Uniform
Our Values and Beliefs
Our school uniform celebrates our belonging to a like-minded community that is bonded by common values, aspirations and goals – to be the best we can be. We seek the highest possible standards in all aspects of our life at this school and seek to work closely with parents, carers and students to make this a reality.
Uniform FAQs
- School uniforms are a traditional feature in nine out of ten UK schools.
- School uniform can foster a sense of belonging and community, whilst removing any visual indicators of a child’s personal circumstances. We regard uniform as an expression that ‘everyone belongs’.
- Whilst there is little evidence to suggest that uniform will help achieve higher grades, its widespread use and endorsement is certainly evidence of its positive impact.
- Our purpose as a school is two-fold: to enable every child to meet their academic potential AND to develop young people who are happy, confident and hopeful about their future, whatever their personal circumstances.
- We strongly believe that wearing a smart school uniform, which fosters a sense of pride and belonging, is essential to fulfilling both of these purposes for our students.
- As with all school rules, which are designed to promote the success and well-being of our students, school uniform can only be a positive feature if it is worn consistently and correctly by all students.
- Every morning, senior and pastoral leaders check uniform as the students arrive. Students are also monitored by their tutors.
- In all subsequent lessons, teachers will be monitoring uniform as students arrive and leave.
- In very occasional circumstances, if a student has brought a valid problem with uniform to the tutor’s attention, they will be issued with a Yellow Slip to avoid being sanctioned throughout the day by other teachers.
- All problems can be solved by communication – please contact the school with any concerns you have. In the first instance please speak to your son or daughter’s tutor.
- The school deals sensitively with uniform issues that arise out of financial pressures – families should contact our family support worker, Claire Budd ([email protected]), to find out ways that we can help.
- If in doubt about an item of clothing or pair of shoes, please ask us before you buy them or open and wear them. Either visit or call the school or simply email us to help you. It is always best to check a store’s refund and exchange policy before purchasing any item that may turn out to be unacceptable.
- Since 2022 the school has also introduced a preloved collection and resale service which is proving to be more and more popular. Claire Budd may also be contacted about this service for more information.
- We issue reasonable and proportionate sanctions at Chipping Norton School. This includes detentions for occasional breaches or more serious sanctions where a refusal represents a broader act of defiance.
- In choosing to send a child to Chipping Norton School, parents and carers are embracing and supporting our values, ethos and expectations.
- We look to parents and carers to help us enforce consistent application of these expectations and not seek exemptions or lower expectations for their child – unless there are very strong and mutually agreed medical or other reasons.
- Branded items (blazer, tie, jumper, skirts and blouses (both optional), PE jerseys and shorts / skorts) are all available through Price & Buckland. We annually monitor and review quality and prices to ensure value for money.
- The following items are not branded and may be purchased through any outlet: shirts, PE socks, trousers, shoes, coats and school bags.
Uniform and Appearance Guidelines
- Black blazer with school badge.
- Plain coats – logos must be discreet.
- No hoodies under any circumstances worn above or beneath garments.
- No caps but sensible winter hats may be worn (outdoors) during the colder months.
- Available through Price and Buckland. You can contact them by email at [email protected]
- Either a white shirt with formal collar – tucked in neatly at all times – with black and gold clip-on school tie (same tie for all students).
- Or a badged white blouse without a school tie.
- Optional: Black V-neck sweater with school badge.
- Available through Price and Buckland. You can contact them by email at [email protected]
- Black tailored trousers (no skinny or spray fit, jeans, studs, chinos, leggings, jeggings, tracksuit bottoms.
- Black and gold tartan patterned ‘2 box pleat’ or ‘kilt’ style skirt.
- Plain black (or any other) skirt is not permitted.
- Skirts must be worn correctly (i.e., not rolled-up in order to shorten).
- Plain black belts (no large buckles, fabric or colourful designs).
- Plain black or dark grey tights (no patterns and a spare pair in bag suggested).
- Skirts available through Price and Buckland You can contact them by email at [email protected]
- Socks must be dark coloured (navy, black or charcoal grey).
- Plain black leather / synthetic leather type shoes that offer basic protection in wet weather. The shoe must cover the foot and therefore offer basic protection against falling objects or liquids in practical lessons. No heels over 3cm.
- No trainers, boots, pumps, ballet style slip-ons, plimsolls, sling-backs or canvas footwear. Laces must be black (although Velcro and discreet buckles are permitted). No visible branding or logos
- Exceptions permitted only with a medical professional’s letter.
- No unreasonable or extreme haircuts – please check with Leadership Team or pastoral leaders before attending barbers / hairdressers if unsure.
- No shaved patterns or lines in the hair or eyebrows.
- Only plain dark coloured hair bands / clips / slides. No other hair accessories (e.g. bows, flowers etc.).
- Hair colouring must be natural hair colour only (i.e. not purple/pink/peroxide/red etc.).
- Jewellery is restricted to a wristwatch and one plain small stud earring in each lobe – no other piercings permitted (no nose, tongue, eyebrow, studs etc.).
- Parents and carers have a duty to ensure that students do not arrive in school with any facial piercings. Any student arriving at school with a facial piercing will be asked to remove it and place them / it in an envelope for safekeeping and collection and discussion with parent / carer.
- Make-up must always be subtle – no dark eyeliner, false eyelashes or bright eye shadow.
- Light foundation only.
- No nail varnish or false nails.
- No fake tan, visible body-art or tattoos.
During the academic year, we consulted with families regarding mobile phone use and shared some of our thoughts about the challenges these devices pose to the school community.
You can read a little more about our thinking in this edition of the headteacher’s weekly letter.
The school came to the decision that to protect the mental health of our students, we should transition towards becoming a mobile phone-free school, allowing students to benefit from six hours in the day when they can withdraw from the demands of their devices.
To phase in this policy, we consulted with parents and decided on the following rules (new for the academic year 2024 to 2025).
Members of the sixth form are permitted to have a mobile in school and use them without permission. All usage in lessons must be with a teacher’s permission. All usage outside of lessons must be in the sixth form areas only. The updated policy does not affect sixth formers.
Students in years 8 to 11 are permitted to take a mobile phone to school as long as it remains switched off and completely out of sight from the moment they walk on to the school site, until 3:15pm. If a mobile phone is heard or seen (even if it is not being used but clearly visible in a pocket, for example), it will be confiscated and returned to the student at the end of the same school day. The student will also be issued with a detention. Failure to hand over the mobile phone will result in a suspension (for defiance) and the parent or carer will be required to collect their child immediately.
Students in year 7 are not permitted to take a smartphone to school. The same sanctions will be applied to year 7 students should any mobile phone be seen or heard during the school day. In rare and exceptional circumstances (e.g. special health monitoring apps on a smartphone) permission may be granted to take a smartphone to school. Each request will be considered on its own merits and directly with either Mrs Faulkner or Mrs Davis-Batchelor.
Students will be provided with paper copies of their timetable and will not be permitted to use their mobile phone to check the location of their next lesson. The form tutor will have spare copies of those timetables should the tutee need to be reminded.
- A suitable school bag that will carry and protect all school books and other equipment.
- Stationery: at least two pens, a pencil, an eraser and a ruler.
- All students are also very strongly encouraged to have highlighter pens, a glue stick, a geometry set and a calculator. These items can be supplied, free of charge, to students whose family is facing financial difficulty.
- All students are recommended to back their books in clear sticky-back plastic.
- Tutors will carry out regular checks and will make direct contact with parents and carers when a tutee’s readiness for learning is in doubt.
- Detentions may be issued at the discretion of each tutor and pastoral leader.
All Students
- Black shorts or skort with school badge.
- Indoor top: White PE short-sleeved T-shirt with school badge.
- Black and gold full-length socks.
- Indoor trainers with non-marking soles.
- Outdoor studded boots.
- Highly recommended: gum shield and shin pads.
- Optional: Badged black outdoor fleece jacket / coat.
- Optional: Plain black leggings (for Dance lessons only).
- All ear piercings must be removed (not taped) during practical lessons, plus watches and jewellery removed and hair tied back.
Male students only
- Outdoor top: Black and gold sports jersey with school badge.
- Optional – Black mid-layer top with inner fleece and school badge.
Female students only
- Outdoor top: Black mid-layer top with inner fleece and school badge.
All items available through Price and Buckland ( [email protected])
As with other uniform breaches, students can expect to be placed in a detention by their teachers who have discretion to look at each case on merit.
