Dear Parent/Carer
You will be aware that we changed our school uniform policy a year ago, in line with Government guidance, so that we offer a logo and a non-logo option.
Unfortunately, with the introduction of the new uniform policy, there has been a significant deterioration in the standards of uniform amongst some students we are seeing each day, particularly in relation to those students who wear skirts. The style and length of some students’ skirts are a cause for concern. Not only is it important that students look smart, the uniform must be worn within the notion that is business wear. The current tube skirts do not support this notion. It is taking up a significant amount of staff time each day to check uniforms, make sure that our policy is being upheld and ensure that our students look as smart as possible.
We spent a significant amount of money issuing students with a box pleat skirt, when we provided full uniform bundles in 2022, and have since spent money on ensuring all Year 7 students have the correct style of skirt.
With this in mind, from 8th January 2024, the only non-logo skirt option that will be permitted is a box-pleat style. The decision to move to the box-pleat skirt will remove the confusion with the distinction between a tube skirt and a pencil skirt and ensure that time, at the start of the day, will be spent having positive conversations and accessing precious learning time from the moment students enter the academy.
The guidance on skirts is as follows: Outwood Logo options available to purchase from the Trutex store
here. The Trutex website offers a pencil skirt and a pleated skirt (the pencil skirt will not be available from September 2025 so this will be the last year of this design). Non-logo options 2.5 inch box please style ONLY. Minimum length 18 inches (most secondary school students would need a 20 inch length). These are available from almost all supermarkets and from websites such as Amazon. (Search: Box pleat school skirt) Please note that any other style non-logo skirt will not be permitted.
The full uniform policy can be found
here
I hope that informing you of this change at this early stage enables you time to purchase the correct uniform for January. However, if this represents an issue, please do not hesitate to contact the academy; the best way to do this is via email admin@kirkby.outwood.com
Yours sincerely
Mr M Golden