Dear Parents and Carers

Just a gentle reminder please that tights are compulsory as part of our school uniform and this expectation remains in place. I really do understand and appreciate the weather is beginning to feel warmer; however, from the outset I have been explicit about this expectation and the timeframe attached to it. There was a consultation period and ample opportunity to raise concerns when the uniform change was introduced.

I am not meaning to sound harsh but I do need to be clear that notes from home requesting that students wear socks instead because the weather is warming up are not appropriate grounds for exemption. I am, as always, reasonable and responsive, which is why socks will be permitted after May half term, now only four weeks away. If for example there were a significant spike in temperatures before then, I would make sensible adjustments immediately and communicate this, including moving to PE kit if conditions warranted it.

Tights are part of our compulsory school uniform now. If a child does not wish to wear tights, this is no problem – they may wear school tailored trousers, which are not tight. Our boys wear trousers throughout the year and do not move to shorts in warmer weather, so we know that this works well.  This is not about whether tights impact learning directly; it is about standards, consistency and meeting expectations. These things matter. Many of our students will go into professions where uniform standards are non-negotiable, and learning to meet expectations is part of preparing them well.

For families where there are genuine medical needs, supported by medical documentation, I continue to work closely and supportively with those students on an individual basis, as I always have and this is working brilliantly.

On Friday for example it was 3 degrees at 07.00 and 7 degrees as students arrived at school at 08.30. The warmest point of the day was at 16.00 where it was 19 degrees. I have consistently been incredibly transparent about the rationale, the consultation, and the implementation timeline so everyone was informed and clear of the expectations. Many schools require tights all year round, however,  I have taken the decision that in the second half of the summer term this becomes a choice because of the more pleasant weather.  Other schools have removed this expectation entirely and moved only to trousers, which is not a direction I wish to take at all.

The tights requirement was also introduced to support high standards in uniform presentation, particularly where skirts may become shorter than regulation length, which is to wear the skirt on the knee. I did this because students grow and the expense of buying new skirts has to be taken into consideration which I was trying to do.  High standards are entirely appropriate, and the rules are clear and I have to be fair and consistent. A note from home cannot override a whole-school expectation, particularly when this has not been an issue until now and weather conditions have been similar in recent weeks.

I recognise some students may wish to make their own choice and some families may not agree with this position. However, where expectations are clear, supportive sanctions will apply where needed to help students meet those expectations consistently. This is not about punishment, but about maintaining fairness, supporting good habits and ensuring standards are applied equally for all. It would not be fair on all the children who comply consistently every day to apply expectations unevenly.

Thank you for your cooperation and support. We have worked incredibly hard together on raising standards, and our students look exceptionally smart and represent the school with pride. I am proud of that, and I appreciate your support in maintaining it.

Yours faithfully

Beverley Scott-Herron

Headteacher