A school should ensure that its school uniform policy is fair and reasonable. It should ensure that the uniform chosen is affordable and does not act as a barrier to parents when choosing a school. A school must have regard to its obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998 and anti-discrimination legislation. We strongly recommend that in setting its uniform/appearance policy the governing body: 

  • consults widely on its proposed school uniform policy and changes to an established policy. As well as current pupils and parents/carers, prospective pupils and parents/carers should be included in any consultation. Consultations should also include representatives of different groups in the wider community, such as community leaders representing minority ethnic and religious groups, and groups representing pupils with special educational needs or disabilities. Local authorities may have already prepared information and guidance for schools or may be able to conduct consultations on some issues on behalf of schools. An example is given in School uniform: Annex 1.
  • considers how the proposed uniform policy might affect each group represented in the school
  • considers the concerns of any groups about the proposed policy, and whether the proposed policy amounts to an interference with the right to manifest a religion or belief, and whether it is discriminatory. The school will need to weigh up the concerns of different groups and it might not be practical to accommodate fully the concerns of all groups. For example, groups of children drawn from different parts of the same religious community may each have differing requirements, requiring several variations of school uniform if each were accommodated in full, which would not be practical
  • considers the timeframe for introducing a new uniform policy or amending an existing one. Factors should include the length of time before the pupil leaves the school and whether expensive items are frequently purchased second hand, or passed on to siblings. A transitional period for phasing out the old uniform and introducing the new one should be considered
  • considers the cost and availability of non-standard sizes
  • considers the cost of including branded items and items in unusual colours/shades before insisting they must be worn, and continually reviews the cost of these items
  • documents the consultation process undertaken, the points made by respondents, and the decisions taken in weighing up competing points of view. The school might decide that the needs of individual groups are outweighed by factors such as:
    • health and safety: the school has a right to expect that long hair can be safely tied back for work in the science laboratory, or technology workshops. Similarly, it may be reasonable for a school to ban pupils from wearing jewellery where it considers that this poses a risk of injury, or where it considers that wearing jewellery to school might place a pupil at increased risk of bullying and harassment
    • security: the school needs to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and identify intruders easily
    • teaching and learning: if a pupil's face is obscured for any reason, the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement with learning, and to secure their participation in discussions and practical activities
    • protecting young people from external pressure to wear clothing they would not otherwise choose to adopt, protecting them from harassment, and from having to adopt dress codes associated with extreme or anti-social elements in the wider community, including styles and colours of clothing associated with gangs
    • promoting a strong, cohesive, school identity that supports high standards and a sense of identity among pupils: if some children look very different to their peers, this can inhibit integration, equality and cohesion
    • the need to promote harmony between different groups represented in the school
  • describes its uniform/appearance policy clearly and publicises it well, for example on the school website, in school rules, and in any admissions or general school prospectus. Rules on wearing school uniform may be included in the home school agreement. Pupils and parents/carers should receive information that makes them aware of school expectations before they are required to express a preference for a school
  • considers carefully, once the uniform/appearance policy has been agreed, any request that is made to vary the policy to meet the needs of any individual pupil to accommodate their religion or belief
  • considers carefully, once the uniform/appearance policy has been agreed, any request that is made to vary the policy to meet the needs of an individual pupil because of temporary or permanent medical conditions. For example, pupils with some skin conditions may be unable to wear specific fabrics, and pupils with foot or leg injuries may be unable to wear school shoes. Further information is included in a training resource pack for schools and local authorities entitled Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and Early Years settings.
  • cross references the school uniform/appearance policy against other relevant school policies, such as the behaviour policy
  • considers carefully the risk of a challenge to the policy and considers appropriate insurance cover. See the insurance guide for advice to schools.