School Uniform

Parents Resources

The Grammar School is a uniform school. In 1996, the School Board added its encouragement after widespread consultation with parents, and all pupils now wear school uniform.

We ask that you send your child to the school in uniform for the following reasons:

pupils come to the Grammar School from a large number of primary schools, wearing the school uniform emphasises their membership of the secondary school community
a good standard of school dress is a way of improving the reputation of the school in the wider community
within school itself, an over-casual attitude to dress often goes with an over-casual attitude to school work, and this is to be discouraged
many employers nowadays require high standards of personal appearance from their staff. Encouragement to take a pride in their appearance at school will help to prepare pupils for the standards they will be expected to adopt when they eventually leave
competition among pupils over particular types of fashion clothing and footwear can put parents under a lot of pressure financially; uniform removes this pressure because then no-one need feel disadvantaged if their parents can’t afford the latest fashion. It also prevents bullying to conform with the latest fashion trend
the safety and security of pupils is enhanced if pupils can be readily recognised as pupils by their conformity to the school’s dress code, because intruders to the school are then more easily identified and speedily intercepted.

The Grammar School Uniform

a plain, navy crew-necked sweatshirt (a sweatshirt with the school logo is available from the school office)
white shirt or blouse OR white polo shirt (polo shirts with the school logo are also on sale)
black or navy skirt or trousers (not jeans or jogging bottoms or other fashion trousers).

black shoes (not trainers etc.)

This uniform is practical, smart and inexpensive.

Kit for Physical Education

Pupils will need the following PE kit:

a towel (for showering after PE)
trainers
a jersey or T-shirt (not a football club top)
*football/hockey boots
*shorts or ‘jogging bottoms’
*socks.

The Education Committee recommended at its meeting of 21 August 1997 that ‘the adoption of a distinctive dress code chosen to enhance the ethos of the school should be encouraged in all schools’. Given that there is substantial parental and public approval of uniform, schools in Argyll and Bute are free to encourage the wearing of school uniform. In encouraging the wearing of uniform, account must be taken in any proposal to prevent any direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of race or gender. Any proposals will be the subject of widespread consultation with parents and pupils. Against this background it should be noted that it is policy not to insist on pupils wearing uniform or having specialist items of clothing as a prerequisite to their attending and engaging in all of the activities of the curriculum.

There are forms of dress which are unacceptable in school, such as items of clothing which:

potentially encourage faction (such as football colours);
could cause offence (such as anti-religious symbolism or political slogans);

could cause health and safety difficulties, such as loose fitting clothing, dangling earrings, or facial piercings;
are made from a flammable materials, for example shell suits in practical classes;

could cause damage to flooring;
carry advertising, particularly for alcohol or tobacco; or
could be used to inflict damage on other pupils, or be used by others to do so.

Parents are asked to discourage excessive make-up, jewellery, or other decorations, and we particularly ask you not to send you child to school in jeans, sportswear, training shoes, etc. Jewellery worn as a result of body piercing must be such that removal is possible and easily undertaken. Jewellery, watches, belts with metal buckles, etc., may cause injury to the wearer or others taking part in PE and they must be removed. It is absolutely essential that pupils comply with this instruction in order to avoid unnecessary injury to themselves or others.

Under no circumstances will pupils be deprived of any educational benefit as a result of not wearing uniform and, in particular, pupils will not be denied access to examinations as a result of not wearing school uniform. Parents should, however, note that only those pupils who wear the school uniform will be rewarded by being given access to the school’s voluntarily-provided extra-curricular activities. Parents receiving income support, income-based job seeker’s allowance, housing benefit or working tax credit (subject to entitlement) will normally be entitled to monetary grants for footwear and clothing for their children. Approval of any requests for such grants made by parents in different circumstances is at the discretion of the director of community services. Information and application forms may be obtained from schools and from the area office.

With regard to the loss of pupils’ clothing and/or personal belongings, parents and carers are asked to assist by ensuring that valuable items/unnecessarily expensive items of clothing are not brought to school. Parents should note that the authority does not carry insurance to cover the loss of such items and any claims submitted are likely to be met only where the authority can be shown to have been negligent. It is helpful if clothing and other personal possessions are clearly marked with the owner’s name. If a pupil does require to bring significant sums of money or expensive personal items to school for any reason these should be placed in the hands of the office staff for safe keeping as soon as the pupil arrives in the school.