Academy Uniform

Our uniform is designed to be smart and simple. When worn correctly it brings great pride to students and the academy. Wearing a uniform demonstrates high standards, our academy values and a sense of community. Wearing the uniform shows you belong to our family and it’s an expectation at the Academy.

• Black blazer with Academy badge (Item 1)
• Designated grey trousers with school logo OR Designated knee length grey skirt with school logo (Item 2)
• Plain white school shirt
• Black v- necked jumper with academy badge (optional)
• School tie (Item 3)
• Black or grey socks worn with trousers OR black or white ankle/short socks for Spring/Summer and black opaque tights for Autumn/Winter worn with skirts
• Black school shoes (see below)
• Outdoor coat in dark, plain colour

Ties

Different year groups have a different coloured tie to give each year their own identity. These colours stay with them throughout Years 7-10 at Colne Primet Academy, before changing to a black tie for Year 11. Information about the relevant colour for each year group is on our website and in our parent handbook. This is also shared for each incoming year 7 group as part of their admissions information.

Shoes

Shoes must have a sturdy sole and be fully black. Students are not allowed to wear trainers, boots, sandals, or pumps. Students will be required to wear school loaned shoes if they arrive in school without appropriate school shoes. Please be aware that some commercial retailers may label some part of their range as ‘Schoolwear’ when it is not. This is especially common in footwear. Both girls and boys are asked to wear black shoes. The pictures give some guidance as to appropriate footwear at Colne Primet Academy.

Jewellery and make-up

Students are allowed to wear a wristwatch and one pair of plain stud or small sleeper earrings in the lower ear. No other jewellery e.g. rings, chains, bands, bracelets and tongue or nose piercings may be worn. We have a duty of care to all our students and this includes responsibility for health and safety. The wearing of facial jewellery, nose studs, tongue piercings, multiple earrings, necklaces, ear stretchers and other items which could cause harm or breach Health & Safety requirements in school is not allowed. We are unable to accept responsibility for replacing any items which are lost or stolen whilst in school. School reserves the right to ask students to refrain from wearing inappropriate jewellery or other items of non-uniform; for reasons of safety, security or appropriate appearance, students will be asked to remove the item.

Hijab or headscarf

A plain black headscarf or hair covering may be worn for religious, cultural or medical reasons. If a headscarf is worn, it is important that this covering conforms to safety regulations in order that the student can work in safety at all times. This means that it must be tied neatly and secured so that there is no draping or loose fabric which may be caught during practical subjects or while moving around the building. The headscarf should be tied so that the students tie is clearly visible.

Students must remove the headscarf for PE / sporting activities for both safety and hygiene reasons. Students who wish to keep their hair covered for these activities are able to wear a sports hijab, or similar, which is a plain black or navy blue colour and consists of a single piece of normally elasticated fabric that is not tied or fastened with any additional pins.

Hairstyles

In addition to adhering to the correct dress code outlined in the uniform policy we also expect students to present themselves with an acceptable appearance. As we strive to prepare and equip students for working life we expect hairstyles to be sensible and appropriate for school. Hair colouring is to be all one colour and a natural colour. Extreme haircuts are not acceptable.

The definition of an extreme hairstyle is at the discretion of the Senior Leadership Team, but include:

• No shaved heads or other extreme hairstyles
• Hair must not be shorter than a number 2 razor cut
• No tram lines
• No decorative braids in unnatural colours
• No excessively bright or multi coloured hair dyed in other than natural colours.

Students must wear their hair tied back during practical lessons for safety and hygiene reasons, for example in PE, Food technology, Design technology and Science when carrying out experiments.

Coats

Please ensure your child has an appropriate coat which they can wear to and from school and when outside at break and lunchtimes. Coats should be a dark, plain colour. Coats must be removed on entry to the building, so we can see students wearing their uniform with pride and their tie colour. Please ensure that all uniform and coats are marked with the student’s name.

P.E. Kit

All our PE kit is Navy, Scarlet and White, and consists of:

• T-shirt with embroidered school logo (Encore ZR10) (Item 4)
• Bottoms – plain navy blue (same colour to the navy blue of the PE t-shirt), choice of shorts, tracksuit bottoms, full length leggings or skort.

These items can be purchased from any retailer, and must be in a plain design, appropriate fit, and without logos or designs. Students may be required to wear school loaned shorts/leggings if they arrive to PE without appropriate items; and parents/carers will be contacted to replace items if needed. If parents/carers are unsure about the suitability of items, please contact us to confirm to help you avoid purchasing unsuitable items.

Our uniform retailers offer a variety of optional branded items from the same range as our PE t-shirt and optional sweatshirt. Although these are optional for you to purchase, it offers you the assurance of these items being approved. Students who represent the school for sporting events can be loaned these items as part of the team uniform/kit to optionally borrow for these events if they do not have their own.

Options include:

• Shorts (Encore ZR50)
• Skort (Encore ZR60)
• Leggings (Encore ZR38) - worn alone or under the skort or shorts
• Tracksuit bottoms with academy logo (Chadwick 890)
• Optional sweatshirt with school logo (Encore ZR45)

Students will also need: black or navy blue socks, trainers.

For particular sports, the following protective equipment is optional but advised to be worn: shin pads, football boots, gum shield. Students will be advised at the start of each sport what protective equipment is advised, however as groups will rotate between different sports at different times we recommend that these items are included within your child's PE kit all year around if you want them to use this during lessons. In addition to these recommended items, if you wish your child to wear any other protective equipment for particular sports please get in touch with their PE teacher so we can make arrangements. We are not able to provide or loan protective equipment. Students are expected to bring PE kit to lessons regardless of illness/injury. They will be expected to contribute to the lesson as time keeper/scorer/umpire etc. and expected to be dressed in PE kit for this. Please ensure that all uniform and PE kit is marked with the student’s name.

Suppliers

School uniform can be purchased from:

Whittakers Schoolwear, based in Pendle Village Mill (next to B&Q Nelson). They also provide an online service.

Jean Junction, based on Scotland Road in Nelson. They also provide an online service.

SHAFI's Official Schoolwear, 15 Scotland Road, Nelson, BB9 7UT. No online service.

Second hand uniform is also available from: 

Pendle in and out of school clothes project, based in Colne Market Hall. They also have a Facebook page. 

School Clothes Grant

We do have a School Clothes Grant and should you wish to access this please put a request in writing to the Principal.

Please include the following information: 

• Your child’s full name and year group

• State why you feel an award should be made. Please note that in line with Lancashire County Council policy for accessing their School Uniform Grant (https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/school-uniform/), we will only consider offering assistance where the applicant is eligible for free school meals and there are also other exceptional circumstances; and a low income alone would not generally be considered as an exceptional circumstance. 

• Which pieces of essential uniform you are able to provide yourself and which items you need support with purchasing. It may be that you are able to purchase most items but need support for some specific items, such as the blazer.

We also offer support with accessing second-hand uniform items, which is open to all families. If you would like to request this, please include this in your written request, as this may be an alternative to the School Clothes Grant. Please note, we are not able to guarantee all items will be available in the right sizes for your child and can only offer what we have available at the time.

How to tie a school tie