Uniform & Equipment

Northern Education Trust believes that students learn most effectively and achieve their best outcomes when they are comfortable, able to be themselves, and are dressed in such a way that sets an appropriate tone for education.

A consistent academy uniform policy is vital to promote the ethos of the academy and provide a sense of belonging and identity for all students, regardless of their protected characteristics or socio-economic circumstances.

Our uniform policy lays out the measures taken to ensure a consistent, fair and inclusive uniform policy; to implement a uniform that reflects the needs of all students; and a uniform that is affordable and the best value for money for the academy and students’ parents/carers.

Students must wear full academy uniform at all times when they are within the academy or on an academy visit, unless otherwise stated.

A copy of our academy uniform policy and uniform checklist including PE kit requirements can be found in the links below.

Equipment

We expect that students always bring the following items into the academy:

• A suitable school bag
• Need to Know book
• Planner
• Books (supplied by the academy)
• Stationery – Pen, pencil and ruler

Students, of all year groups, must wear full Academy uniform at all times when they are within the Academy or on an Academy visit, unless otherwise stated.

Uniform Guidance:

Mobile phones/ smartwatches and other electronic technology must be switched off at the academy gate, kept out of view and remain switched off until students exit the academy gate at the end of the day. If a child is seen with any of the items above in the academy, they will be confiscated, placed in the safe, and will only be returned to a parent/carer.

School shoes must be plain black school shoes made of a polishable material. We do not permit high boots or high visibility buckles/bows/coloured laces or tags etc. Please note that trainers or canvas shoes are not acceptable.

School trousers should be plain black school trousers. Trousers that are ‘skinny fit’, tight or short length are not permitted.

Skirts must be an Academy skirt (purchased only from the approved uniform provider). Skirts must be worn correctly (not rolled up or fastened to higher than the intended length).

The Academy skirt must always be worn with plain black tights (no bare legs or coloured tights).

Socks should be plain black ankle length socks.

School shirts must be plain white and formal shirts. These must be tucked in at all times.

The Academy blazer (purchased only from the approved uniform provider) is to be worn at all times, including in corridors and open spaces/dining halls etc. Please note that sleeves must be rolled down (students can remove blazers in classrooms with teacher permission). The Principal will announce if blazers can be removed and carried in open spaces in the event of hot weather.

Students must wear the Academy tie. The top button on the shirt must be fastened and the tie worn appropriately. The tie should cover all shirt buttons. Ties cannot be too short.

Academy bag: Containing a minimum of a pen, pencil, ruler in a pencil case and the student planner.

Hair: Natural colours only and no inappropriate styles (we reserve the right to judge each individual case on merit).

Make-up must not be worn

Graffiti or writing on hands or arms for any reason is not permitted

Hoodies are not allowed on the academy site at all (hoodies or coats are never to be worn under blazers or otherwise at any time). Hoodies will be confiscated. Coats must be removed once inside academy building

Jewellery must not be worn. A wrist watch is the only permissible exception (not a smart watch)

No bottles, planners or other large items (including food) are allowed in blazer pockets. These must be placed in the student’s bag. Students are required to bring a school bag every day and therefore all items should be stowed within this.

Energy drinks, of any kind, are not allowed in the academy.

As mentioned in previous letters, students who breach the policy will be asked to address the issue raised. Jewellery, mobile devices and hoodies will be confiscated and stored in reception, whereby parents can collect them at the end of the day. A one hour detention will also be issued. Detentions will also be issued for other breaches of the uniform policy.

Please note that we do not exclude students for wearing jewellery, having mobile phones or any other breaches of this policy. We will however, always ask students to rectify the issue that we have raised. These are reasonable requests.

If a student fails to comply immediately with a reasonable request then the academy will issue a further sanction, which may include a fixed term exclusion. Parents should be clear that this applies to all reasonable requests and not just those associated with uniform.

Academy staff reserve the right to issue sanctions, in line with our behaviour policy, to any student not in correct uniform at any time. This includes students wearing uniform while journeying to and from the academy.

Uniform Update

It is compulsory for all students wishing to wear a skirt to Kirk Balk to purchase the official Academy skirt from our uniform provider Vortex (details below). It is not permitted for students to wear any other skirt to Kirk Balk.

ALL skirts must be purchased from Vortex as they will be embroidered with the Academy logo.

The Academy PE kit is compulsory for all students from September 2016. The Kirk Balk PE kit can be purchased from our uniform provider Vortex (details below). It is not permitted for students to wear any other form of PE kit at Kirk Balk.

Ordering Guidance

Academy uniform can be ordered from Vortex Clothing Co Ltd in Barnsley.