Uniform
The wearing of uniform is compulsory at Green Lane Primary Academy.
Rationale
We believe that the wearing of uniform encourages children to have a sense of belonging and of being part of a community. It is an outward expression of the Academy’s identity and promotes a feeling of pride and equality. In addition, we believe that the wearing of a ‘uniform’, as opposed to leisure wear contributes to helping children understand that they come to school to work and learn.
Aims
- To ensure that children wear clothing to school which is safe and practical
- To promote pride in their school and a sense of identity
- To promote the idea of Green Lane as a Learning Community
- To promote the image of the Academy within the local area and the town
- To eliminate competition amongst children in relation to what they wear
- To ensure that the uniform is simple and reasonably priced
In order to help fulfil these aims, extreme hairstyles (such as severe spikes, extreme cuts, shaved styles, tramlines, dyed hair) would be considered unsuitable.
All uniform can be purchased online. Please click here to access the online shop.
Uniform Requirements
| Boys | Girls |
| Royal Blue Sweatshirt | Royal Blue Sweatshirt or Cardigan |
| White Polo Shirt / White Shirt | White Polo Shirt / White Blouse |
| Grey or Black Trousers | Grey or Black Trousers or Skirt |
| Black Shoes | Black Shoes |
No designer/striped/logo-ed/leisure tracksuit bottoms or tops.
As we have many stairs to negotiate in school, shoes should be flat or low heeled.
All children should bring a homework bag to school to transport their reading/homework folder.
All labels should be clearly marked with your child’s name.
Summer Uniform
Summer uniform is as above, but children may wear grey, black or navy shorts (smart plain shorts please). Girls may wear blue gingham dresses, skirts or cropped trousers.
Summer shoes should be suitable for playing outside and climbing stairs in the building. Flip flops/canvas shoes/strappy sandals etc. do not sufficiently protect feet and can pose a health and safety risk.
Physical Education Kit List
Physical Education is an important part of the National Curriculum and just as with subjects such as Mathematics and English your child is required to take part. It is also important for reasons of safety and hygiene that your child changes out of their uniform into clothing suitable for physical exercise. For your information P.E. Kit is as follows:
P.E Kit
All children should have a change of clothing for PE as follows:
- A white cotton t – shirt
- Blue or black plain shorts ( football or cycling type)
- During the winter children need blue/black tracksuit bottoms and tops for outside PE.
- Plimsolls for indoor activities
- Trainers for outdoor activities
School shoes should never be worn for PE.
All items of clothing should be marked with the children’s names. PE kit should be contained in a bag of reasonable size – PE Bags are available to buy from our uniform supplier online.
PE Kit should be brought to school in the first week of each half term and be kept in school for the whole of the half term. The kit should be taken home each holiday for washing. Children should understand that, although they will have designated PE Days, timetables can sometimes change and/or additional activities may be arranged so their PE Kit needs to be in school every day.
Health and Safety
There are several health and safety issues which inform our academy policy as follows:
- No jewellery should be worn except a wristwatch. For pierced ears – only stud earrings, one per earlobe – and these should be removed for PE. (As PE days may change at short notice it is not sufficient that children do not wear the studs on designated PE Days.)
- Children should not wear studs that they are unable to take out themselves. School staff are not permitted to remove any earrings. (If ears are recently pierced and studs unable to be removed, the stud and ear-lobe need to be covered with suitable medical tape. This cannot be done by teachers – children must either do this themselves or come to school on PE day with tape/plasters already in place. However, we would hope that children have their ears pierced during major holidays to minimise the necessity for tape/plasters.)
- Due to the number of stairs and the fact that children need to be safe whilst in the playground shoes should be flat, or low heeled.
Religious Considerations
The requirement for modesty for Muslim girls can be accommodated within the uniform. Trousers are a permitted part of the uniform for girls and, therefore, the wearing of other garments under dresses is not necessary.
The hijab (headscarf) is not normally worn by the majority of Muslim girls until puberty. However, we recognise that a small number of families may require their children to cover their hair/heads at an earlier age. Following discussions with parents representing these views and a meeting of the full governing body the following decisions were made:
Providing we are satisfied that the choice is the child’s then:
- From Y4 girls can wear the Hijab in school colours (Royal Blue/Navy/Grey). It should at all times be tucked into their blouse or polo shirt.
- Children will, if they wish, be allowed to remove the Hijab for PE or other sporting activities.
Should any child wish to wear the Hijab, according to these amendments, their family should apply in writing to the Head Teacher.
Sikh boys may wear a ‘Patka’, in Academy colours, around their ‘bun.’
These amendments were decided upon in the context of the many religions and beliefs in our multi-ethnic academy and are designed to balance the rights and beliefs of all our families and children. This is in order to create a harmonious community, where beliefs and cultures are celebrated but not allowed to become divisive; and where individual children do not feel different or excluded.
The policy takes a balanced middle ground and is decided with the objectives of; furthering school uniformity, co-existence and harmony; without compromising personal modesty; and taking health and safety considerations into account. It is also written in the context of an understanding that school is a safe and nurturing environment where safeguarding of children is our prime concern.
