Parent Information
Uniform
This is the school specific policy which is in line with the JTMAT Policy Statement
John Taylor Free School is a ‘uniformed’ school. Therefore, there is a clear expectation that students attending John Taylor Free School will wear the full uniform appropriately and that this expectation will be supported by parents.
If you are in any doubt about what is/is not permitted, please check with the school beforehand.
A pdf copy of this information, with additional explanation of some details, is available on our policies page.
Our policy is based on the notion that a school uniform:
- promotes a sense of pride in the school.
- engenders a feeling of community and belonging.
- is practical and smart.
- identifies the children with the school.
- is not distracting in class (as fashion clothes might be).
- makes students feel equal to their peers in terms of appearance and financial circumstances.
- is regarded as suitable and good value for money, by most parents.
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Uniform Expectations
The following items are available from our uniform suppliers, the details of which are listed below.
Blazers:
School specific grey blazer with school emblem on pocket (available from school uniform suppliers). Blazers are expected to be worn at all times, unless permission has been given by staff to remove it.
Ties:
All students wear a clip-on tie reflecting their house colour:
- Charnwood
- Kingstone
- Marchington
- Needwood
- Rosliston
- Sherwood
*Ties are available from school (purchased via parentpay)
Skirts:
School specific, tartan skirt only. These must be knee-length (i.e. the skirt touches the floor if the student kneels) at the start of September. We appreciate that students grow over the year so suggest that parents take growth into consideration when buying a skirt. It will be the school’s decision if we deem the skirt to have become too short i.e. it is sitting above the knee.
School Jumper:
A v-neck jumper with the school logo is optional. There is a choice of long sleeve or no sleeves from our uniform suppliers. Cardigans, vest-style etc. are not permitted. Alternatively, students may wear a plain black, knitted v-neck jumper underneath their blazer.
Shirts:
Plain white with formal collar. Long or short sleeve. The shirt must be long enough to be properly tucked into trousers/skirts and suitable to be worn with a tie. Fitted or fashion shirts are not permitted.
Trousers:
Plain (no decorative: buttons, zips, belts etc.) black, tailored school trousers ONLY. Trousers which are ‘fashion’ style, those that become narrower at the ankle, have turn ups, ‘ankle grazers’, are tight fitting, low slung or Lycra based, are not permitted. Students may wear black, tailored shorts instead of trousers between April and October.
Footwear:
Only black, plain (no colour trim or unnecessary adornment e.g. big bows, flowers, studs etc.) standard leather-style school shoes will be permitted.
Black trainers, canvas-style shoes, backless shoes etc. will not be permitted. Trainer-style school shoes (often displayed in the school shoes section of shops — reputable shoe shops included) are not permitted. Boots are also not allowed.
Socks/Tights:
Black, grey or white school socks. Black, grey or natural coloured tights (not patterned). Over-the-knee socks are NOT permitted.
Hair:
Should be neat and tidy without decorative attachments. Extreme styles, unnatural hair colours, tram lines or other shaved shapes in the hair or eyebrows are not permitted.
Make-Up:
No make-up should be worn, which includes eyebrows. Tinted or cosmetic contact lenses are not permitted. False eye lashes are not permitted.
Nails:
No nail polish should be worn, nor should acrylic nails. Nails grown to a length that is deemed a health and safety issue, will need to be cut down.
Jewellery:
No jewellery, except for one wristwatch and a maximum of one plain set of stud ear-rings, metal-coloured, one in each ear, worn in the lower ear lobe. No other piercings are permitted. Retainers are not permitted.
Belts:
Plain black. If a belt is worn it should be for functional not decorative purposes. Maximum width for belt and for plain buckle = 4cm.
Scarves/Hats/Gloves:
Are permitted but cannot be worn anywhere inside the building.
Clothes worn for religious purposes:
- A hijab can be worn but must be plain black and must not cover either the face or uniform.
- A turban can be worn but must be plain black.
- Please contact the school directly should you feel that there is a need for any other item to be worn due to religious beliefs.
Outdoor Coats:
Outdoor coats should be appropriate for school; it would be advised that they are waterproof/showerproof and so should not be a fashion item. These are to be worn over the blazer. Hoodies or tracksuit style tops are NOT permitted.
Compulsory:
- School specific t-shirt in House colour (there are two versions available).
- School specific shorts in House colour.
- School specific tracksuit bottoms/plain black tracksuit bottoms. As per school trousers, these should not be ‘skinny fit’.
- Black knee length socks.
- White ankle socks.
- Sports trainers (NOT fashion trainers, non-marking sole).
- Shin pads and gum shields (for some contact sports — school will advise when needed).
- Football boots (for football and rugby lessons).
Optional:
- If your child is cold, they may wear a school specific PE jumper in House colour or school specific rugby shirt in House colour (worn over the top as a jumper or in place of a t-shirt), or their blazer. They can also wear plain black ‘skins’ underneath their PE top.
- School specific rugby shorts with school logo.
- Plain black ‘skins’ or equivalent.
- Students can wear plain black leggings beneath their shorts if they wish to. This is not instead of shorts and must be leggings – tights are not allowed due to hygiene reasons.
- There will be strictly no use of any other aspect of fashionable PE clothing.
- All students MUST have their kit NAMED.
- All jewellery should be removed for PE lessons.
- Hoodies are not permitted.
Mobile Phones:
- Mobile phones must be switched off (not just on silent) and remain in the student’s bag whilst on the school site.
- There may be times in the school day when a member of staff allows the student to use their phone during a lesson e.g. to photograph a piece of work, but that would be the only time when it would be acceptable to use it.
- Phones/electronic devices brought into school remain the sole responsibility of the student.
- If a mobile phone (or an electronic device connected either by wires or wirelessly to a phone) is seen or heard to be used without the express permission of a teacher, then it will be confiscated and passed to the Headteacher. A parent will be contacted to arrange for them to collect the device during school hours.
- Headphones may not be worn on the school site unless permission is given by a member of staff during a lesson.
- Phones and headphones will only be used as part of the learning experience when directed and supervised by a member of staff, they may not be seen or used at any other time.
Other Electronic devices:
There is no need in general to bring electronic devices into school.
- Reading Book
- STRIPE Reflective Journal
- Pens (black or blue ballpoint pens for exams, but other types and colours are useful for lessons)
- Pencils (HB is fine for most lessons, but other types and colours may be useful)
- Ruler ( at least 15cm, with metric markings – mm and cm. Imperial measurements may also be useful)
- Eraser and pencil sharpener
- Glue stick
- Scientific Calculator
- Geometry Set (at least a compass and protractor)
For more information about our uniform, download our prospectus
Uniform Suppliers
WB Global Trading Limited
- wbglobaltrading.co.uk
- mt@wbglobaltrading.co.uk
- 01283 711538
- 07799 752686
- 20 Bells End Road, Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE12 8ND
My Uniform Ltd
- myuniformltd.co.uk
- sales@myuniformltd.co.uk
- 01283 619224
- 82 Wellington Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2DS
SchoolWear UK
Pre-loved uniform
A Pre-Loved Uniform Shop is now available on Bromcom. You can order items through your My Child at School app for students to collect at reception. The stock for the shop depends on donations, so please keep checking back on the app.
Parents also sell pre-loved items via the Parent Facebook page.
