worn so that it is clear that all students are wearing trousers with a shirt and tie. This is not a mandatory part of the school uniform. An image of the type of tunic which would be appropriate is below.

• It must be v-neck, showing the shirt and tie
• It must be plain black with no embellishment
• It must make it clear that students are wearing trousers and should be approximately knee length or just below.

Bags

It is an expectation that all students bring a bag with them to school everyday. We recommend a backpack for this purpose given its size, comfort and ease of use.

Jewellery and Hair:

• Students are allowed to wear neutral makeup
• Bright colours are not allowed, and we may ask students to remove makeup we think is excessive
• Jewellery is not allowed and will be confiscated if seen
• Artificial/false nails and polish are not allowed
• Hair must be a natural colour and not extreme in style

Seasonal Items:

There are no items which will only be worn at certain times of year.

During periods of exceptionally hot weather, students may be permitted to come to school without their blazers. This will always be communicated by our website, social media and email.

4.2 Where to purchase or acquire it

• The branded items of our Academy uniform (see 4.1) can be purchased from Smart School Uniform who have both a website and a local shop in Tunstall:

• Unit 2, Highgate Trade Park, Brownhills Road, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4JZ
• www.smartuniform.co.uk

• All other non-branded core and optional items can be purchased either from Smart Uniform or from another retailer of your choice, as long as items meet the parameters set out in 4.1 above. This includes high street retailers and supermarkets. Our website is kept up to date with examples of suitable items available from such retailers.

• Year 7 students joining the academy in September are provided with a voucher entitling them to a free uniform bundle from Smart Uniform including all branded and other core items.

• In the summer term of each academic year we will host a second-hand uniform sale/swap. This will be via a free-to-enter event, in line with statutory guidance, and will be flagged to both current and future parents via electronic communications.

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 Olivia Williamson, Strategic Head of Academy Operations, Systems and Compliance (olivia.williamson@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 Olivia Williamson, Strategic Head of Academy Operations, Systems and Compliance (olivia.williamson@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 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.

Designated staff will give access to the Uniform Room to correct any issues around uniform and there will be no consequence if utilised.

Ongoing breaches of our uniform policy will be dealt with by the behaviour team through the Academy’s Behaviour Ladder.  

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 and the pupil 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 pupils
• Offers a uniform that is appropriate, practical and safe for all pupils

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