Uniform Policy

Policy Statement

We take pride in our school and being part of our community. How we present ourselves reflects this. Students often say uniform is one of the key ways they feel they belong to our community.

It is our policy that all students wear clothing in line with the information below when attending school or when participating in a school organised event outside normal school hours.

Standardised clothing expectations are in place to remove the concerns and distractions associated with clothing and fashion as well as to maintain the safety of all students.

For clarification on any issue relating to our uniform, please contact JCA reception.

Implementation Date

September 2012

Review Period

Every 3 years

Policy last reviewed

February 2026 – update to Jewellery & Hair Sections

Person responsible for policy

Principal

Who this policy applies to

Students, Staff and Parents

Years 7-11

Students in Years 7-11 are expected to wear the Academy uniform.

The Principal’s decision on acceptable uniform is final.

Please note:

If students attend school choosing to wear incorrect uniform, refuse to go home and change or refuse to wear the clean reasonable replacement that we can offer, students will be sent to the SLR until the uniform is corrected. If there are exceptional circumstances e.g. a medical need and a note has been supplied from home, students will be given time to purchase the correct item(s).

Full Uniform List

*Items marked are only available to purchase from Trutex, our uniform supplier

Ties are available to purchase from Reception at JCA.

General Uniform Instructions for Boys and Girls

ITEMS NOT PERMITTED:

Hats

Hoods worn up

Make Up – Make up should be subtle and hardly visible

Jewellery – For reasons of safety & security, only the following items are permitted:

• Earrings – small studs only
• Nose piercing – a single stud
• A watch
• Discrete necklaces and bracelets may be worn, but must remain under the uniform

Jewellery in PE lessons

• All children must remove watches, bracelets and necklaces to participate in PE lessons.
• Children are responsible for their own jewellery if removed in school, as we cannot take responsibility for any personal items.
• Children will be permitted to tape earrings/nose studs.

Hair – No ornaments such as flowers, bows, elaborate hair bands, etc. Extreme hair colours are not permitted. Red is not extreme. This is not an exhaustive list, but for example Blue, Green, Purple, Pink would all be considered extreme as hair does not naturally grow in these colours.

The Halo Code

Our school champions the right of staff and students to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black staff and students’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance.

We welcome Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps.

At this school, we recognise and celebrate our staff and students’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on anyone’s ability to succeed.

John Cabot Academy PE Kit

*Items marked are only available to purchase from Trutex, our uniform supplier

Jewellery, including ear studs, must NOT be worn for PE or Games.

A letter or note from home is required if students are unable to take part in Physical Education at any point in the school year.

Shoes for Boys and Girls

Shoes must be plain black and can have laces, a buckle, be slip-on or have a velcro strap; a brief sample of acceptable shoe styles is shown here. Trainers, sport shoes, plimsolls, daps or pumps are not acceptable, neither are boots nor shoes with high heels.

The above types of trainers/pumps/plimsolls/daps are not acceptable footwear for school for our students.

THE PRINCIPAL WILL DETERMINE UNIFORM AND SHOE STYLES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL BEFORE PURCHASING AN ITEM.

Ordering School Uniform

Ordering School Uniform

All John Cabot Academy, specific school uniform items should be purchased directly from our school uniform supplier, Trutex.

Log onto www.trutexdirect.com and register using our Academy’s LEA code: LEA00918CH. This will take you to John Cabot Academy’s uniform page, where you can see all items of our school uniform. The site is secure and orders can be placed quickly and safely, direct with Trutex.

Alternatively, you can order from Trutex Direct by phone, call 01200 421206.

For full details of uniform requirements and a link to the Trutex website, please go to the John Cabot Academy website: https://johncabotacademy.clf.uk/uniform/

Postage and packaging is free on orders over £50 or just £3.50 for orders under this amount. Trutex also offer a free returns service. Trutex deliver directly to your home or a specified delivery address. Trutex will normally deliver within 7 working days. However, during the busiest time towards the start of back to school this can be extended. We seriously recommend that you place your order for the new school year before 4 August to ensure delivery.

Please note that the only item of uniform we sell in the academy is school ties so that you can purchase a replacement tie quickly if your child loses one. These are available to purchase via your SCOPAY account and once this is done, they will be available to collect at the finance office.

Second-Hand Uniform

We ask for donations of unwanted second-hand uniform from families which will then be made available to purchase from Reception. Payment can be taken in cash at the time, or in advance through SCOPAY. All money raised will go towards supporting our disadvantaged students with trips. Second-hand uniform items will be free for pupils eligible for Free School Meals.

To make a request for an item of second-hand uniform, please call Reception on 0117 976 3000 or email jcainfo@clf.uk.

Prices for these items will be: