The Education Committee recommended at its meeting of 21 August 1997 that – ‘the adoption of a distinctive dress code chosen to enhance the ethos of the school should be encouraged in all schools’. Given that there is substantial parental and public approval of uniform, schools in Argyll and Bute are free to encourage the wearing of school uniform.
In Strath of Appin Primary, the suggested uniform is as follows:
Black, grey or navy blue trousers (not jeans), skirt or shorts or a tartan kilt; white or blue polo shirt, blue sweatshirt, cardigan or fleece. Sweatshirts, ‘hoodies’, cardigans and ‘fleeces’ bearing the school logo are available to order from myclothing.com.
When on educational visits the children are required to wear a top with a school badge on it as a safety aid to identity and identification.
PE KIT: Pupils are expected to bring a change of clothing for PE – t-shirts, gym shoes and shorts or joggers would be useful in a clearly identified bag. PE usually takes place outside on the pitch.
Jewellery, watches, belts with metal buckles etc. may cause injury to the wearer or others taking part in P.E. and they must therefore be removed. Jewellery worn as a result of body piercing should be such that it is unlikely to cause injury (e.g. stud earrings) or removal is possible and easily undertaken. It is absolutely essential that children comply with this instruction to avoid unnecessary injury, or cause injury to others.
Outdoor Wear:
Bearing our weather patterns in mind, it would also be very helpful if pupils could have a change of footwear – one pair for outdoors and one for indoors (this could be their gym shoes). Suitable clothing for wet weather would also be encouraged. We prefer to think that it’s not the weather that’s wrong, just the wrong kind of clothing for the weather we usually get. We encourage children to go out at break times as much as possible, and we regularly use the wonderful environment around us as a medium for learning. We can do this if they are dressed appropriately. We would also ask you to be aware of the need for sunscreen in those (admittedly not very often) moments when the sun shines. The most effective way of ensuring this is to apply sunscreen at home before your child comes to school.
Please note that school uniform is not compulsory and it is not policy to insist on pupils wearing uniform or having specialist items of clothing in order to engage in all of the activities of the curriculum. As such, pupils will not be deprived of any educational benefit as a result of not wearing uniform.
However, there are forms of dress which are unacceptable in school, such as items of clothing which:
- potentially encourage faction (such as football colours);
- could cause offence (such as anti-religious symbolism or political slogans);
- could cause health and safety difficulties (such as loose fitting clothing, dangling earrings);
- are made from a flammable material, for example shell suits in practical classes;
- could cause damage to flooring;
- carry advertising, particularly for alcohol or tobacco; and
- could be used to inflict damage on other pupils or be used by others to do so.
All clothing brought to school should be labelled or marked in some way, as it is difficult for children to distinguish their own clothing from others.
School Clothing Grants
Grants of £100 are available for any child who will attend an Argyll and Bute Council school and whose parent(s) receive:
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income related element of employment and Support allowance
- Council Tax Rebate or Housing Benefit (25% reduction for single occupancy is not included)
- Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit (income should not exceed £7,330)
- Universal Credit (monthly take home pay for period must be under £610)
Pupils aged between 16 and 18 years who receive any of the above benefits in their own right also qualify.
To complete an online application form please visit https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/education-and-learning/childcare-school-and-education-grants-0. Alternatively, please contact Customer Services: Education on 01369 708548 or your local benefit enquiry office.
Please note that the above eligibility criteria is correct at time of publishing (September 2021) and may be subject to change by the start of August 2022. The link above will contain the most up-to-date information.
If you are not eligible for any of the benefits listed above there is a separate application process available and you should contact either 01369 708548 or your local benefit enquiry office for details.