Oakbank School requires students to wear a school uniform. We believe that a school uniform provides a sense of belonging and identity whilst setting an appropriate tone for an educational setting. 

Details of our school uniform requirements can be found below.

In developing our school uniform we have carefully considered what is required practically for classroom lessons or for sport, safeguarding and health and safety considerations, and our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and we have taken account of the wishes of parents, carers and students.

We have also considered the cost implications for families and different groups of pupils and sought the best value – we have minimised the number of branded items and avoided single supplier contracts so that parents have a choice of where they can shop, and we will avoid frequent uniform changes so that clothes can be passed on. We also offer support for parents who are unable to purchase a uniform.

If you have any questions about our uniform, or are struggling through financial hardship, please email contact@oakbankschool.co.uk and we can support you. 
Complaints about our school uniform should be dealt with under the school complaints policy.

Oakbank School Uniform

A smart appearance is an important aspect of modern life as it does help a person to display an air of self-confidence and a sense of respect. Oakbank School aims to prepare students for a successful life and so an emphasis on taking pride in one’s own appearance is an essential part of the educational process. Oakbank School has a strict uniform procedure which helps to enhance the purposeful and successful climate of our school. Our uniform procedure demands professionalism and ensures safety, which also ensures that students are fully focused on learning as opposed to other distractions.

Oakbank School uniform provides students with many positive advantages, because the uniform:

● Diminishes the social exclusion of students based on what they are wearing.

● Places stronger focus on academic performance.

● Reduces tension as students do not have to compete with their peers for the latest trends in clothes.

● Creates an atmosphere of teamwork.

● Encourages pride in personal appearance and of Oakbank School.

● Promotes safety, particularly through making it easier to identify strangers.

● Increases self-esteem and reduces peer pressure.

● Most cost-effective for parents in the long run.

● Makes them ambassadors for Oakbank School in the local community.

Students are expected to wear full Oakbank School uniform on the way to and from school. Jewellery and other forbidden items will be confiscated and only returned to a parent or carer.

Essential items of uniform, e.g. Oakbank blazer, clip on school tie, pleated skirt (if required) and PE top, are only available from Oakbank School uniform suppliers, Stevensons. We will continue to work with families around any difficulties they have purchasing any other items. 

Uniform	Detail	What this means
Oakbank School Blazer	Green with embroidered Oakbank logo.	Compulsory item. Must be worn every day. During lessons, teachers will give permission for blazers to be removed when appropriate. Branded
Tie	School  Tie with clip. White and green stripes.	Compulsory item. Must be worn every day.
Blouse/shirt	White school shirt (not polo shirt) (short or long-sleeved) that buttons up to the neck.	Compulsory item.  Shirts should be tucked in and buttoned up at all times. Non - Branded
‘V’ neck jumper	Plain grey.  These jumpers can be plain grey and don't need to have the school trim. Jumpers must be knitted in appearance.	Optional item as an extra layer. It cannot be worn instead of a blazer. It does not need to be branded in order to reduce costs.
Trousers	Tailored, full length, plain black, loose fitting.	Optional item – either a pleated grey checked skirt, trousers or tailored shorts. Full length to the ankle. Prohibited trouser styles include – but are not limited to – tight, skinny fit, narrow fit, stretchy, low rise, chinos, jeans, drainpipe, Miss Sixty, linen, leggings or cropped styles. Non - branded trousers.  All items are non - branded
Skirts	Pleated grey checked skirt	Optional item – either a skirt or trousers. Skirts are available in 22 or 24 inches lengths. Must be at least knee-length. Branded
Socks	Plain black and above the ankle.	Compulsory item. Coloured or patterned socks are not acceptable. Socks with branded logos or trainer socks are also not acceptable. Socks worn with kilts must be no higher than shin height. Non - branded
*Shoes (additional information below)	Plain black, low-heeled. Leather or similar polishable material.	Compulsory item. No Canvas or trainer-style shoes will be accepted. Shoes must be polishable. Non-branded
Tights	Plain black, opaque or grey coloured.	Optional item Coloured or patterned tights are not acceptable. Tights are optional. A combination of tights and socks is not permissible. Non-branded.
Coat/Jacket	An appropriate coat allowed, must be removed prior to entering any part of the building.	Optional item. No hooded sweatshirts zipped or otherwise, fabric/knitted tops, cardigans, non-academy jumpers, sweatshirts, are permitted. These items will be confiscated and collected at the end of the day. Not Oakbank branded, maybe other brands
Bags	These should be ruc-sac or messenger style bags. Bags must be able to carry A4-size books (school planner and knowledge organiser).	Compulsory item  No plastic bags, shoulder pouches/bags, cross-body bags, shoulder bags, fashion bags including handbags or other inappropriate bags. Non-branded.

*Oakbank School is committed to being solution focused and removes barriers for students by having a system in which items of uniform can be borrowed and returned on the same day. Refusal to borrow the required uniform will result in a referral to the RfL centre.

Shoes: School shoes should be black, flat and logo-free. The style should be traditional, avoiding the appearance of a trainer.

Some specific styles that are not permitted: 

Styles that appear to be more like sports trainers than professional black shoes, especially due to the material of the shoe.

• Boots or ankle boots.

• Suede shoes.

• Styles with obvious logos or branding.

• Elaborate buckles or decorations or patterns.

• Any white or colourful details.

However, this list is not exhaustive and the school’s decision on what is/is not acceptable is final. If parents are unsure whether a particular style will be accepted, they must send a picture of the shoe to the school before purchasing. If in doubt, please consult the following pictures to see what is/is not acceptable. We will always support parents in this decision-making. Pupils wearing unacceptable shoes to school will be offered a pair to wear where possible, or will be placed in RfL until a parent or guardian can bring an acceptable pair of shoes to school. Parents who are struggling to find acceptable, affordable shoes are encouraged to contact the school, who will be happy to recommend appropriate footwear.