August 2023 Dress Code Finalised Expectations

Friday 19th May 2023

Since March we have been gathering views on our school dress code arrangements for session 2023/24.  This meant consultation with Student Voice Year Groups,  our Parent Council, opportunities for students, parents/carers and staff to comment through a Google Form, with well over 500 responses from that alone.

As we expected there are a range of views on school uniform/dress code and valid points can be made by all those with differing views.  The rationale we are adopting is that a school dress code is important for a range of reasons.  You’ll see this in our final guidance.  We also recognise that school uniform can be expensive for families and therefore are seeking to widen the options available, particularly when there are significant financial pressures on many households.  Please note that school also can support with the ‘cost’ of uniform and parents/carers should engage with the appropriate House Team on that.

At the same time we are seeking to balance what is a range of opinion on school uniform/dress codes and our guidance includes more and less ‘traditional’ options.  You’ll see we are encouraging a more formal or traditional approach in our Senior Phase.

Our guidance in relation to PE recognises the challenge we are currently facing with a popular and successful part of the school attracting lots of students and challenges we have around too few changing rooms.  There is no immediate prospect of additional changing rooms and we are proposing reverting to our ‘Covid-19 approach’ of expecting students to come dressed for PE on the days they have PE.  Of course we will retain an option for those who want to change and offer advice on what we’d expect on wet weather days.  You’ll see this means black/white clothing themes for PE.  This allows us to maintain our overall Dress Code Vision.

In summary our vision is to encourage students to dress in a combination of black/white with at least one item having the LHS logo/badge.  This would be one of, or a sensible combination of,  a LHS tie, LHS blazer or our new LHS half zip top.

Additional posts on dress code, including in-person fitting opportunities, on-line purchasing options will be published from next week.

Please note no changes will come into effect until August 2023.

To view the finalised August 2023 guidance please click here.

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