Garnock Academy
Policy

Appropriate School Wear
(School Uniform)

During session 2005/2006 the school undertook an extensive review of its uniform policy. This involved consultation with all pupil year councils, staff, school board and parents. The consultation resulted in agreement/acceptance of the need to wear clothing that clearly identified each pupil as a member of Garnock Academy. The new policy has the full support of the school board and the great majority of the parents. The range of clothing has been extended to allow pupils a wider choice. The basic premise of the policy is that every pupil must be clearly identifiable as a student of Garnock Academy by wearing the agreed clothing noted below.

Junior School
Black sweatshirt with school badge on left front.
Red polo shirt with the Garnock Academy design on left front.
White polo shirt with the Garnock Academy design on left front.
Black/Dark trousers, skirt.
Black/Dark footwear.
Junior pupils can access the middle school clothing range although it is
expected that they would wear the school sweat shirt / poloshirts.

Middle School
Black sweat shirt with school badge on left front.
Red polo shirt with the Garnock Academy design on left front.
White polo shirt with the Garnock Academy design on left front.
Black full zip top with the Garnock Academy design on waistband.
Knitted V neck with the Garnock Academy design on waistband.
V neck wool mix slipover with the Garnock Academy design on waistband
Black/Dark trousers, skirt.
Black/Dark footwear.
The middle school may also wear a white shirt and tie. This can be worn with a plain black cardigan/top as long as the tie is visible.

Senior School
White shirt/blouse and school tie or school sweatshirt. There is also a prefect’s tie.
Black/Dark trousers or skirt.
Black/Dark footwear.

Outer Wear
Dark, plain jacket –black, dark grey or similar. This should be easy to remove in class and pupils will be expected to do so. No other styles of tops to be worn which obscure the school uniform in class, e.g. smocks or hooded jerseys. First Year pupils would start with the junior school uniform. It is intended to be flexible as to exactly when the change to middle and upper versions take place. For example, if a second year pupil is ready, in March, to replace clothes with a bigger size, they could choose to get the Middle school items instead. Similarly, if the Junior uniform is still perfectly serviceable going in to third year, then pupils would simply continue to wear it. The same would apply to the uniform change over in S4 and S5.

Implementing the Policy.
The best time to ensure that pupils are properly dressed is at home before they leave for school. Parents should see that pupils are dressed appropriately for school.School staff will periodically monitor school uniform.
In junior school, prefects will check uniform wearing in register classes as part of their encouragement to raise students of attendance, punctuality and behaviour.
Junior and Middle School
Pupils without appropriate school wear will have the opportunity to change into school wear provided before going to classes.

Unacceptable Wear
Certain items of clothing are discouraged or banned by the school and also by North Ayrshire Council:
- anything which carries blatant advertising or offensive slogans; that display particular football club symbols are not allowed.
- track suits;
- some fashion clothes are considered not suitable for school, either because the style is too casual or too adult for children at school, or because the colour and decoration are too far removed from the school colour schemes. Items like ‘Goth’ styles are not appropriate for school.
- Baseball or similar caps.

Pupils who wear anything like this which is considered unacceptable, will be asked to change into a more suitable item held in stock by the school. Alternatively, parents will be contacted to arrange either for a change to brought in to school or for pupils to go home to change. Pupils will be asked to remove baseball caps and to leave them at home.

Jewellery
Pupils should adopt a common sense attitude to wearing jewellery to school. Too many rings, complex earrings, tight necklaces and such like present problems of safety. If they are valuable, they should not be brought to school at all. The school does not insure them and pupils would be unable to claim for damage or loss. Body piercing is very much discouraged.

Availability of Uniform Items
The sweat shirts and polo shirts will be available from the school office. They are supplied by Gilmour Sports of Paisley. Parents can purchase clothing through our direct sales form with Gilmour Sports. Further forms are available from the school office. Further supplies of sweatshirts and polo shirts are available from Glengarnock Garments. Their factory shop is in Paddockholm industrial estate. Gilmour Sports are able to supply sweat shirts, polo shirts and the extended range of clothing. Items are available at a discounted price to parents who are in receipt of a clothing grant from North Ayrshire Council. Ties are available from the Guidance office priced £5.00

Why the School should have a Strong Uniform Policy.
The arguments in favour of such a policy have been well explored over the years.
- the pupils of Garnock Academy should have a distinct identity which helps to foster a sense of community. They should be recognizable simply and clearly as Garnock Academy pupils, not as people from a particular town, or as supporters of a football club, or members of a gang, or as belonging to a particular club, or as they go out at night, or at the weekend. If they are dressed appropriately for school they are more likely to be focused and concentrate on the job they have to do.
- for security reasons school pupils should be easily identified. Intruders become more obvious.
- the total cost of the items probably is a lot less than the cost of kitting pupils out in fashion and leisure clothes.
- pupils should be prepared for work . If what they wear to school is different from what they wear for leisure they will adopt a more business-like approach to work.
- wearing school uniform in the morning becomes automatic – no need to worry about what to wear. One less problem to worry about.
- the competition between pupils about who is wearing the latest clothes is eliminated.
- the potential for bullying is reduced as all pupils are wearing similar stuff, and there is less opportunity for making fun.

The arguments against uniform have also been well aired. They usually include:
- wearing uniform does not affect how a person learns
- uniform de-personalises the person
- pupils should have a free choice of what to wear.

In Garnock, the arguments in favour of a uniform have won the day. The majority of parents, staff, and pupils, for that matter, are in favour of a set dress code. Therefore, we must work to make that happen.