School Dress Code – Years 7-11
The school believes that a dress code for the students in Years 7 to 11 is appropriate and will help promote a productive working environment. The dress code at St Benedict’s is something that we take pride in. With high expectations for student uniform we hope to:
- encourage pride in the school.
- create a sense of belonging and community.
- enable students to feel safe and secure.
- promote equity and reduce bullying through peer pressure to conform to fashion trends.
Uniform for students in Years 7-11 inclusively
A full version of our School Uniform Policy can be found on the Policies page of our website.
- Plain white shirt (short sleeve in the summer if preferred)
- School tie – traditional or clip-on
- Navy blazer with a St Benedict’s badge
- Navy school trousers (no leggings, jeggings, jeans, track suit bottoms, joggers – not tight material)
- Navy school skirt: A-line (no more than 5cm above the knee and not rolled). Belts on skirts are not allowed
- In addition, students may wish to wear an optional navy v neck jumper (plain acrylic/cotton/wool – no design or logo)
- Footwear should be flat and entirely black in appearance, Dr Martens with yellow stitching are allowed (no boots/sandals)
- Black/navy tights or navy/white knee socks only
- Dark blue/black belt (optional item). If students choose to wear a belt with trousers, the belt should be a thin / narrow belt, no wider than 4cms, be plain in appearance with an unadorned buckle
- Suitable coat or jacket (no pull-on hoodies are allowed)
Uniform can currently be bought from the below supplier:
Sixth Form Dress Code
The sixth form dress code plays an important role in contributing to the ethos and standards of both the sixth form and the wider school. Our sixth form students are leaders in the school, a role model to the younger students. Our younger students wear a formal uniform and they look very smart indeed; the sixth form dress code should also make students appear smart and ready to learn.
An independent and mature approach to learning is one of the key aims of the sixth form and a responsible dress code is one way of achieving this. It is only a short step to university or the world of work and following a dress code will prepare students for both. The dress code should allow students to express themselves as individuals, but in an appropriate way. It is particularly important that the dress code complements the main school uniform policy and recognises that the school is a working environment for students from the age of 11 to 18. Most importantly the way a sixth form student dresses should not cause embarrassment to staff, students, members of the school community or to members of the wider community; the public perception of the school should be important to all of us.
It is recognised that this dress code will not cover all issues that may arise. Students may seek to wear, for example, items which have not been covered by the guidelines overleaf, but which are against the spirit of this dress code. In such a case, or given any issue of dispute, the final arbiter is the Director of Learning Sixth Form. Students that are inappropriately dressed will be asked to go home and change.
ID Badges are part of the dress code and must be worn at all times.
Our staff and students believe that a smart school is a better school.