Bede Academy - Uniform

Uniform

Uniform & Appearance

Academy Rules in relation to bags, coats, hair, make-up, jewellery

and shoes are driven by the desire to ensure that Bede students

are smart, safe and ready for work.

It is important that Bede Academy students are mature and well presented,

which will establish an identity within the community

and build an excellent reputation for the Academy and our

students, both for their future careers and in representing Blyth as

young ambassadors of whom their town can be proud.

Please do not spend excessive amounts of money on 'designer' or

'label' items, as this may lead to theft or damage of the items and

to unhelpful 'competition' amongst students. The Academy can

take no responsibility for items which are lost or damaged at

school. The simple message is the best one: "Do not bring

expensive and/or precious items of clothing or other possessions

into school".

Therefore, the following rules are to be observed by all students:

Bags

By carrying a sensible school bag, students can ensure that books

and other equipment are well looked after and in a fit state for

work. They must therefore be robust and big enough to carry

something as large as an A4 folder. They must not be flimsy or

expensive as they will have to withstand daily use and may be

damaged if they are not strong. For Health and Safety reasons,

we require that students carrying shoulder bags purchase one with

two shoulder straps as this spreads the weight evenly across the

shoulders, especially when the students are young and the bags

are heavy.

A second bag must be provided for PE kit especially as this will

keep potentially damp/dirty clothes away from books. These bags

should also be sturdy and of an appropriate size. No graffiti or

badges are allowed on any bags although reflective strips are

encouraged for those who walk to school.

All bags should be black, rather than garish and "loud", and each

one should be clearly marked in order to be easily identified.

Coats

Coats, for similar reasons to bags, should be navy blue or black

rather than loud or garish, and denim, leather or paramilitary coats

are specifically prohibited. Navy blue or black scarves are allowed.

Expensive coats of any style are strongly discouraged. Coats

should have no logos, adornments or labelling although reflective

strips are strongly encouraged for those walking to school.

Hair

Hair should be neat, tidy and safe and at all times should be above

the eyebrows. It must not be of a style that makes it noticeably

stand out from the norm and hair gel should not be used.

Eyebrows should not be shaved.

Hair must be natural in colour and not noticeably dyed or streaked.

Extremes in fashion are not appropriate for school and nor is hair

which is either excessively long or short. It should not fall into the

eyes when working; this rule protects eyesight and prevents hair

from becoming entangled or catching on fire in practical lessons.

Boys' hair should not reach over the blazer collar or be pigtailed,

nor should it be cut less than a number 3 or of a stepped style.

Girls' hair should be kept off the face and, if necessary, must be

tied back using clips and/or black, navy or bottle green bands or

similar. If students are unsure about rules regarding hair styles,

they should consult a Senior Member of Staff before spending

time and money at the hairdressers on an unacceptable style or

cut.

Shoes

All students must wear plain, black, sensible shoes which can be

polished. Shoes with distinctive fashion features such as buckles,

logos and tags are not permitted as a normal part of the day wear

nor are shoes with heavy sole cleats. Girls' shoes with kitten or

stiletto heels are also a hazard to wooden floors and in emergency

situations, such as rapid evacuations of the building and are,

therefore, not permitted.

Boots and training shoes will not be permitted although the latter

are obviously appropriate for PE. Ballet-style shoes are also

unacceptable as they provide no protection for the foot should

anything fall on the foot. For this same reason, all shoes will be

expected to cover the top of the foot.

Uniform Requirements

All uniform items can be purchased from the approved Academy supplier, the John Cheatle Group either online or at the Uniform Shop, located at Bede Academy, Sixth Avenue, Blyth.

Please refer to the following guides for a full breakdown of uniform requirements by Year Group and a guide to current prices and Uniform Shop opening times.