about our Uniform

Pupils at South Malling School wear a uniform, which, in addition to being practical and cost effective, encourages the children to take a pride in their appearance and their school. Please find below our uniform list and details on where it can be purchased.

Main Uniform

• Required - Purple school cardigan, sweatshirt or fleece with the school logo (Matching items without the logo are acceptable.);
• Required - Purple or white school polo shirt, or a white long- or short-sleeved blouse or shirt (Matching items without the logo are acceptable.);
• Required - Mid-grey or black shorts, or trousers, or mid-grey knee-length skirt, pinafore or culottes; 
• Required - Plain white, grey, or black or purple socks or tights. (Leggings are not to be worn as trousers but can be worn under dresses or skirts as an alternative to tights.)  
• Required - Plain, all black shoes or trainers;
• Required - A warm and/or waterproof coat; (We have wonderful outdoor spaces and use them whatever the weather.) 
• Required - Pupils from Reception to Year 4 should use a South Malling book bag;
• Optional - Pupils in Years 5 & 6 may use a sensible  rucksack;
• Required - No jewellery or make-up should be worn to school, with the exception that those with pierced ears may wear small, simple studs.

Warm Weather Uniform

When the weather is warm, children can also wear the following:

• Optional - Lilac and white checked school dress;
• Optional - Plain dark-coloured, white or purple sandals (no crocs or open-backed sandals);
• Optional - Sun hat - all hats offering adequate sun protection are acceptable. Purple hats are available from the school.

PE Kit

• Required - Plain white T-shirt;
• Required - Purple shorts;
• Optional - Tracksuit bottoms in cold weather (KS2);
• Required - Plimsolls for indoor use;
• Required - Trainers for outdoor use (KS2).
• Required - Hair ties - hair should be tied back if it is longer than shoulder length;
• Required - Draw-string PE bag. (All PE kit should be named and kept in a PE bag on your child's peg. PE kits will be sent home at the end of each term to be washed.)

All uniform should be clearly named. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their uniform and belongings; we do not operate a lost property system.

Purchasing Uniform

South Malling School uniform (including fleeces, cardigans, jumpers, polo shirts and PE shorts) is available for purchase from Intersport Lewes or Sussex Uniforms. Branded school bookbags and PE bags can also be purchased here. Generic matching items without the logo are acceptable and can be purchased from a range of retailers.

Second-hand uniform is available for purchase at reasonable prices from the Friends of South Malling. Please email friends@southmalling.e-sussex.sch.uk with your request and they will let you know if they have the items in stock. The Friends also accept donations of good quality uniform and bookbags. Please get in touch, if you have any to donate.

Policy

This policy aims to:

• Set out our approach to requiring a uniform that is of reasonable cost and offers the best value for money for parents and carers;
• Explain how we will avoid discrimination in line with our legal duties under the Equality Act 2010;
• Clarify our expectations for school uniform.

Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination against an individual based on the protected characteristics, which include sex, race, religion or belief, and gender reassignment.

To avoid discrimination, our school will:

• Avoid listing uniform items based on sex, to give all pupils the opportunity to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in or that most reflects their self-identified gender;
• Make sure that our uniform costs the same for all pupils;
• Allow all pupils to have long hair (though we reserve the right to ask for this to be tied back);
• Allow all pupils to style their hair in the way that is appropriate for school yet makes them feel most comfortable;
• Allow pupils to request changes to swimwear for religious reasons;
• Allow pupils to wear headscarves and other religious or cultural symbols;
• Allow for adaptations to our policy on the grounds of equality by asking pupils or their parents to get in touch with the Headteacher who can answer questions about the policy and respond to any requests.

Limiting the cost of school uniform

Our school has a duty to make sure that the uniform we require is affordable, in line with statutory guidance from the Department for Education on the cost of school uniform.

We understand that items with distinctive characteristics (such as branded items, or items that have to have a school logo or a unique fabric/colour/design) cannot be purchased from a wide range of retailers and that requiring many such items limits parents’ ability to ‘shop around’ for a low price.

We will make sure our uniform:

• Is available at a reasonable cost;
• Provides the best value for money for parents/carers.

We will do this by:

• Carefully considering whether any items with distinctive characteristics are necessary;
• Limiting any items with distinctive characteristics where possible: for example, by only asking that the fleece worn over the shirt and jumper, features the school logo;
• Limiting items with distinctive characteristics to low-cost or long-lasting items, such as the fleece;
• Avoiding specific requirements for items pupils could wear on non-school days, such as coats, bags and shoes;
• Keeping the number of optional branded items to a minimum, so that the school’s uniform can act as a social leveler;
• Avoiding different uniform requirements for different year/class groups;
• Avoiding different uniform requirements for extra-curricular activities;
• Considering alternative methods for signaling differences in groups for interschool competitions, such as creating posters or labels or providing the necessary clothing;
• Making sure that arrangements are in place for parents to acquire second-hand uniform items;
• Avoiding frequent changes to uniform specifications and minimising the financial impact on parents of any changes;
• Consulting with parents and pupils on any proposed significant changes to the uniform policy and carefully considering any complaints about the policy.

Expectations for pupils

Pupils are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times (other than specified non-school uniform days) while:

• On the school premises;
• Travelling to and from school;
• At out-of-school events or on trips that are organised by the school, or where they are representing the school (if required).

Pupils expected to contact the Headteacher if they want to request an amendment to the uniform policy in relation to their protected characteristics.

Expectations for parents and carers

Parents and carers are expected to make sure their child has the correct uniform and PE kit, and that every item is:

• Clean;
• Clearly labelled with the child’s name;
• In good condition.

Parents are also expected to contact the Headteacher if they want to request an amendment to the uniform policy in relation to:

• Their child’s protected characteristics;
• The cost of the uniform.

Parents are expected to lodge any complaints or objections relating to the school uniform in a timely and reasonable manner.

Disputes about the cost of the school uniform will be:

• Resolved locally;
• Dealt with in accordance with our school’s complaints policy;

The school will work closely with parents to arrive at a mutually acceptable outcome.