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

Limiting the cost of school uniform

New national legislation, introduced through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, requires schools to reduce branded items and lower costs. We fully support this and understand that our school has a duty to make sure that our uniform is affordable.

We appreciate 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 such items limits parents’/carers’ 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

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.

To avoid discrimination, our school will:

Avoid listing uniform items based on sex, to give all students 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 students
Allow all students to have long hair (though we reserve the right to ask for this to be tied back)
Allow all students to style their hair in a way that is appropriate for school, yet makes them feel comfortable
Allow students to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols
Allow for adaptations to our policy on the grounds of equality, by asking students or their parents/carers to get in touch with their Heads of Year who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests
Allow students to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons

Expectations for school uniform

Our school’s uniform

Our ‘dressed for business’ uniform prepares students for the world of work; it is practical and smart and also helps our students develop a sense of belonging in our academy community.

*Please note that, whilst skirts are currently part of the uniform, from September 2026 all students will be expected to wear plain black tailored trousers.

Jumpers with a stripe or logo are being discontinued as part of the new uniform policy, however students are welcome to continue wearing them until they need replacing. Moving forwards, parents/carers should replace the old style jumper with the new plain jumper.

All students are asked to wear:

Academy Uniform

Navy Academy Logo Blazer
Academy Tie
Grey V-Neck Jumper - optional
Traditional light blue shirt with a collar
Plain black tailored trousers. Please note, that only the following styles are permitted:

Wide leg
Straight leg
Tapered
Tailored
Kick Flare

Shoes - plain black smart shoes with no additional colours (suitable black, low-heeled shoe, no trainers, boots or leisure shoes, no logos) Please see Appendix B for our Suitable School Shoes Guidance.
If you wear a headscarf or headband,
it must also be plain black

While we are offering more flexibility in the cut of the trousers, the material remains a key part of the policy. To maintain a consistent standard across the school, trousers must adhere to the following:

Permitted Materials: Standard school-wear fabrics.
Not Permitted: Trousers must not be made of denim, Lycra, knitted or sports legging material.
Footwear/Socks: Please ensure that plain black socks are worn with all trouser styles.

For PE lessons all students are asked to wear:

Navy Academy logo PE ¼ zip Multi-top
Navy Academy logo PE T-Shirt
Plain black tracksuit bottoms or plain navy shorts/skorts. Girls may wear plain black leggings in the winter.
Trainers/pumps
Hair bobble (if required)
No piercings/earrings of any kind (this includes clear plastic studs). Students will be asked to remove any piercings/earrings or they will not be able to take part in the lesson.

The correct kit must be worn for all PE lessons. All students will be expected to take part unless a valid note is produced, signed by a parent/carer. If a child has a medical condition which may affect their long term participation, then they may be asked to bring in a medical note or evidence from your family GP. Students will not be allowed to wear training shoes or socks for gymnastics.

From September 2026, new Year 7 students are provided with a free Academy blazer, PE t-shirt and a tie. As your child outgrows their uniform or needs new items, you can purchase them on the Arbor shop and at Reception.

Our school uniform can be purchased from our two suppliers:

Debonair Schoolwear (purchase online only): https://debonairschoolwearwythenshawe.co.uk/
Whittakers Schoolwear: (purchase online or in store): https://www.whittakersschoolwear.co.uk/

Ties

Ties can be purchased for £4 from the Principal’s Office (cash only). Where a student is unable to purchase a tie, a tie can be borrowed for the day. In order to borrow a tie students must exchange their mobile phone or house keys. Students will be able to collect their belongings from the Principal’s Office upon returning the tie at the end of the day.

Refusal to exchange their mobile phone or house keys in exchange for a tie will result in a Turnaround Placement, until such time that the student agrees to the exchange.

Any borrowed ties returned at the end of the day which are damaged or graffitied will require a payment of £4 the following day to replace the tie.

For September 2026, the colours will be:

Year 7 - Orange
Year 8 - Green
Year 9 - Blue
Year 10 - Gold
Year 11 - Silver

Equipment

It is important that students arrive at school fully equipped and ready to learn in order to have a successful day. Students must bring:

A bag/rucksack big enough to accommodate a PE kit, A4 sized notebook and all other equipment.
Pencil case
Black pen
Green pen
Ruler
Rubber
Scientific calculator

Jewellery and hairstyles

Please be aware of the following rules regarding jewellery and hairstyles:

No jewellery is permitted.
A watch (not a Smartwatch) may be worn in the academy.
Earrings are not permitted to be worn in the academy.
Ear ‘gauging’ (stretched ear lobes) are not allowed.
No facial/body piercings are allowed. This includes tongue piercings.
Piercings will be asked to be removed irrespective of the length of time since the piercing was made.
Hair bands are to be discreet and either black or dark navy blue.
False eye lashes and false nails, (this includes acrylic tips, builder gel in a bottle ‘BIAB’ nails and nail varnish) are not allowed
Make-up - No make-up of any kind to be worn including false eyelashes and fake tan. If a student is found to be wearing make-up they will be asked to remove it using a wipe provided by school or soap and water.
Hair colour must be of a ‘natural’ colour with no extreme haircuts/styles. Unnatural colours, tramlines and shaven patterns are not allowed. This includes hair that has been shaven at different lengths, Mohican style haircuts or any unblended shaven patterns. The Principal will have the final judgement to deem the hairstyle appropriate or inappropriate to school policy.
No denim (trousers, coats ect)

Uniform Exchange

Good quality school uniform is going to waste when it could be shared – so we’ve set up a Uniform Exchange Shop.

We encourage students and parents/carers to recycle preloved school uniforms, rather than put them in the bin. Donating unused and unneeded clothing plays an important part in sustaining our planet’s natural resources and supports local families with the rising cost of living.

A uniform exchange makes it easy for families to pass on school uniforms that are no longer needed and, instead of buying new, find items of school uniform for free.

Parents/carers can drop off their items, or ask for any items of uniform you may need, at our main academy reception between 8am - 4pm any weekday.

Expectations for our school community

Students

Students 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

Staff

Staff will closely monitor students to make sure they are in the correct uniform. They will give any students and families breaching the uniform policy the opportunity to comply, but will follow up with the leadership team if the situation doesn’t improve.

Ongoing breaches of our uniform policy will be dealt with according to our Behaviour Policy.

In cases where it is suspected that financial hardship has resulted in a student not complying with this uniform policy, staff will take a mindful and considerate approach to resolving the situation.

Monitoring arrangements

This policy will be reviewed every two years by the Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and Regional Director and/or if legislation or the Trust guidance on uniform changes.