Uniform

Boys’ Uniform Checklist

Girls’ Uniform Checklist

Uniform and Personal Presentation

The requirement for adherence to the Academy’s uniform policy will be reinforced by all staff at the Academy, both teaching and support staff. The staff at City of London Academy, Islington will ensure that when students enter the Academy grounds, they are in proper uniform. Form tutors and Heads of Year are also expected to work with students to encourage/reward them for the standard of their uniform. If students are not in full uniform, they will not be able to attend lessons.  They will work in a designated area until the correct uniform is brought to them or they will be sent home to change and they will be expected to return to the Academy once they have corrected their uniform.

Uniform and Personal Presentation Expectations

Students are expected to be of a smart and sensible appearance at all times. 

• Individual fashion statements such as designer coats, shirts, trainers, or footwear are not permitted. 
• Extreme or heavy makeup, fake tan, false eyelashes, false nails and/or nail varnish are not permitted.  Fingernails should be kept short.
• Tinted or cosmetic contact lenses and decorative dental wear are not permitted. 
• No jewellery is permitted except for one wristwatch (no smart watches) and a maximum of one plain, small, gold or silver stud earring in each ear.  Nose studs and other forms of face or body piercing are not permitted. 
• No accessories are to be worn around the neck or attached to clothing. 
• No bandannas, hoods, caps or hats are to be worn on site.
• Hijabs or other head coverings worn for religious purposes must be plain black or maroon and must not cover the face.
• Outdoor coats must be put away in lockers or bags and should not be worn inside the building.
• All items of uniform should be clearly marked or labelled with the student’s full name.

Hair and Hairstyles

Students are expected to be of a smart and sensible appearance.  Hair must be worn in a style appropriate to a learning environment.  Judgements on the acceptability of students’ hairstyles can only be made by staff at the Academy.

• Only small, black hair accessories (hairbands or ties) are to be worn in the hair. 
• Extreme hairstyles, hair colours (e.g. red, blue, green, purple, peroxide blonde etc.) or hair decorations/accessories such as bows, beads, coloured hairbands or ties etc. will not be permitted.
• Mohawks, undercuts, shaved patterns or lines (in hair or eyebrows) are not permitted. 
• Facial hair should be kept trimmed and tidy.
• For health and safety reasons, students with long hair will be required to tie their hair back when taking part in certain activities, e.g. PE lessons, technology lessons, science practicals etc., and should carry a small black hairband or tie for this purpose.
• The Academy fully supports the right of staff and students of African and African-Caribbean heritage to have Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black staff and students’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and/or religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance.
• We welcome Afro-textured hair worn in styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, and wigs.
• Although we fully support our Black staff and students’ rights to wear their hair in styles that reflect their identity and hair type, there is still a requirement (as there is for all students) to conform to the Academy’s expectation that hair will be neatly maintained and will not be extreme in style, colour or decoration as detailed above.

Equipment for Every Lesson

• The Academy rucksack is compulsory.
• 3 pens (black or blue and one green pen)
• 2 pencils (sharpener and eraser)
• Coloured pencils or felt pens
• 30cm ruler
• Scientific Calculator
• Protractor
• Students should not carry a compass, scissors or craft knife as part of their equipment.  Should these be required in lessons, they will be provided to students by their teacher.

It is very important that students have the correct equipment with them at all times.  Successful learning will often be dependent upon this.  If students forget to bring equipment, appropriate sanctions will be applied.  We operate a school shop where these items are available for purchase at a low cost.

Academy branded uniform must be purchased from our supplier: Rough Cuts Casuals, 16, Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ. Their website is www.roughcutcasuals.co.uk.

The Academy has a limited amount of second-hand uniforms. Please speak to your child’s Head of Year for further details.

Please help us reduce waste and make uniform more affordable by donating any uniform your child no longer needs. You can bring donations to reception at any point.

Mobile Phones and Electronic Equipment

Mobile phones and other electronic devices are an unwelcome distraction during the school day and are strictly prohibited by the Academy.  There are no exceptions to the rule and all students are expected to leave their mobile phones at home.  Any student found in possession of a banned item during the school day, or anywhere on or around the school site, can and should expect to have the item confiscated.

• Mobile phones, smart watches, MP3 players, tablets, computer consoles, computer games or other personal electronic devices MUST NOT be brought to the Academy and are strictly prohibited.  The Academy accepts no responsibility for the loss of these items. 
• Personal electronic devices will be confiscated for a week in the first instance, and then until the end of term for any subsequent incidents.
• Students, who continually breach the Academy rules around mobile phones and electronic equipment, may find themselves the subject of random searches. Under the guidance provided by the Department for Education, “Headteachers/Principals and authorised staff can search students for any item banned by the school rules”.